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I have a MacBook Pro and have never used thunderbolt. Why is it a big deal / what do you use it for?

I use it for external GPU and an external TB2 SSD raid array. The thing is, these laptops are starting at $2500, ignoring the base model integrated GPU that is just there for making the starting price attractive (although that one could benefit the most from an eGPU...)

It sounds like a technical reason for it being excluded (lacking extra PCI-E lanes) but it is just disappointing on a laptop in the $2.5k-$3k range in late 2017.

since they already have a 1060 in the surface, they will only be losing customers with TB2 SSD raid arrays on their laptops I guess.

So like 3 people.

I use a single TB3 port to connect two 4K displays, 100W power and all USB devices all through a single cable

And Surface Book 2 will do that just fine. (You're almost certainly not using Thunderbolt but plethora if USB-C alternate modes)

A USB-C port will just barely power a 4K display at 60hz on its own. There's no way to get two 4k displays, USB, and power delivery without the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3

Is it a Macbook ? I haven't seen that it's possible to connect two monitors over one TB3 port on the MBP 16.

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