Village Instruments working on Thunderbolt external graphics
updated 12:40 pm EDT, Thu August 4, 2011
Thunderbolt ViDock to give Mac external graphics
Village Instruments could be the first with an external graphics card for Macs and other computers using Thunderbolt. Company head Hubert Chen confirmed after an unexpectedly large response to a question that the company would make a Thunderbolt version of the ViDock. The much improved bandwidth over the current ExpressCard version could give even ultraportables like the MacBook Air desktop-level video performance with software support.
The company still had to work to set out a development and production schedule for the new ViDock and wasn't yet ready to commit to specifications or when it would ship.
Sn updated ViDock wouldn't be the first external Thunderbolt-based graphics in the industry. Sony's new VAIO Z uses a non-standard port but the same fundamental technology as Apple's system to include a Radeon HD 6630M along with an optical drive and extra ports. Village Instruments' model could be the first, though, to follow a true standard and work beyond just one computer. [via AnandTech]
