4 ms·

As far as I'm aware it is only out-of-spec cables that can cause damage. If everything is in spec then the worst case is just reduced performance or the connect

by rictic 10y ago

As far as I'm aware it is only out-of-spec cables that can cause damage. If everything is in spec then the worst case is just reduced performance or the connection not working. I'd add that – IMO – if an out of spec cable causes damage, then the cable manufacturer should be held responsible. I'm sure that an out of spec USB 2 cable can cause damage as well.

lh7777 10y ago
Right -- it's cables that do not comply with the USB-C spec that can cause damage. It's not as if plugging a Thunderbolt 3 device into a laptop that doesn't support Thunderbolt will damage the laptop. It just won't work.
- notatoad 10y ago
  and trying to argue that out-of-spec cables causing damage to your computer is a deficiency in the spec makes about as much sense as saying the etherkiller demonstrates a problem with the RJ45 spec. (http://etherkiller.org/ http://etherkiller.org/)
gaius 10y ago
As far as I'm aware it is only out-of-spec cables that can cause damage But see http://www.computerworld.com/article/3133627/technology-law-regulation/apple-sues-amazon-supplier-over-fake-iphone-chargers.html http://www.computerworld.com/article/3133627/technology-law-...
Bluestrike2 10y ago
The out of spec cable problem is slowly beginning to resolve itself. Major online retailers, starting with Amazon, seem to be taking action. Between that and possible product liability issues for bad cables (though that's more hope than anything likely for various reasons), we can expect cable manufacturers to get with the program by the time USB-C is further mainstream. Right now, aside from some brand-new Android devices, USB-C is still trickling in on laptops and other devices. The really crazy thing is that there's very little reason to build crappy cables. Per unit, your savings from cutting major corners are as close to zero as you can get. Judging by Benson Leung's Surjtech[0] testing woes, even cutting out any QA testing to save money wouldn't be sufficient to explain all of the cable problems. QA testing certainly can't explain how you can completely forget to wire in the SuperSpeed wires despite labeling it as such. That's not the sort of thing to happen as a one-off. Losing your sales channels, facing potential class action lawsuits, and seeing your brand dragged through the mud all add up to far more significant costs. The biggest problem, IMO, will be when USB-C becomes prevalent enough that we see the $1 cables in checkout lines and gas stations. If there's anywhere we're going to see bad cables being hocked, it's there. Hopefully by that point, manufacturers will have gotten burned enough that good QA will become the norm. 0. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/02/google-engineer-finds-usb-type-c-cable-thats-so-bad-it-fried-his-chromebook-pixel/ http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/02/google-engineer-finds...

by rictic 10y ago

lh7777 10y ago

Right -- it's cables that do not comply with the USB-C spec that can cause damage. It's not as if plugging a Thunderbolt 3 device into a laptop that doesn't support Thunderbolt will damage the laptop. It just won't work.

notatoad 10y ago
and trying to argue that out-of-spec cables causing damage to your computer is a deficiency in the spec makes about as much sense as saying the etherkiller demonstrates a problem with the RJ45 spec. (http://etherkiller.org/ http://etherkiller.org/)

gaius 10y ago

As far as I'm aware it is only out-of-spec cables that can cause damage But see http://www.computerworld.com/article/3133627/technology-law-regulation/apple-sues-amazon-supplier-over-fake-iphone-chargers.html http://www.computerworld.com/article/3133627/technology-law-...

Bluestrike2 10y ago

The out of spec cable problem is slowly beginning to resolve itself. Major online retailers, starting with Amazon, seem to be taking action. Between that and possible product liability issues for bad cables (though that's more hope than anything likely for various reasons), we can expect cable manufacturers to get with the program by the time USB-C is further mainstream. Right now, aside from some brand-new Android devices, USB-C is still trickling in on laptops and other devices. The really crazy thing is that there's very little reason to build crappy cables. Per unit, your savings from cutting major corners are as close to zero as you can get. Judging by Benson Leung's Surjtech[0] testing woes, even cutting out any QA testing to save money wouldn't be sufficient to explain all of the cable problems. QA testing certainly can't explain how you can completely forget to wire in the SuperSpeed wires despite labeling it as such. That's not the sort of thing to happen as a one-off. Losing your sales channels, facing potential class action lawsuits, and seeing your brand dragged through the mud all add up to far more significant costs. The biggest problem, IMO, will be when USB-C becomes prevalent enough that we see the $1 cables in checkout lines and gas stations. If there's anywhere we're going to see bad cables being hocked, it's there. Hopefully by that point, manufacturers will have gotten burned enough that good QA will become the norm. 0. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/02/google-engineer-finds-usb-type-c-cable-thats-so-bad-it-fried-his-chromebook-pixel/ http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/02/google-engineer-finds...