Re:The beautiful Silent ThunderBolt-3 PC
by MichaelZuo on Friday December 25, 2020 @04:27PM
(#25539169)
What is typically called ‘ethernet’ is actually a family of interrelated protocols. Correct implementations are costly since they require quality components and fine-tuning between hardware, firmware, and software levels.
Most consumer products just use generic components that some factory negotiators were willing to offload for cheap. The high end products with megabucks contracts are the ones capable of hitting guaranteed reliability targets.
Apple, like for most other components, is the only big consumer brand that consistently uses something better than whatever was cheapest in Shenzhen. Even business oriented brands, like Western Digital, Brother, etc., have been cutting costs in these areas recently for their cheapest lines. Boutique smaller brands like CalDigit, Lacie, etc., who justify their premium pricing with quality, also usually puts effort into doing it correctly.
Most consumer products just use generic components that some factory negotiators were willing to offload for cheap. The high end products with megabucks contracts are the ones capable of hitting guaranteed reliability targets.
Apple, like for most other components, is the only big consumer brand that consistently uses something better than whatever was cheapest in Shenzhen. Even business oriented brands, like Western Digital, Brother, etc., have been cutting costs in these areas recently for their cheapest lines. Boutique smaller brands like CalDigit, Lacie, etc., who justify their premium pricing with quality, also usually puts effort into doing it correctly.