How to connect Apple Thunderbolt Display to new Retina MacBook?

The USB-C port on the new MacBook is not comparably with ThunderBolt. There is no way it can be made to be compatible with ThunderBolt either. The release of the MacBook with the USB-C port might signify the demise of ThunderBolt just as FireWire has gradually disappeared.

Don't take offense to this but it seems that you are the one who didn't think this through. Did something in Apples advertising for the Macbook lead you to believe that thunderbolt was an option?

Give them some time. Who knows maybe it is going to be released here soon. It is new so why would expect to have everything come out immediately anyway.

Does not look promising - see this Macrumours discussion:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1861846&highlight=macbook+thunderbo lt

I have an Apple Display (before Thunderbolt) with a mini display port that I hope I can find a way to connect to my new MacBooks usb-c. I assume from this thread and the linked thread there is no solution yet.

This news that there's no way to connect to the Thunderbolt is crazy to me. I was just about to buy the new MacBook but without a connection to the Thunderbolt, it's a deal-breaker. Thanks Apple for saving me $1600... let's hope they come out with an adapter soon.

MacBook Pro is a much better machine, but boy that new macbook is sexy! I'm starting to see it as an OS X iPad though.

Because of the requirements of ThunderBolt and them limitations of USB-C there is no possibility of an adapter being made to allow that connection.

The new MacBook realistically isn't made to connect to an external display anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is only a single USB-C port on the entire computer.

That port has to cover charging along with anything else you want to do with it. If you found a way to connect it to an external display, you wouldn't have a way to simultaneously charge it as well. You'd have to disconnect it and recharge it pretty frequently, as using an external displays along with an external keyboard uses a lot of battery power.

I agree with Mike S. in that the MacBook Pro is definitely the better option if this is the type of thing you are looking to do with it. If they had put multiple USB-C ports on the new MacBook it would be a completely different story.

Since the USB-C port is where you charge the MacBook in general, wouldn't it make sense for Apple to have a connector for Thunderbolt that both powers it and acts as the external display port?

I have access to both a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro and it doesn't make sense that the Macbook wouldn't hook up to a Thunderbolt. Isn't it supposed to be the mid-point between the Air and the Pro?

It would make sense for them to come out with one. It's still fairly early on with the USB-C port though. A select few other companies have started making laptops with it, but they are still fairly limited. If Apple doesn't come out with a connector, I'm sure that a third party will.

jlstaz wrote:

I have access to both a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro and it doesn't make sense that the Macbook wouldn't hook up to a Thunderbolt. Isn't it supposed to be the mid-point between the Air and the Pro?

I don't think so. Macbook is and has always been the entry level. Look at it more as something between iPad and MacBook Air.....regardless of price.

Thanks Mike.

When I saw that post jlastz I started wondering if I had missed something on the MacBook presentation so I went off to review the specs on it.

Having found the same thing you just said that it is entry level, I returned to post that but found you had beat me to it so I will just concur with you instead.

I still want a gold one though!