Intel to hold back USB 3.0 for notebooks until 2012

Intel Computers remains adamant upon its stand on not to include USB 3.0 as part of its chipset until 2012 leaving notebook users with the same old and much slower USB 2.0. Although USB 3.0 is now becoming increasingly common on desktops via motherboards as well as external devices, Intel is still hesitant to go the same way with notebook processors. Note that Intel’s desktops that launch next year alongside the Sand Bridge platform will include the USB 3.0 interface.

Briefing its partners about the little known Chief river platform Intel computers also mentioned that mass production is slated to commence only by September 2011, with product launches occurring in January 2012, somewhere close to CES. The chief river platform which is to be incorporated in Ivy bridge mobile CPU’s, refers to the 22nm die-shrink of the Sandy Bridge architecture that will launch by this year for desktops and consequently for notebooks in the first quarter of 2011.

This news could be a dampener for prospective buyers of a USB 3.0 Mac or a USB 3.0-ready Huron River laptop early next year. Steve Jobs too has accepted that owing to lack of support from Intel, Mac’s supporting USB 3.0 will not be a reality soon enough, until and unless Intel holds back its apprehension and starts including native support on its native chipsets.

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