Apple introduces the Thunderbolt Display, a fast external monitor and MacBook dock

By Jeffrey Van Camp July 20, 2011

apple-thunderbolt-display — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Cinema Display is back, with a new name. Today, Apple has announced an external display for its line of MacBook laptops. Called the Thunderbolt Display, the new dock/external monitor can connect up to newer MacBooks via Intel’s high speed Thunderbolt port, which can achieve speeds of 10Gbps, giving users a lot more space to play around on–27 inches of LED screen space, to be exact. The display has a 16:9 aspect ratio and, though we don’t know the actual resolution, Apple boasts that it gives users “7 million additional pixels” to work with and has a 178 degree viewing angle. The monitor will sell for $999 and requires a Mac with a Thunderbolt I/O port. It is now available for order on Apple’s site.

“The Apple Thunderbolt Display is the ultimate docking station for your Mac notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With just one cable, users can dock with their new display and connect to high performance peripherals, network connections and audio devices.”

The display can also be used for Apple’s FaceTime application and has built-in speakers and a number of ports including ethernet, FireWire 800, USB 2.0, and, of course, Thunderbolt. Adapters for HDMI, DVI, and VGA are also available. An ambient light sensor is also included, which can automatically adjust the screen’s brightness, much like smartphones commonly adjust to differing lighting conditions. Our favorite feature is the ability to daisy chain up to five additional monitors or other Thunderbolt-enabled devices. Apple includes a picture of a dual-monitor setup, which you can see below.

Finally, Apple claims that the new monitor is also Energy Star 5.0 compliant and is made safely, meaning it conserves energy and contains no harmful components like PVC cabling, arsenic, or mercury. The display is largely recyclable, so you won’t have to feel bad when you dump it to buy a bigger better Apple display next year.

apple-thunderbolt-display-daisy-chained — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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Jeffrey Van Camp

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…

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