14 DAY TRIAL // Without a doubt, Intel's introduction of Thunderbolt technology on Apple MacBook Pro systems is one of the hottest events of the week, and it seems that, from certain points of view, it will remain this way, since Apple will apparently have a huge head-start over its competitors as far as this particular data-transfer technology is concerned.
So, as Electronista reports, it seems that, even if Apple won't have exclusivity over the Thunderbolt technology (because, let's face it, that would translate into some poor business for Intel), they'll certainly have a huge head-start, closing-in to at least a year, depending on the speed at which other companies can implement the technology into their own products.
In fact, the fact that they've worked together with Intel on developing LightPeak and turning into a market-ready technology will give the company from Cupertino a couple of interesting benefits, probably the most important one being the fact that their Thunderbolt products are already out there, on the market.
Plus, it seems that Intel won't be shipping Thunderbolt development kits to other interested parties until Spring 2011, which means that other computer manufacturers who do decided to incorporate this tech into their future products will most likely have to wait until late 2011 or even early 2012 for their devices to arrive in stores.
And let's face it, almost a year of being the only company to offer this highly innovative technology will certainly translate into better sales for Apple in its MacBook Pro segment, not to mention the fact that the public will automatically associate them with Thunderbolt (something that quite a lot of people are already doing).
So, this level of exclusivity (albeit limited) will give the company quite the upper hand over its competitors, at least as far as its public image is concerned, something that, in Apple's case, is really all that matters.