Apple Thunderbolt Display Presents Problems For Linux

[tosehee]

I have the exact same setup (MBP with Retina + Thunderbolt), and very much interested in running the Linux distro as my main OS.

I am very much interested in any findings to this thread..

Cheers

[pvtcupcakes]

I don't think the thunderbolt port is a mini-display port.

It is just that, a Thunderbolt port (That carries a "displayport" signal, amongst other things).

It actually is a mini displayport.
From Wikipedia:
"Thunderbolt combines PCI Express and DisplayPort into a serial data interface... Existing Mini DisplayPort adapters for DVI, dual-link DVI, HDMI, and VGA are compatible with Thunderbolt, allowing backwards compatibility and no loss of functionality compared to Mini DisplayPort."

The shape of the port is the same as Mini DisplayPort. I have a Mini DP to DVI adapter that I use on my Macbook Air's Thunderbolt port.

[oliver]

I don't think the thunderbolt port is a mini-display port.

It is just that, a Thunderbolt port (That carries a "displayport" signal, amongst other things).

[pvtcupcakes]

I wonder if it would work if you used a Mini DisplayPort to DVI or HDMI adapter, then converted that back to Mini DisplayPort.

Maybe that would break the PCI Express portion of the connection and it would operate as if it were only DisplayPort instead of Thunderbolt. Actually a plain Mini DisplayPort cable might do that too. I'm assuming the display is requesting a data connection for the USB and Ethernet ports which causes the kernel to freak out. If you don't need those you might be able to get just a video signal.

[uid313]

Why?? They simply don't care. Their products are made to be used with Mac OS X. The same thing goes for most -if not all- manufacturers. Their products are made to run Win.

Because Apple displays are sold separately.
It doesn't matter if its a Mac, Windows or Linux user who buys it - they still get money.

So they should make sure that their displays are supported on Linux and Windows too, so that they can get more customers.

[MonkeyPaw]

How about connecting to a thunderbolt-capable motherboard to see if if it's a problem with thunderbolt or Apple's implementation of it?

[89c51]

Apple ought to add support for their Thunderbolt displays to Linux.
It would benefit their customers.

Why?? They simply don't care. Their products are made to be used with Mac OS X. The same thing goes for most -if not all- manufacturers. Their products are made to run Win.

[uid313]

Apple ought to add support for their Thunderbolt displays to Linux.
It would benefit their customers.

[89c51]

Yeah, Linux should never support thunderbolt.

Is that what you understand from my post??

At this point one should probably wait for the USB 3.0 version at the very least.

If you actually use your computer to earn your income, the extra price for Apple stuff is just irrelevant. An experienced professional computer person is pulling down upwards of $100K per year. If the fancy Apple gear gets the job done with less fiddling around, it's clearly worth it.

Sure you can stop buying their stuff, if you don't want to participate in a market where the users spend twice as much money on their computers as Windows users. When I see expensive computer gear and high profits, I see opportunities to make money, not "shiny things". They wouldn't participate in the high-value market if it were not reaping huge profits for them. You can also get into this market and charge lots of money if you want to.

Its not that apple products are not good. They have excellent hardware but they rub me wrong in so many ways. As for getting in the market i would love to have my ideas around computers materialized but sadly i don't have the millions to turn them into actual products.

[Pallidus]

do they make a $2000 version or one that has a finger bone of steve jobs in it? for that I'd be willing to pay $10000 plus my first born