Dave Salvator, an Intel spokesman has said that Thunderbolt Macintosh computers will be compatible with the fiber optic cables which is scheduled to be released next year. according to a report from macworld.

Thunderbolt Port

The Thunderbolt technology was introduced for the first time back in February on Apple’s Macbook pro. The technology can transfer data with speeds up to 10Gbps between external devices and host devices .

Intel insures that existing Thunderbolt ports will be compatible with the fiber optic cables as Salvator said

“Copper cables provide adequate data transfer for use over short distances of up to six meters (about 20 feet), but optical cables will be good for data transfers over longer distances of tens of meters”

Thunderbolt and other manufacturers:

Asus tech and Acer is planning to release Windows PCs with Thunderbolt ports earlier 2012. Also The general manager of the mobile client platform at Intel announced that “Thin and light laptops due for release in the first half next year based on Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge chip will come with Thunderbolt ports”

Intel has introduced a Windows PC with Thunderbolt port transferring four videos at 700 Megabytes/Sec

Also the executive vice president and general manager of the Intel Architecture Group, Dadi Perlmutter said

“Beyond longer distances, Intel has said that optical technology also offers faster data transfers, however the technology will be expensive to implement. The transfer speeds offered by copper are more than adequate in most cases today and The adoption of optical cables depends on how much speed people need “versus how much they would be willing to pay”

Thunderbolt Vs. USB 3.0

Thunderbolt can transfer data with speeds up to 10Gbps and the USB 3.0 can reach only 5Gbps. The winner in this competition is determined by how many devices will support one of the two technologies but since next year Windows PCs will also support Thunderbolt it seems that the fight has ended with Thunderbolt domination.

[via]