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Before USB, different devices have different cables and sockets. With USB-C, the sockets and cables now look all the same, but the functionality is all differen

Before USB, different devices have different cables and sockets. With USB-C, the sockets and cables now look all the same, but the functionality is all different! "Will this port allow charging? Can I plug in my display and get an image on it in this port? Is this PD? Does the cable support PD?" Yay for progress!

kozak 2y ago
The answer to the "is it PD?" question is increasingly becoming "yes". I recently needed a Qualcomm Quick Charge USB-A charger, and finding one for sale took some effort because most chargers now use PD over USB-C, with their USB-A ports (if any) being plain 5 volts only.
graemep 2y ago
and the vast majority of people have no idea what PD even is, or what to buy.
dinfinity 2y ago
I'm sure many people will try to connect a monitor to this e-bike. But what would you have rather seen? Different connectors for all the different combinations of use cases? USB-C ports on electrical tooth brushes supporting DisplayPort? Complaining is easy, coming up with something better isn't.
vel0city 2y ago
I think it is progress that with a single small cable I plug my laptop in and get 65W of power, multiple monitors, wired networking, and multiple USB devices. Everything that previously required a beefy big proprietary docking station just gets delivered by a single small cable. I can use that with my work laptop, my personal laptop, my wife's work computer, my wife's tablet, my handheld gaming device. I think it is progress that now practically all my portable electronics are charged with the same charging cable, I don't need to bring several different chargers to keep my laptop and my phone and my e-reader charged when travelling.
boesboes 2y ago
Some of you haven't blown out a mobo because PS/2 was a shit standard or were force to buy a new shaver because non of the 20 power bricks you kept for 10 years actually fit anything and it shows ;) My almost 80yo mum doesn't have a clue about PD or DP or what is exactly usb-c, lightning and micro usb; but she can use it perfectly fine. She understands that 'some cables charge slower' and a dedicated power brick can deliver more power than her laptop usb port. I dunno, I think it is a net improvement
- jerlam 2y ago
  Except when you get that one device that can only charge via a USB-A to USB-C cable, and not via USB-C PD. Those throw all logic and simplicity out the window.
  - Doxin 2y ago
    And crucially don't actually conform to the standard. I don't think you can hold manufacturers being especially cheap against USB-C. As I recall it's a the lack of a single resistor that causes the issue.
schwartzworld 2y ago
To add on to what others are saying: USBC is a big upgrade for this device because you aren’t likely to carry your proprietary charger around with you. If your battery is running low you could use a laptop charger borrowed from a friend. That’s pretty huge.
numpad0 2y ago
Well, it's idiot proofing. Can't burn a laptop if the plug didn't go in. Or the jet fighter flashed red 3 times and refused to take fuel. I actually had done it once. It was a 9V adapter into a 12V device. It worked for ~180 seconds, then LCD inverter melted dead from overcurrent.

kozak 2y ago

The answer to the "is it PD?" question is increasingly becoming "yes". I recently needed a Qualcomm Quick Charge USB-A charger, and finding one for sale took some effort because most chargers now use PD over USB-C, with their USB-A ports (if any) being plain 5 volts only.

graemep 2y ago

and the vast majority of people have no idea what PD even is, or what to buy.

dinfinity 2y ago

I'm sure many people will try to connect a monitor to this e-bike. But what would you have rather seen? Different connectors for all the different combinations of use cases? USB-C ports on electrical tooth brushes supporting DisplayPort? Complaining is easy, coming up with something better isn't.

vel0city 2y ago

I think it is progress that with a single small cable I plug my laptop in and get 65W of power, multiple monitors, wired networking, and multiple USB devices. Everything that previously required a beefy big proprietary docking station just gets delivered by a single small cable. I can use that with my work laptop, my personal laptop, my wife's work computer, my wife's tablet, my handheld gaming device. I think it is progress that now practically all my portable electronics are charged with the same charging cable, I don't need to bring several different chargers to keep my laptop and my phone and my e-reader charged when travelling.

boesboes 2y ago

Some of you haven't blown out a mobo because PS/2 was a shit standard or were force to buy a new shaver because non of the 20 power bricks you kept for 10 years actually fit anything and it shows ;) My almost 80yo mum doesn't have a clue about PD or DP or what is exactly usb-c, lightning and micro usb; but she can use it perfectly fine. She understands that 'some cables charge slower' and a dedicated power brick can deliver more power than her laptop usb port. I dunno, I think it is a net improvement

jerlam 2y ago
Except when you get that one device that can only charge via a USB-A to USB-C cable, and not via USB-C PD. Those throw all logic and simplicity out the window.
- Doxin 2y ago
  And crucially don't actually conform to the standard. I don't think you can hold manufacturers being especially cheap against USB-C. As I recall it's a the lack of a single resistor that causes the issue.

schwartzworld 2y ago

To add on to what others are saying: USBC is a big upgrade for this device because you aren’t likely to carry your proprietary charger around with you. If your battery is running low you could use a laptop charger borrowed from a friend. That’s pretty huge.

numpad0 2y ago

Well, it's idiot proofing. Can't burn a laptop if the plug didn't go in. Or the jet fighter flashed red 3 times and refused to take fuel. I actually had done it once. It was a 9V adapter into a 12V device. It worked for ~180 seconds, then LCD inverter melted dead from overcurrent.