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by weinzierl 3535 days ago
> The new MacBook Pro is said to include a redesigned, thinner body with a flatter MacBook-style keyboard, an OLED touch panel that replaces the physical function keys at the top of the keyboard, and Touch ID support.

> It is expected to do away with the USB-A port, HDMI port, and SD card slot, featuring just four USB-C ports based on part leaks, and it is said to include support for USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3.

The four USB-C port configuration will be interesting. As far as I can tell the rumor stems from leaked housing shots (maybe prototypes) [1] which show four slots, two on each side.

The Wikipedia page about Thunderbolt[2] says:

> Intel offers three versions of the controller:

> - one "DP" version that uses a PCIe 3.0 ×4 link to provide two Thunderbolt 3 ports (DSL6540)

>- one "SP" version that uses a PCIe 3.0 ×4 link to provide one Thunderbolt 3 port (DSL6340)

>- an "LP" (Low Power) version that uses a PCIe 3.0 ×2 link to provide one Thunderbolt 3 port (JHL6240).

This means either not all USB-C ports will be Thunderbolt 3 ports or the machines will have to have two DSL6540's on board. I don't know the cost of this chips but I think this could be expensive. On the other hand: same connector with different capabilities? - not Apple's style.

[1] https://www.idropnews.com/2016/06/01/photos-of-new-macbook-p...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbolt_(interface)#Thunde...

1 comments

DSL6540s are $10 in 1000 quantity if you're not Apple. If you're Apple or another OEM integrator, you can probably get Intel to give you a pretty healthy shave off that even. $15-20 bucks to make all four ports Thunderbolt is nothing to Apple's bottom line, especially when they can (and probably will) just tack on another $100 to the price to cover it.

This is Apple hardware - even if it's not the best, most advanced hardware out there, it will still fly off the shelves because of the fans/fanboys/startups.