“The real improvements here are obviously those enabled by Thunderbolt. Apple is turning its line of displays into docks for its mobile computers rather than just external displays,” Anand Lal Shimpi reports for AnandTech. “It started with integrating MagSafe and has culminated in GigE and FireWire controllers now a part of the display.”
“For MacBook Air owners who don’t have options for these high speed interfaces to begin with, the Thunderbolt Display is a must-have,” Lal Shimpi reports. “If your MBA is a secondary or tertiary computer that only gets taken on trips perhaps the Thunderbolt Display isn’t so life changing. For those users who have moved from older MacBook Pros to the 13-inch MBA however, the Thunderbolt Display is a wonderful companion.”
Lal Shimpi reports, “For MacBook Pro owners the Thunderbolt Display is more of a convenience than anything else. If you ferry your notebook between locations frequently, having to hook up only two cables vs. several is nice. I don’t know how else to word this without sounding incredibly lazy (I promise I’m not), but I’m more likely to move my notebook around if I don’t have to unplug/reconnect 7 cables everytime I get back to my desk. For me the Thunderbolt Display is good but not perfect. I wish it had a 1/8″ stereo output, an SD card reader and USB 3.0 support. Give me those things and I’d be ecstatic.”
Tons more, as usual, in the full review – highly recommended – here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]