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> USB-C was all about standardizing. USB-C is all about having a thinner connector and giving the appearance of standardizing. Previously if the cable fit, it
by cletus 7y ago
> USB-C was all about standardizing.
USB-C is all about having a thinner connector and giving the appearance of standardizing.
Previously if the cable fit, it worked. There were just a bunch of different cables but that had largely settled down to USB-A cables to like 2 maybe 3 connectors on the other end.
Now we have cables that have the same connector on each end but do vastly different things and there's no clue as to what.
- Does it carry data or just power?
- Does it carry a video signal?
- How much data can it carry?
- How much power can it charge?
A USB-C cable that does everything is limited to about 30cm (1 foot) in length, give or take. I know because I use them to connect to a USB-C dock. If I wanted a longer cable to connect to something else, I could. I'd just have to remember not to use it for the dock.
How is this a good user experience?
- dsego 7y agoIt's also not as sturdy. I managed to break one of my ports on a 2016 macbook. Now I try to never let the cable hang from the port.
- molszanski 7y agoUSB-C is shit. Apple lightning physical connector is still lightyears ahead in reliability, maintenance (dust) and physical size. USB-3 standard is even a bigger mess. This whole USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 2 is the biggest clusterfuck in the history of naming things.
- prewett 7y agoSomewhere I read that USB-C's cable design was informed by Apple's experience with thee lightning connector. In particular, one of the changes is that the lightning connector has the springs on the hardware side, which means that if the springs break, you have a major headache. USB-C puts the springs in the connector, so if the springs break, you just buy a new cable. That seems like a pretty big improvement, to me.
- molszanski 7y agoAnything can brake. It is all about probabilities, potential failures etc. Spring failure is less probable than breaking a male part of a connector. If a spring breaks, you have a second one. If both break, you keep the charging functionality. You break the male connector. Game Over.
- saagarjha 7y ago…then you buy a new connector, as mentioned previously?
- molszanski 7y agoI mean the most delicate part, a male part in the usb-c port itself. Naming is hard >_<
- saagarjha 7y agoOh yes, that part always seemed like a weak spot to me. I guess it prevents exposed connectors on the cable? But that's not all that useful…
- molszanski 7y agoexactly :/ Just plain silly. I've already seen two phones in the wild with the damaged usb-c port. User made an error and tried to charge usb-c with micro usb? Yes. Was that preventable with a better design? Yes.