Intel Technology Peak Light There Is No Light

An early version of Intel technology connection will not use the Light Peak of light, as a practical realities dictate a more conventional technology, according to industry sources familiar with Intel's plans for the Light Peak.

Light Peak has been touted by Intel as the holy grail connector technology, imagine it as a single replacement for the various cables that currently leads on the monitor, external drives, scanners, printers, and anything else that plugs into a computer.

As originally proposed, the technology of fiber optics connecting multiple devices to a PC with an optical fiber line. But early versions of Light Peak will use copper instead of light-based technology, according to industry sources familiar with Intel's plans.

LightPeak significantly faster than USB 3.0, carry data at 10 gigabits per second in both directions simultaneously. The connection speed will not be affected by the transition to copper, according to several sources.

LightPeak is on track to appear in products in the first half of 2011 - and possibly the beginning of the year rather than later. Intel has received support from both Sony and Apple, which is expected to be among the first to use the technology.