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

pcworld.com

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

#141

Post by netizen-936824 »

tgaj wrote: post #130
y4mi wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never seen a laptop that didn't label the thunderbolt capable ports, are you sure that wasn't just you not paying attention? Or do you honestly expect all ports to be thunderbolt capable? If so, you'd have to expect a massive increase in price for that

I think he was talking about DisplayPort over USB-C. Thunderbolt is something different.

That's probably indicated when the posted stated that they "...plugged it into a different USB C port..."

Considering USB c != thunderbolt

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

#142

Post by hjnilsson »

neals wrote: post #84

They should invent a new cable standard that universally does the same thing on all devices. I think there might a big market for that.

Problem is the tradeoffs involved.

You can make a cable that support 40 Gbps / 100W, but it will be $50 and very thick, with a maximum length of 1m (or cost $400 if you want an optical 10m long cable).

Or you can make a thin, 480Mbps / 5W cable that costs $2 that can be 5m long.

Or you can make a 10Gbps / 20W cable that is $10, can be 2m and is medium thick.

If you want them all in one cable, all cables would be $400, which would be a larger problem for most consumers (and even optical cables can't really be bent / are very fragile. So unfit for travel. Not a good solution either). You can't have everything in one cable.

You could claim that there should be 3 separate connectors then for the 3 cases above. But I don't think that would be an improvement really. At least you /can/ charge your laptop with the thin cable overnight, even if it is slow. And you can connect your phone to your laptop charger etc.

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

#143

Post by _wolfie_ »

y4mi wrote: post #125
suvelx wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's supported is indeed a mess... I recently moved my desk between rooms. After setting everything up only one monitor seemed to work. Tried multiple DP cables plugged things in and out with things in various state of power. Eventually gave up and chalked it up to karma and either having a dead monitor or dead dock. Unplugged my laptop to go work in the lounge for a bit, came back later and plugged it in again ama…

I've never seen a laptop that didn't label the thunderbolt capable ports, are you sure that wasn't just you not paying attention? Or do you honestly expect all ports to be thunderbolt capable? If so, you'd have to expect a massive increase in price for that

If the cable fits in the port, I would expect it to work, yes.

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

#144

Post by kalleboo »

ajsnigrutin wrote: post #129

I hate it how we went from simple, to simpler to totally complicated regarding computer ports. "Back in the days", it was a bunch of different ports of different sizes and shapes, and each thing had its own cable that fit into that thing only, and into only port only on the back of the pc. Yes, you needed 20 cables, but things were simple. Then came the USB... one cable, one protocol for all.... except video (firewir…

It was never that simple. Your serial cables had peripheral or null-modem (I have a serial cable marked "MIDI" I have no idea what is different). Parallel port cables could be SCSI cables instead. Some cables didn't have all pins wired to save money. With PS/2 ports you had to get the mouse and keyboard the right way around despite having the same port.

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

#145

Post by ants_a »

odiroot wrote: post #99
CameronNemo wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know much about altmodes. What does the cable need to do to make displayport work right?

I have USB cables that just work with charging, some give me USB 2.0 data and one very expensive that lets me extend my USB hub/dongle. The latter works with video and power delivery. I tried cheaper cables before and something always went wrong. So even cables are "smart" now.

There is a specification for updating charging cable firmware.

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

#146

Post by [deleted] »

city41 wrote: post #5
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 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.

[deleted]

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

#147

Post by foxfluff »

kalleboo wrote: post #144
ajsnigrutin wrote: post #129

I hate it how we went from simple, to simpler to totally complicated regarding computer ports. "Back in the days", it was a bunch of different ports of different sizes and shapes, and each thing had its own cable that fit into that thing only, and into only port only on the back of the pc. Yes, you needed 20 cables, but things were simple. Then came the USB... one cable, one protocol for all.... except video (firewir…

It was never that simple. Your serial cables had peripheral or null-modem (I have a serial cable marked "MIDI" I have no idea what is different). Parallel port cables could be SCSI cables instead. Some cables didn't have all pins wired to save money. With PS/2 ports you had to get the mouse and keyboard the right way around despite having the same port.

It got pretty simple for a while when old serial & parallel ports were phased out in favor of USB. Also VGA worked for a very long time even after DVI and HDMI appeared on the scene.

(I never had as much trouble with connecting displays as I do today)

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

#148

Post by concinds »

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?

Bad USB-C cables and hubs could brick M1 Macbooks as recently as February of this year before Apple issued an update.

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

#149

Post by scoutt »

ajsnigrutin wrote: post #129

I hate it how we went from simple, to simpler to totally complicated regarding computer ports. "Back in the days", it was a bunch of different ports of different sizes and shapes, and each thing had its own cable that fit into that thing only, and into only port only on the back of the pc. Yes, you needed 20 cables, but things were simple. Then came the USB... one cable, one protocol for all.... except video (firewir…

I'm pretty sure that USB wasn't created originally with charging capabilities "back in the days". Just power supply (5V @ 500mA max). Charging through USB came after and was when things started to be more complicated: someone used USB as a mean for charging a battery, then bigger batteries came, then people started to complain that devices took too long to charge, then the 500mA limit was moved, then every vendor would implement their own proprietary handshake to negotiate charging current.

> things were simple

I think USB accomplished its goal by standardizing a lot of communication protocols for a lot of (type of) devices. I lived through the 80's and 90's as a kid. I still feel the pain of plugging a new mouse or joystick and try to make it work. Then USB came and it was 'magic'.

Edit: still, if I have a serial port outputting data from a device I'm debugging and I turn on my PC, sometimes Windows would think it has a Trackball mouse connected to the serial port and will move the cursor around until I reboot my computer... I say this as a reminder on how things were back in the day (regarding communication protocols for devices).

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

#150

Post by fleddr »

drstewart wrote: post #105
0x_rs wrote: post #70

This is all too confusing to me. Why isn't there a mandatory (or reference) specification string that combines all the necessary, useful information in one neat package instead of countless repetitive and easily misunderstood logos? Something like (just a basic, messy example) USB-C/ / / / / /etc. I had to buy some cables recently and really couldn't pick one nor distinguish particular features at glance, and the ite…

What's confusing about "USB C to Lightning Cable MFI Certified iPhone Cable Fast iPhone Charger Cable 20W PD 3/6/10FT Type C Charging & Syncing Data Compatible iPhone 12 Pro Max Mini 11 X XR XS 8 P iPad iPod （White)"?

..which only took hours to find on Amazon, and you're sure you finally have the correct one. Then the first review goes "this cable is shit, it doesn't charge".
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