Originally Posted by
davidad
The new and improved ain't so improved.
Some were and some weren't. Shimano's Octalink was a questionable improvement in weight and stiffness but at least their bottom brackets were durable and reliable. ISIS varied all over the map in terms of quality. Some were dreadful and some were pretty good.
The newest external cup bottom brackets have some theoretical benefits but how much they really change things for the better is highly debatable.