New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing • Hacker News Board

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#11

Post by frosted-flakes » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:31 AM UTC

maxerickson wrote: post #6

city41 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently received a new work laptop in the mail. And IT had stuck a piece of paper inside explaining it is essential I only charge it with the charger it came with, other usb-c chargers/cables might not work and could possibly damage the laptop. I am very ignorant on usb-c, but to me it seems crazy it's come to things like that.

How true is it?

You can charge with any cable that supports that power level. The problem is you can buy cheap cables that don't meet standards and can burn up. Or, the laptop won't charge at all because the user's own charger doesn't support Power Delivery, and IT doesn't want to deal with supporting 3rd party chargers—I know my Dell XPS 13 won't charge over normal USB at all, and needs a 45W charger to charge at full speed.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#12

Post by icelancer » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:31 AM UTC

Forge36 wrote: post #2

I know at some point I'm sure I asked for fewer connector types. Seeing it now: I suspect unique connectors to a purpose is insanely useful usability. Immediate failure feedback has it's uses. See NEMA outlet variation [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#/media/File:NEM...

The NEMA code is exactly what I think about when I think about USB-C's failures. Imagine if NEMA connectors were standardized and the voltage/amperage was disconnected from the shape of the connector? Ridiculous.

While a standardized USB-C connector with non-standardized features isn't that dangerous, it's equally stupid, and was solved decades ago.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#13

Post by someotherperson » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:38 AM UTC

Rather than messing around with logos why not mandate a specific typeface to be used mentioning the version/speed/capacity immediately next to the logo? Rather than screwing around with more hieroglyphics pretending it is the solution, just write it out.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#14

Post by presentation » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:39 AM UTC

Forge36 wrote: post #2

I know at some point I'm sure I asked for fewer connector types. Seeing it now: I suspect unique connectors to a purpose is insanely useful usability. Immediate failure feedback has it's uses. See NEMA outlet variation [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#/media/File:NEM...

For the purpose of power delivery this makes sense, but for the purpose of sending data down a wire, most people’s use cases can be done with the throughput of most usb-c cables, it is really convenient to just use any cable lying around for any data usage.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#15

Post by DaiPlusPlus » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:48 AM UTC

mjevans wrote: post #4

Finally, a clear logo showing if a cable supports 240W. The USB 40Gbps logo is fine too. Now can we also get some logos for the other speeds: 20Gbps, 10Gbps, 5Gbps, 0.4Gbps (480Mbit). Also the other (PD 2.0+) power levels: 100W, 65W, 45W, 27W, 15W. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#USB_Power_Deliver...

> Finally, a clear logo showing if a cable supports 240W.

Trademark law never stopped dodgy Amazon cable sellers before though.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#16

Post by atatatat » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:49 AM UTC

maxerickson wrote: post #6

city41 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently received a new work laptop in the mail. And IT had stuck a piece of paper inside explaining it is essential I only charge it with the charger it came with, other usb-c chargers/cables might not work and could possibly damage the laptop. I am very ignorant on usb-c, but to me it seems crazy it's come to things like that.

How true is it?

Lots of Nintendo Switch charger/dock anecdotes revealing issues here.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#17

Post by oddity » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:55 AM UTC

Titan2189 wrote: post #7

Surely I wasn't the only one to immediately think of this? XKCD Standards: https://xkcd.com/927/

This isn't a case of a standard coming along to a crowded market. Rather, this is the opposite scenario. USB-C won and now they have to deal with the fallout of unifying all the things past, present, and future.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#18

Post by white-flame » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:57 AM UTC

Daishiman wrote: post #3

It's a start, but my understanding is that not all data is created equal in USB3 land, correct?

Across USB-C land, there's the various USB3s as well as Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, PCIe, and probably others, too, all sharing the same connector with arbitrary overlaps or omissions of compatibilities across the N-dimensional matrix.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#19

Post by philistine » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 2:58 AM UTC

maxerickson wrote: post #6

city41 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently received a new work laptop in the mail. And IT had stuck a piece of paper inside explaining it is essential I only charge it with the charger it came with, other usb-c chargers/cables might not work and could possibly damage the laptop. I am very ignorant on usb-c, but to me it seems crazy it's come to things like that.

How true is it?

My own work laptop is a bit old and has a barrel plug and USB-C. When the laptop is truly out of juice, only the barrel plug will charge it. So I can't leave it at work. YMMV.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#20

Post by userbinator » Mon, Oct 04, 2021, 3:01 AM UTC

Forge36 wrote: post #2

I know at some point I'm sure I asked for fewer connector types. Seeing it now: I suspect unique connectors to a purpose is insanely useful usability. Immediate failure feedback has it's uses. See NEMA outlet variation [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#/media/File:NEM...

I wish laptops would've standardised on the 20V barrel jack (maybe with slightly different sizes to denote current capability), like they almost did before USB-C came along.