[valisystem]

Intel refusal to license thunderbolt external GPU is infuriating, and the sole rationalization I can see is that they are blocking it to protect premium price on their high end integrated GPUs. It really feels like a big let down.

(edit: bit->big)

[aselzer]

Apple should grab that opportunity. They probably have enough power to pressurize Intel into allowing this (at least on their computers).

Imagine an apple-manufactured external graphics card that you can carry around and plug into your MacBook Air/Pro.

It could boost sales pretty significantly. I know quite a few people who did not buy a MacBook just because games don't run well enough, and went for another brand that fits their needs in this area (the bigger MacBooks are more expensive, and their advantage to competitors disappears).

[seanp2k2]

They could do this, but their market isn't typically gamers (even though plenty of games run well on OSX these days), and it'd probably be a viable alternative to having a Mac Pro and a quad-core rMBP.

So, their reasoning is probably similar to why Intel doesn't do it in the first place: it would eat into the sales of other more niche products. Lame.

[porsupah]

That said, Apple has demonstrated they're not averse to new product lines eating into other existing ones, as with the iPhone 6 taking some sales away from the iPad family, and in turn, the iPad mini away from the full-size iPads.

I doubt anyone expects them to actually come through with an external GPU option, of course, but it'd certainly be of interest to me, given Second Life's stiff requirements for long draw distances with all the lighting options enabled.

[ahomescu1]

I doubt a gamer would buy a Mac Pro for a gaming rig.

[cromulent]

Yeah, it is super frustrating that you can't get a reasonably priced TB»PCI adapter to get your son's MacMini to play Minecraft without lag.

Crazy limitation of a good interface.