2 ms·

TB3/USBC is insane and a mess. Whoever decided to use the same connector is insane. I have varying cables with the same connector which do: - Power but not da

TB3/USBC is insane and a mess. Whoever decided to use the same connector is insane. I have varying cables with the same connector which do: - Power but not data - USB Data but no/low power - USB Data but only at USB2 speed (why?) - USB Data but only USB3 - TB3 - LOL don't forget USB-PD At least in the late 90s ecosystem of a dozen different connectors you could visually identify them. Now I have various special unicorn cables around the house which look the same, but only work for use case X or Y or Z. Examples are things like - I have one cable that can charge my camera over USB-C, and one cable that can transmit data between my camera & MacBook.. but neither does both. I suppose I could acquire a third cable to accomplish that.

xenadu02 6y ago
This is a feature, not a bug. The USB-IF is just a bunch of manufacturers getting together to agree on a standard. The vast majority of them are interested in one thing: lowering the BOM. Cheap, cheap, cheap! That's what matters. Making things super cheap means making lots of the spec optional so they can re-use existing chip designs, less expensive cables, etc. If they can make things easier for customers that's a nice bonus but ultimately it doesn't matter. The free market does not always optimize for what you think it should optimize for.
vetinari 6y ago
Have look at the USB-C pinout, it will be obvious then. (E.g.: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/introduction-to-usb-type-c-which-pins-power-delivery-data-transfer/ https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/introduc...) Wrt USB2 vs USB3 - these have separate pins and wires. USB3 requires four extra wires, which must be of higher quality than those for USB2; their presence is the difference between 2 EUR and 10 EUR cable. TB3 is quite different cable; if it is over 0.5m, it will be an active one.

xenadu02 6y ago

This is a feature, not a bug. The USB-IF is just a bunch of manufacturers getting together to agree on a standard. The vast majority of them are interested in one thing: lowering the BOM. Cheap, cheap, cheap! That's what matters. Making things super cheap means making lots of the spec optional so they can re-use existing chip designs, less expensive cables, etc. If they can make things easier for customers that's a nice bonus but ultimately it doesn't matter. The free market does not always optimize for what you think it should optimize for.

vetinari 6y ago

Have look at the USB-C pinout, it will be obvious then. (E.g.: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/introduction-to-usb-type-c-which-pins-power-delivery-data-transfer/ https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/introduc...) Wrt USB2 vs USB3 - these have separate pins and wires. USB3 requires four extra wires, which must be of higher quality than those for USB2; their presence is the difference between 2 EUR and 10 EUR cable. TB3 is quite different cable; if it is over 0.5m, it will be an active one.