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USB, HDMI, Cable ethernet, DisplayPort, PCIe, ... they all use differential signals to transmit data, just different protocols. We could really and truly have j

USB, HDMI, Cable ethernet, DisplayPort, PCIe, ... they all use differential signals to transmit data, just different protocols. We could really and truly have just one type of plug to connect everything to everything a long time ago and without proprietary licenses. As much as I like what USB-C offers as much I hate it and other "stupid" standards that duplicate same function just with differnt plugs - transfering data.

hctaw 6y ago
Different physical connectors prevents you from frying a device that gets plugged into the wrong plug. We should have different connectors for different data rates and power levels. Don't pass the buck to designers, they'll screw up.
- danielEM 6y ago
  Usb already offers couple of different data rates and power levels, so wonder why they use just one usb-c connector for all of it? ;) Ok, sarcasm aside. Technicaly you dont need separate plugs for different connection levels and power transmission up to certain powers. Initial data exchange at some base speed and minimum power requirements can provide necesarry information for devices to establish or refuse connection
  - hctaw 6y ago
    The variety of what is "supported" is also why it's taken years for USB-C to see any modicum of use outside mobile phone chargers that required the higher power and data rates. It's still not commonplace. And it's still only useful for low power devices.
floatboth 6y ago
But it offers exactly things like allocating some lanes to DisplayPort. The unfortunate thing is that Thunderbolt was created, and instead of a simple way to make PCIe external, we have this Intel-created mess that tunnels PCIe over some cursed "MPLS-like network" or whatever it is. And it was completely Intel-proprietary until recently. At least now the spec is open.
- Kliment 6y ago
  The spec is still not open, as far as I can tell. The TB4 mode of USB4 appears to still be proprietary.
  - floatboth 6y ago
    Well, sorry, wrong word. Not public open, but no longer Intel-exclusive.
williamscales 6y ago
I've asked a lot of hardware engineers why ethernet is not simply used for everything. I've never gotten a real answer, one that involves technical reasons. It could be done, but it isn't. I guess people like having different kinds of cables?
- lajhsdfhsdf 6y ago
  Three technical reasons: 1) Long distance communications require much more powerful transmitters/receivers, which also makes it hard to design for high data rate. 10 Gbps ethernet is only just getting popular for consumer electronics, while 10 Gbps USB and video have been around for a very long time. It's not just market forces, it's inherent in the physics of the interface IC design. It also impacts power consumption; a 10 Gbps ethernet PHY takes a lot more power than a USB3.1 hub (by like, 10x per port). 2) Ethernet is galvanically isolated. This takes up a huge amount of space, both volume and PCB area, and makes it much more difficult to provide power. Galvanic isolation is important for robustness across variable electrical environments, but isn't that important for devices in the same room, and especially not on the same AC circuit. 3) The connector is optimized for cost and easy installation in the field, but it's not particularly durable or electrically robust (locking tab is delicate, can't be overmolded easily, not electrically shielded most of the time, huge transmission line stubs, etc.). I can definitely envision a world where everything used maybe two standards, perhaps Ethernet for long distance and Thunderbolt for short, but there are lots of valid reasons for differentiation. There will always be tradeoffs. In the imaginary two-standard world, you wouldn't want to pay for a 20 Gbps Thunderbolt controller in your mouse.
- danielEM 6y ago
  World would be prettier with just ethernet (aldo it is not perfect)

hctaw 6y ago

Different physical connectors prevents you from frying a device that gets plugged into the wrong plug. We should have different connectors for different data rates and power levels. Don't pass the buck to designers, they'll screw up.

danielEM 6y ago
Usb already offers couple of different data rates and power levels, so wonder why they use just one usb-c connector for all of it? ;) Ok, sarcasm aside. Technicaly you dont need separate plugs for different connection levels and power transmission up to certain powers. Initial data exchange at some base speed and minimum power requirements can provide necesarry information for devices to establish or refuse connection
- hctaw 6y ago
  The variety of what is "supported" is also why it's taken years for USB-C to see any modicum of use outside mobile phone chargers that required the higher power and data rates. It's still not commonplace. And it's still only useful for low power devices.

floatboth 6y ago

But it offers exactly things like allocating some lanes to DisplayPort. The unfortunate thing is that Thunderbolt was created, and instead of a simple way to make PCIe external, we have this Intel-created mess that tunnels PCIe over some cursed "MPLS-like network" or whatever it is. And it was completely Intel-proprietary until recently. At least now the spec is open.

Kliment 6y ago
The spec is still not open, as far as I can tell. The TB4 mode of USB4 appears to still be proprietary.
- floatboth 6y ago
  Well, sorry, wrong word. Not public open, but no longer Intel-exclusive.

williamscales 6y ago

I've asked a lot of hardware engineers why ethernet is not simply used for everything. I've never gotten a real answer, one that involves technical reasons. It could be done, but it isn't. I guess people like having different kinds of cables?

lajhsdfhsdf 6y ago
Three technical reasons: 1) Long distance communications require much more powerful transmitters/receivers, which also makes it hard to design for high data rate. 10 Gbps ethernet is only just getting popular for consumer electronics, while 10 Gbps USB and video have been around for a very long time. It's not just market forces, it's inherent in the physics of the interface IC design. It also impacts power consumption; a 10 Gbps ethernet PHY takes a lot more power than a USB3.1 hub (by like, 10x per port). 2) Ethernet is galvanically isolated. This takes up a huge amount of space, both volume and PCB area, and makes it much more difficult to provide power. Galvanic isolation is important for robustness across variable electrical environments, but isn't that important for devices in the same room, and especially not on the same AC circuit. 3) The connector is optimized for cost and easy installation in the field, but it's not particularly durable or electrically robust (locking tab is delicate, can't be overmolded easily, not electrically shielded most of the time, huge transmission line stubs, etc.). I can definitely envision a world where everything used maybe two standards, perhaps Ethernet for long distance and Thunderbolt for short, but there are lots of valid reasons for differentiation. There will always be tradeoffs. In the imaginary two-standard world, you wouldn't want to pay for a 20 Gbps Thunderbolt controller in your mouse.
danielEM 6y ago
World would be prettier with just ethernet (aldo it is not perfect)