[orbitur]

I think the Apple TB Display is comparable here.

If you have a rare TB device, you're probably a professional, and yes, you'll need to ensure the TB logo is on the port. If it's an extremely common USB device, it'll work on any port, without exception.

The Apple Thunderbolt monitors are Apple's fault. There was no reason they couldn't have accepted a raw DisplayPort signal, but they still didn't.

[cmsj]

FWIW, one reason would be that they'd needed to have somehow worked a USB connection into the mix, for pure DisplayPort ports, otherwise you have no way to control the brightness, use the camera, or the audio output.

[robotresearcher]

It's a shame they didn't allow DP users to connect a USB cable to the Thunderbolt Display and get access to all the other devices. Not aesthetically wonderful, but would've made some old customers happy.

[kjjw]

Confused. I have an Apple TB display and plug it into a ThinkPad mini DisplayPort port. Works fine.

[outworlder]

It really doesn't work - I really really wish it did.

Your ThinkPad has a Thunderbolt port (which doubles as a DisplayPort).

[donatj]

Either your ThinkPad has Thunderbolt as was suggested, or you have a DisplayPort Cinema Display.