The biggest fraud of USB-C is it just doesn't do what consumers expect. I bought a USB-C device, expecting the device to then provide all the functionality that USB-C was advertised as having. But the manufacturer didn't implement any of those features, so it's just a non-standard cable that I need a dozen adapters for. What a joke.
USB Type-C is still a mess
141–150 of 231 posts
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#142The crazy part is that "reversible USB" was already a solved problem, by clever engineering of the A plug. Never mind that on its face, the C plug is a nice reversible plug. But then someone noticed all those contact points on one side that went to waste half the time, and thought they could cram even more signals down the wire, and here we are...
Are you saying that some USB-C implementations are direction-specific? I've never heard of that problem before.
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#143Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is the condescension really warranted for a simple question?
I didn't read it as being directed at you; just a statement of fact, not everyone is glued to technology like the average demographic on HN, it's weird to hear that someone can be unable to use their laptop immediately and they're comfortable with that.
It's a statement of fact that the average demographic of HN are not human beings?
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#144Earlier quoted context omitted.
In my experience the connector from Apple is far more reliable than USB C. USB C is a rounded flat rectangle with a piece of plastic in the center and pins between, which is small and can easily be damaged. Lightning on the other hand is a solid metal connector with the pins/contacts on the outside, which is much more sturdier. Lighting also does a nice "click" when connected.
I can confirm your suspicions. My Xperia X Compact is barely holding any USB-C cable now (after just 1.5 years of usage). And I went through 5 or 6 USB mini to USB-C adapters from Anker in the meantime. At the same time my nearly 4 year old Samsung Galaxy is holding strong without any wiggle room on the USB port.
My experience with USB-C female sockets is mostly that, especially on phones where they're frequently in clothing, end up full of lint, and that's what causes the cable to go in.
Be careful, stick something sharp in (avoiding the middle pins!), and get the lint out, and it'll be fine.
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#145Earlier quoted context omitted.
In my experience the connector from Apple is far more reliable than USB C. USB C is a rounded flat rectangle with a piece of plastic in the center and pins between, which is small and can easily be damaged. Lightning on the other hand is a solid metal connector with the pins/contacts on the outside, which is much more sturdier. Lighting also does a nice "click" when connected.
Everyone I know with a Pixel 1 or 2 has a loose connection to their USB-C cable, even nice aftermarket Anker ones. It feels as fragile as the USB 3 external hard drive connector type.
My MacBook Pro has the same issue, constant plugging and unplugging whenever it moves while it's on my lap. it doesn't matter which port or cable I use, it's very fragile.
it's hard to use a laptop as a laptop when it has to remain still to be plugged in.
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#146“Why doesn’t Apple just get rid of Lightning and use USB-C on their iPhones!” This is why. Ignoring the momentum Lightning had from being a few years older, this is a great reason not to switch. Sadly I know this has become a big problem for people on the new Macs. Plug a USB-C hub in? Now that port doesn’t do Thunderbolt or Display Port. How do you know that? Trial and error. Very un-Appley.
It's ridiculous. Thankfully, many insider reports state that they are indeed changing out the other end that goes into the charger from USB-A to USB-C on the next generation iPhone lineup so at least you'll be able to plug the damn thing into your Macbook Pro. That misstep was probably the most un-Appley thing i've seen them do in quite some time.
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#147Not putting enough ports on devices is a crucial problem. Apple with their stupid single port is just idiotic. The best port selection with usb-c is on the 2015 chrome pixel laptop. 2 usb-c, 2 usb-a. Just having a single usb-c has caused endless pain, all so apple could sell stupid dongles. The new google pixelbook 2018 is a great form factor, except they only have 2 usb-c, they dropped usb-a. The reason was probably…
> Apple with their stupid single port is just idiotic. Not really. The entry-grade MacBook is designed to be tiny and portable . One port that does everything fits with this philosophy (makes the laptop thinner and smaller and less complex - yes, it makes a surprisingly large difference). Want more? The MacBook Pro is for you then with 4 ports - all of which, as they are usb-c, are more multi-functional than usb-a (n…
Theres literally nothing preventing them from adding another port on the other side. It was a design decision not a technical limitation - there's plenty of ultralights the same size for a lot less money that have two USB-C's. It's been the single biggest complaint about the product. Calling it an edge case is a massive understatement.
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#148Earlier quoted context omitted.
And the latter part have caught some people unaware, where a battery pack and a phone will ping pong who is charging who until both are dead.
> And the latter part have caught some people unaware, where a battery pack and a phone will ping pong who is charging who until both are dead. Or, if you're really unlucky, it'll attempt to charge your wall. No, I'm not joking: https://twitter.com/chimeracoder/status/941820122406064128
That is hilarious. At least it gives you the option.
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#149The crazy part is that "reversible USB" was already a solved problem, by clever engineering of the A plug. Never mind that on its face, the C plug is a nice reversible plug. But then someone noticed all those contact points on one side that went to waste half the time, and thought they could cram even more signals down the wire, and here we are...
Are you saying that some USB-C implementations are direction-specific? I've never heard of that problem before.
Best i understand, they kinda are. But then the electronics at either end is responsible for negotiating what side is "up".
Re: USB Type-C is still a mess
#150Earlier quoted context omitted.
If an equivalent exists for USB 2.0, I'm surprised a company hasn't come it to sweep up the low hanging fruit. Why do you think that is? Is there something in the spec that's holding anyone back? or is it a chicken and egg problem where no one invests in Type C because no one has yet?
According to the spec a USB 2.0 to USB C cable must have a resistor that tells the USB C end to max deliver 0.5 A. If another resistor is used to signal higher currents using that cable could fry peripherals that follow the USB 2.0 spec. Also, I don't know much about USB 2.0 but I thought we had a whole slew of proprietary solutions for fast charging and all were incompatible with each other. So it was quite messy ev…
You only really need to slow charge when you get near to top or bottom end of the battery's charge. From around 20-80% charge you can charge the fuck out of you shit with no drawbacks, but if you try and push the those limits then you start seeing significant wear.