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Seagate zaps Thunderbolt drives, LaCie to continue lineup

Seagate-Thunderbolt-drive

Seagate will discontinue its lineup of Thunderbolt storage products in favor of pushing Thunderbolt under its premium LaCie brand, 9to5Mac has learned.

A company spokesperson confirmed the move noting that the product life cycles for the company’s USM technology, which allowed integration of interfaces like Thunderbolt through adapters, is “coming to a conclusion.”

The USM technology is how Seagate supported a multitude of interfaces available at the time. In 2012, Seagate proactively acquired the leading brand in Thunderbolt with LaCie and has continued to massively build the Thunderbolt portfolio with the brand since then.

Seagate products will continue supporting Mac users via USB 3.0 or wireless connections.

It’s not all that surprising considering 1.) Thunderbolt accessories are still very much a niche product that are mostly catering to pros, and 2.) LaCie, which Seagate purchased back in 2012 and kept around as a premium brand, is a much more Mac focused brand with Apple-like aesthetics, and it already has a good grasp on the customer base interested in Thunderbolt storage. LaCie currently offers a wide range of Thunderbolt storage solutions including its popular Rugged, 2big, and Little Big Disk product lines.

But whether or not we can read into this as a sign of the times for Thunderbolt adoption is another question. With USB Type-C integration about to take off, including possibly on a 12-inch MacBook without Thunderbolt or any other ports, we could speculate that Thunderbolt will become even more so a niche Mac I/O for pro users opposed to a more widespread USB replacement that Apple and Intel might have originally hoped for when first creating it.

Going forward the Seagate brand won’t be releasing new Thunderbolt product as it phases out the product line and focuses on LaCie Thunderbolt products. Seagate’s 3TB and 4TB Backup Plus Desktop Thunderbolt drives are listed as out of stock on its website and its other Thunderbolt products, including the 1TB Backup Plus Portable Drive for Mac, will likely soon get the same treatment.

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Comments

  1. bdkennedy11 - 9 years ago

    1999 – Apple puts the first Firewire ports on its Macs. Firewire never catches on because of high licensing cost to third parties.

    2011 – Apple puts the first Thunderbolt ports on its Macs. Thunderbolt never catches on because of high licensing cost to third parties.

    • totencough - 9 years ago

      2023 – Apple puts the first Plasma ports on its Macs. Plasma never catches on because it actually burns through the machine because it’s so powerful. Third parties quiver in fear.

    • nsxrebel - 9 years ago

      Firewire was Apple’s. Was known as i.Link with Sony. Apple’s fault for high license fees.

      Thunderbolt actually belongs to Intel, known as Light Peak. Not Apple’s fault for high license fees.

    • vkd108 - 9 years ago

      Yes, Intel is squarely to blame for the extortionately high licensing fees it charges for Thunderbolt. Seems crazy to me, such blatant and uncontrollable greed forcing your own product into a niche and severely hindering it from taking off, a bit like going swimming with concrete boots on.

  2. I do video editing and use Striped SSDs in a USB3 RAID case – but had hopes of migraing my drives into Thunderbolt RAID arrays so I could daisy-chain them and not have to swap back and forth.

    But with the unsupportably high cost of Thunderbolt peripherals (Who is driving this? Apple or Intel?), and negligible availability of empty RAID cases, I had a feeling we were about to see the death of Thunderbolt. And so it begins.

    Here we go again…

  3. mpias3785 - 9 years ago

    Sadly, single mechanism spinning drives are limited in speed by the drive mechanisms. I’ve seen no appreciable speed difference between $50 1TB USB 3.0 drive and a far more expensive thunderbolt drive. At least Firewire drives were faster, daisy-chainable and not that much more expensive. (Yes, I know thunderbolt supports daisy-chaining but you have to pay through the nose for the privilege). Since SSDs and the associated thunderbolt electronics are so expensive, they basically exclude the average user.

    • WaveMedia (@WaveMedia) - 9 years ago

      Good thing it’s aimed more at the pro than the average user then. Thunderbolt is massive in the audio and video industries. It’s gaining traction in engineering circles too in much the same way FireWre did. The F22 uses FireWire 3200 interconnects for example.

