4 ms·

eh, USB-C is a mess, but it's got a messy problem. I've found it to be a solid improvement. I would still be delighted to swap my thicket of USB cables, and a

eh, USB-C is a mess, but it's got a messy problem. I've found it to be a solid improvement. I would still be delighted to swap my thicket of USB cables, and a bizarre assortment of sockets over the past fifteen years, for a world of USB-A and USB-C.

the_pwner224 6y ago
There were only ever 4 sockets. Rectangular USB-A for host devices and the weird modified square/rectangle for client devices (printers, docks). Micro-USB for tiny client devices, which pretty much completely replaced mini-USB. One of the factors in the USB-C switch was that what were traditionally client devices, like phones, could now also be hosts. So now USB-C devices need resistors connected to a CC line to identify as host (power source) or client (power sink). Also, there were good reasons for having multiple sockets. USB-C might be rated for 10k or whatever insertions, but it is quite a bit weaker than USB-A. The ports wear out and are not as resistant to stress since they are smaller and shorter. I'm pretty sure the USB-C port on my laptop died from just plugging & unplugging a dock for 2 years. Even if it wasn't completely dead, it no longer makes a secure connection. Of course USB-A wears out too, but not as much.
- Mindless2112 6y ago
  There were 10 receptacles/9 plugs[1] before USB-C. Of those 19 total, the only ones I've never seen in the wild are the USB Mini-A receptacle and the USB Micro-AB receptacle. Receptacles: USB A, USB 3.0 A SS, USB B, USB 3.0 B SS, USB Mini-A, USB Mini-AB, USB Mini-B, USB Micro-AB, USB Micro-B, USB 3.0 Micro-B SS Plugs: USB A, USB 3.0 A SS, USB B, USB 3.0 B SS, USB Mini-A, USB Mini-B, USB Micro-A, USB Micro-B, USB 3.0 Micro-B [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Host_and_device_interface_receptacles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Host_and_device_i...
  - the_pwner224 6y ago
    By there were only ever four sockets, I meant in practical terms, not theoretically. Also, Samsung (and a very small number of other androids) had micro USB 3 for a year or two, but it worked with normal micro USB cables and they went back to micro USB shortly afterwards.
- Marsymars 6y ago
  > USB-C might be rated for 10k or whatever insertions, but it is quite a bit weaker than USB-A. Is it? My sense is that USB-A ports just don't see many insertion cycles. If you go to say, a library PC where the USB-A ports are seeing a dozen insertions per day, they lose any grip or friction after a couple years.
izacus 6y ago
I think the articles like these miss the fact that even when USB-C "fails", in vast majority of use-cases it fails in a way that you still get your result - just not optimally. Charging my phone with the wrong USB-C cable will still charge it when I need it, although very slowly. But I will end up with a usable phone. Not having a proprietary iPhone cable means my iPhone is a dead brick even if I have another device with USB port next to it.

the_pwner224 6y ago

There were only ever 4 sockets. Rectangular USB-A for host devices and the weird modified square/rectangle for client devices (printers, docks). Micro-USB for tiny client devices, which pretty much completely replaced mini-USB. One of the factors in the USB-C switch was that what were traditionally client devices, like phones, could now also be hosts. So now USB-C devices need resistors connected to a CC line to identify as host (power source) or client (power sink). Also, there were good reasons for having multiple sockets. USB-C might be rated for 10k or whatever insertions, but it is quite a bit weaker than USB-A. The ports wear out and are not as resistant to stress since they are smaller and shorter. I'm pretty sure the USB-C port on my laptop died from just plugging & unplugging a dock for 2 years. Even if it wasn't completely dead, it no longer makes a secure connection. Of course USB-A wears out too, but not as much.

Mindless2112 6y ago
There were 10 receptacles/9 plugs[1] before USB-C. Of those 19 total, the only ones I've never seen in the wild are the USB Mini-A receptacle and the USB Micro-AB receptacle. Receptacles: USB A, USB 3.0 A SS, USB B, USB 3.0 B SS, USB Mini-A, USB Mini-AB, USB Mini-B, USB Micro-AB, USB Micro-B, USB 3.0 Micro-B SS Plugs: USB A, USB 3.0 A SS, USB B, USB 3.0 B SS, USB Mini-A, USB Mini-B, USB Micro-A, USB Micro-B, USB 3.0 Micro-B [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Host_and_device_interface_receptacles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Host_and_device_i...
- the_pwner224 6y ago
  By there were only ever four sockets, I meant in practical terms, not theoretically. Also, Samsung (and a very small number of other androids) had micro USB 3 for a year or two, but it worked with normal micro USB cables and they went back to micro USB shortly afterwards.
Marsymars 6y ago
> USB-C might be rated for 10k or whatever insertions, but it is quite a bit weaker than USB-A. Is it? My sense is that USB-A ports just don't see many insertion cycles. If you go to say, a library PC where the USB-A ports are seeing a dozen insertions per day, they lose any grip or friction after a couple years.

izacus 6y ago

I think the articles like these miss the fact that even when USB-C "fails", in vast majority of use-cases it fails in a way that you still get your result - just not optimally. Charging my phone with the wrong USB-C cable will still charge it when I need it, although very slowly. But I will end up with a usable phone. Not having a proprietary iPhone cable means my iPhone is a dead brick even if I have another device with USB port next to it.