And here I am still using DVI to run my monitors...
USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
201–210 of 624 posts
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#202Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, but try explaining to your non-technical friend with two monitors why connecting their laptop to both via USB C works, but their phone only gives video output on one. There are at least 5 ways to transfer video over USB C: Straight USB, HDMI alternate mode, DisplayPort alternate mode, MHL alternate mode, and Thunderbolt. Then it's also possible for an alternate mode to only use a subset of the available lanes,…
Would the situation be better when you'd have to explain why does his monitor have 3 different connection ports but not the 5th one he needs? Or that he's lacking the right converter cables for all different 5 possible types?
Yes, that would be easier to understand. That is as easy to understand as a child's "shape sorter" toy:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71F1sWVVXAL...
If the monitor has a Triangle port, and the computer has a Square port, you need a Triangle-to-Square adapter. Simple.
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#203I can recommend one amazingly deal of a charger: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001218252042.html
120W type-c PD+QC
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#204Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, but try explaining to your non-technical friend with two monitors why connecting their laptop to both via USB C works, but their phone only gives video output on one. There are at least 5 ways to transfer video over USB C: Straight USB, HDMI alternate mode, DisplayPort alternate mode, MHL alternate mode, and Thunderbolt. Then it's also possible for an alternate mode to only use a subset of the available lanes,…
Would the situation be better when you'd have to explain why does his monitor have 3 different connection ports but not the 5th one he needs? Or that he's lacking the right converter cables for all different 5 possible types?
"If it fits, it works" is pretty easy to explain. An adapter cable is also easy to explain: it fits, so it will work. With USB C, there are scenarios where you can have an adapter cable and it'll still not work.
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#205Really? I find it to be a game changer for me. The fact that my laptop, Switch, iPad, and several other devices can all share a charge has made my life much easier. I can just sprinkle a few of them throughout the house and never be without power. Before it was always a hunt to find a cable, or I had to be in [x] room to charge [y] device because that's where the charger lived. Plus, I can charge my MacBook on either…
Every discussion about USB-C quickly devolves into one group saying that it's a mess and pointing out all the intricacies and complexities, and another group saying "hey, I'm charging my stuff and it's fine!".
USB-C was not supposed to be a glorified power cable. It promised much, much more, and manufacturers annoyingly restricting the port choices on newer laptops made that promise even more prominent. It has failed miserably on that promise.
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#206I'd say the spec is fine. It's the implementations of it that's a mess.
Mostly when it comes to the different voltages they can be set to provide.
Here's a video I saw recently which explains all about USB-C 'PD' (Power Delivery): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iumAnPiQSj8
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#207USB-C is mostly a mess if you try to get away using the cheapest adapters/cables you can find, that often times won't follow the spec. Most of the issues vanish if you use high-end cables/adapters from reputable manufacturers. This is a departure from the world of Micro USB where most cheap cables worked just as good as "high end" cables. There are caveats. For example, my Nintendo Switch, a major electronics device…
Another caveat is that many monitors have USB-C ports, but many (most?) cables do not support video. Even my cable from a luxury brand in Cupertino doesn't support it, so it's not just about sticking to famous brands.
I'm not sure how a regular consumer is supposed to understand this. In the past, it wasn't possible to plug a VGA cable into a PS/2 port. Now, you just have to know these hidden properties of each cable.
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#208Earlier quoted context omitted.
I charge my Switch with various USB PD chargers (mostly Anker but also Apple, Google and others) and haven't had a problem so far. I was trying to find some information about what would cause PD-compliant chargers to fry the Switch. It appears that while the switch is PD-compliant itself, they used a slightly non-standard connector that reduces tolerances and could, in some situations (most likely worn cables) cause…
I found that Switch cannot use Apple's charger with the dock. It literally complains about the cable being wrong.
The dock is a special case and requires some specific voltage/amperage support. But the switch itself abides by EU regulations.
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#209Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a simple problem, and there's a simple solution. Problem: Physical connectors previous encoded information about data/power transfer mode support. When USB C unified the physical connector, that information was lost. Solution: Mandate visually encoded supported standards on the USB cable in colored ring form, a la resistors. Make them plastic, so you can snip them off if the aesthetic bothers. But I should be…
> Physical connectors previous encoded information about data/power transfer mode support. When USB C unified the physical connector, that information was lost. this is not strictly true, at least for USB. you can use a USB 1.x to connect USB2/3 endpoints, but you will only get 1.x speeds. there were power-only cables that didn't transfer data at all. they are all physically compatible. unless you're familiar with th…
And barrel jacks in power land.
But suffice it to say, the situation was simpler / more user-friendly.
Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess
#210Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Aha - you may find that your Switch CANNOT in fact share a charge - Nintendo's port is not necessarily safe to use with anything but its supplied charger. And I've just learned this lesson with a $60 bill from Nintendo repair after the port went pop and couldn't charge the device. I only have reputable chargers in the house from Apple and one from Anker aside from the Nintendo's own. It has worked reliably with pre…
Another vote for the switch being evil here - just because it works for you doesn't mean it's an urban myth. The OnePlus adapters have historically had issues with the switch - https://www.reddit.com/r/oneplus/comments/5xexiz/fyi_the_one... and the iPhone usb adapters have also had issues. The fact that there's a wiki on "what usb c charger to buy" for your switch suggest many others are having issues too - https://w…
With OnePlus adapters, I would only ever use it for Dash / Warp charging of their phones. It's unique enough that I wouldn't even consider attempting to charge a laptop or a switch with it.