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        Apple killed firewire after 800. Even firewire 3200 is slower than USB 3.0. Not that the typical consumer would need anything faster than USB 3.0 until SSD prices dropped dramatically, but the addition of thunderbolt was premature and something is keeping the prices stupidly high. Personally I could use a third USB 3.0 or ethernet port on my rMBP rather than a second thunderbolt port. Even at this late date thunderbolt hubs are about 10 times the price of USB 3.0 hubs.

        It’s a technology that should be left off lower-end Macs that don’t have the horsepower to use it. All it dose is increase the cost.

      • nsxrebel - 9 years ago

        @mpias3785

        USB 3.0 may have higher theoretical speeds, but FireWire 800 still trumps it in constant speed performance. I’m in film school, and we all use FW800 drives, same thing in the video/audio industry.

  4. friedmud1 - 9 years ago

    My group bought one of these to go with all of our new Mac Pro workstations: http://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series_RS5212-overview.htm

    They are awesome. Great performance with SSD or spinning disk. We use some 1TB SSDs just for exchanging big files using these guys (drives are hit swappable… even spinning ones)

  5. zeetree - 9 years ago

    I’m a long time speed connectivity user. Starting with SCSI, then Appletalk over the various peecee formats of the 1980’s to the breathtaking Firewire 400 followed by a sluggish USB 1.0. Then came Firewire 800, and a lethargic upgrade to USB 2.0. Then came Thunderbolt 1.Wow. A true breakthrough – but still limited in scope. This was followed by a upgrade to USB 3.0 which reaches theoretical high speeds – and real world USB 2.0 speeds… amazing… Then came Thunderbolt 2, and now I am eagerly awaiting waiting for version 3. Which of these were Apple? None. All had plenty of input from Cupertino, but most were Intel derived technologies.

    The thing is that I was on the phone just today with Seagate tech support regarding a failure in the connectivity of their Thunderbolt and Firewire products that I own – which turns out to be (as they admitted) software/firmware related. Sorry! They said… but there was never going to be a fix… It was software/firmware that they have zero intention of ever fixing. Why? Because they no longer manufacture any products for those connections. Plus, (and this was more than offensive), they count the warranty and support time NOT from when you or I purchase their product. Instead, the warranty begins on every drive they sell – like a shot clock – from when THEY ship the product. Not from when a customer buys it. Not at all. Seriously! Imagine if GM or Mercedes or Ford claimed a policy like this! The execs would be put in jail! Next to Bernie Madoff!

    I can go on with many other examples, but the bottom line is that anyone expecting Seagate to behave like a civil even-handed company is literally insane. Anyone expecting Seagate to stand behind their products is equally out-to-lunch. And anyone expecting Seagate to be anything like Apple is an absolute idiot. Seagate could care less about customer satisfaction, and has no interest in the performance and quality oriented consumer. On the other hand, if you shop at WalMart, buy from Dell, have an AOL account, and are sad that RadioShack is going under; then Seagate is the brand for you.

  6. kevin davis (@JKMMD15) - 9 years ago

    Back in September, 2014, I had to call Seagate regarding a dead portable HD and recovery. While on the phone I asked the tech guy why the sale(then) of Thunderbolt adaptors for Macs. He stated then that Seagate was doing away with Thunderbolt and going with USB3. So, I went ahead and purchased two of the Thunderbolt adaptors for use down the road. BTW, I am on my 3rd Seagate 2.5″ HD. They seem to last about a year and I simply open up the plastic case, put in a new one, format it, then download my files. Personally, I like Thunderbolt(I also have a Drobo 5D), and it is hooked up with my iMac. I like the idea of one cord doing everything. Over the holidays I purchased the OWC dock (which works well), I can hook whatever I need into it, and still keep the back of the iMac clean.
    I suppose once my 2011MBP falters I will get a new one but it works well, I keep it up to date(upgraded HD/ram, 2nd HD in optical slot). Then I will look at LaCie. I have to ask, though, why the high cost? What was Intel thinking on this(Intel technology)?

