I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device • Hacker News Board

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#11

Post by unwind » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 12:41 PM UTC

sneak wrote: post #8

Hnaomyiph wrote: post #4

I feel like USB-C is cursed enough on its own. The sheer number of times I’ve had to explain to family members why just because the two USB-C ports on a laptop look the same, doesn’t mean they work the same.

This is true of electrical power outlets (15A/20A), HDMI, schrader valves, RJ45 (this one especially!), and many other things in life, and I don't think it's very fair to pick on USB-C in this manner when it does so many other things much better than previous alternatives.

But the point is that USB was introduced more or less on the promise of not being like that. When USB 1.1 came in the late 90s, it was pretty nice. Lots of different ports and cables went away, and all were replaced by standardized USB ports and cables.

You could geek out and learn the difference of upstream (A, host) and downstream (B, device) ports, the various types of B port sizes, and that was it. Later USB 2.0 was introduced and just (bam!) made it all 40 times faster, but it still logically worked pretty much the same.

Then USB 3.x came and just blew all that to h-ll, which is frustrating for both old bearded geeks, and* new/non-technical users.

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#12

Post by tyingq » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 12:44 PM UTC

sbarre wrote: post #5

I love the comment that says you could make a device that requires you to unplug and plug the other way before it works, no matter what.

Two counters tied to an AND gate and you could require X number of orientation flips before it works :)

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#13

Post by ajb » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 12:46 PM UTC

Hah. This made me go looking for a 'warding fingers cross'[1] emoji, but sadly there isn't one.

[1] Like this: https://imgflip.com/memetemplate/153127632/Cross-fingers

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#14

Post by kristiandupont » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 12:50 PM UTC

sneak wrote: post #8

Hnaomyiph wrote: post #4

I feel like USB-C is cursed enough on its own. The sheer number of times I’ve had to explain to family members why just because the two USB-C ports on a laptop look the same, doesn’t mean they work the same.

This is true of electrical power outlets (15A/20A), HDMI, schrader valves, RJ45 (this one especially!), and many other things in life, and I don't think it's very fair to pick on USB-C in this manner when it does so many other things much better than previous alternatives.

I am reminded of Einsteins quote about making things as simple as possible but no simpler. I feel that USB-C is an attempt to make things just a bit simpler than possible.

With USB-A and -B, there is a physical indication of the direction of flow (data and/or current). Just "connecting" two things is sometimes unambiguous, but sometimes it's not.

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#15

Post by minikites » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 12:51 PM UTC

tyingq wrote: post #12

sbarre wrote: post #5

I love the comment that says you could make a device that requires you to unplug and plug the other way before it works, no matter what.

Two counters tied to an AND gate and you could require X number of orientation flips before it works :)

I assume you could add a timer somehow, so you could make it like a combination lock where you have to wait X time between turns?

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#16

Post by weinzierl » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 12:55 PM UTC

Now I want a USB-C thumb drive that has different data on different sides. Like the old 5 1/4" diskette drives where you flipped the disk for double capacity. Using it for retro-gaming would be fun. When the game says "Flip the Disk" you flip the USB drive.

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#17

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 12:57 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#18

Post by Tade0 » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 1:00 PM UTC

My Galaxy S8 and 60W USB-C charger appear to work like this - I often have to do a 180° turn for the phone to start charging.

They only do that in this combination. Not sure if it's consistent though - I should probably mark one side and check.

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#19

Post by rightbyte » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 1:04 PM UTC

sneak wrote: post #7

sbarre wrote: post #5

I love the comment that says you could make a device that requires you to unplug and plug the other way before it works, no matter what.

At least then the insertion effort is O(1): you know in advance it will take two tries. Even that is an upgrade over pre-C USB, in my view.

I do prefer mechanical feedback over software feedback.

Re: I’ve made a Cursed USB-C 2.0 device

#20

Post by mminer237 » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 1:09 PM UTC

unwind wrote: post #11

sneak wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is true of electrical power outlets (15A/20A), HDMI, schrader valves, RJ45 (this one especially!), and many other things in life, and I don't think it's very fair to pick on USB-C in this manner when it does so many other things much better than previous alternatives.

But the point is that USB was introduced more or less on the promise of not being like that. When USB 1.1 came in the late 90s, it was pretty nice. Lots of different ports and cables went away, and all were replaced by standardized USB ports and cables. You could geek out and learn the difference of upstream (A, host) and downstream (B, device) ports, the various types of B port sizes, and that was it. Later USB 2.0…

For consumers, wasn't USB 3.0 just USB 2.0 but a few times faster? USB-C is what is confusing to some people. Replacing micro USB was straightforward enough, but replacing USB-A is a rough process.