  7. Daniel J. Cox - 9 years ago

    I’m sick of Seagate’s lack of commitment to anything! I bought in to their Thunderbolt Tray system and came to the conclusion weeks ago that they were dropping this system. I subsequently am now purchasing all G-Tech thunderbolt drives and feel more comfortable that G-Tech is in it for the long term. Seagate is notorious for building up interest and then dropping it all. I’m tired of Seagate to say the least.

    • gargravarr - 9 years ago

      Are you happy with the perfomance/durability of G-Tech? I’m trying to decide which Thunderbolt drives to replace my USB2 backups with and would be interested in your view.

      • nsxrebel - 9 years ago

        I use a G-Tech external 1TB FW800 drive that I use for video editing. It’s the kind that is bus-powered and doesn’t need an external power source. No problems here the past 3 years. G-Tech is owned by Western Digital, which in my experience, have better drives than seagate.

        I also have a Verbatim 500GB FW400 drive, the controller/enclosure went bad. I couldn’t find a FW800 or Thunderbolt enclosure at Fry’s Electronics, I ended up getting a USB 3.0 enclosure. Not exactly what I wanted but USB 3.0 is a huge improvement over FW400. Not sure what kind of drive was in the Verbatim though. I’ve had it for about 4-5 years and still works great.

      • Daniel J. Cox - 9 years ago

        Sorry for the delay. I didn’t see this comment. Yes I’ve been very happy with the Tech drives. I have almost a dozen and so far no issues. Hope this helps.

  8. vkd108 - 9 years ago

    I firmly believe Thunderbolt products would not be so niche if Intel did not insist on charging such an extortionately high premium for it. Yes, I know that some person out there will rush to the defence of Intel, but please, spare us. Thanks.

  9. Apple will support USB 3.1 Type C as it’s “one port to rule them all.” As will everyone else. Apple has the benefit this time around of helping to build the next USB standard; knowing full well the mass adoption amongst PC and Android devices.

    To be clear: USB 3.1 Type C will be the size of a lightning connector, can transfer as ThunderBolt Gen 1 speeds and supports up to 100 W of power transfer. It will replace all other ports. Current USB, HDMI, ThunderBolt, Lightning, MiniUSB, DisplayPort, MagSafe – all gone.

    It is expected that the standard will be available this year. Apple will replace all ports with USB 3.1 Type C on iOS and OS X devices over the next two years. (At which point, Apple will finally be able to launch long-distance wireless charging for iOS devices)

    • zeetree - 9 years ago

      Dylan

      While it is true that Apple will be supporting USB 3.1 (as will virtually all next gen Intel desktop and laptop CPUset vendors). But it is also true that for virtually all of the future computer product line contemplated Apple will retain Thunderbolt 3.0+. This is because no future generation of USB is being spec’d to easily port multiple 5K display output at the same time as high speed data transfer. The USB 3.1+ specs are aligned around displays that are consumer and wireless based – such as Airplay, at lower 1080p resolutions for now and 4K for later. This doesn’t easily work for 5K and the whole Retina concept. There is no deviation behind the mantra SJ laid down that in the post-PC era – the vast majority of future Macs must be like trucks and haul truck-like loads – because that is one of the things that will separate them from cloud-based netbooks and devices.

      Abandoning on-board USB 3.0 porting is also not currently considered for the core high-end Apple user, as this would cause some critical third party peripheral devices to fail. Sure a hub could be devised, but even then a number of third party devices would still falter, and the cleanliness of AppleDesign would be tossed aside. Unfortunately many of these devices are legacy by default – such as slide scanners and keyfobs. But even printers and flatbed scanners are not high on very many replacement budgets (true for users as well as producers). Having said this, there are a number of brilliant MacBook Pro combo dock concepts that would do away with the 3.0 port on the portable portion, but not on the combo itself. And as to iMacs and MacPro devices, there is no particular space issue that removing the 3.0 port would solve.

      As to Lightning, Apple enjoys the exclusivity of it’s use in the IOS universe. To make the move to USB 3.1 would require them to give up the “Made for IOS” sandbox. I suppose one needs reminded that this is both a revenue stream and a control point for Apple. To my knowledge, at this point there is no movement internally in Cupertino that would or could make your statement anything but false.

      It is true though that MagSafe, HDMI, MiniUSB, DisplayPort are all on the demise.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.