Live data from Hacker News

I'm a USB-C Maximalist

shkspr.mobi

11–20 of 461 posts

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#12
I would like the USB-C connector was more durable. I've literally never killed a USB-A connector, but enough lateral force and USB-C just breaks. I suppose it was made so small due to mobile devices, which is understandable, but came with tradeoffs.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#13

I don't like USB-C because they all look the same on the outside, but they're not all the same on the inside. Especially my cheap consumer electronics. Sometimes they will charge, sometimes they won't charge, but all the cables look the same, and you don't tend to know in advance.

Yeah I have some devices that expect the manufacturer charger (I guess it's pre-negotiated to 19V or something) and I'm not even sure what was the point in giving it a USB C connector.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#14
post #6

I don't like USB-C because they all look the same on the outside, but they're not all the same on the inside. Especially my cheap consumer electronics. Sometimes they will charge, sometimes they won't charge, but all the cables look the same, and you don't tend to know in advance.

I wish there are easy ways to figure out the maximum current and wattage supported by a cable. So many cables don't label themselves except on the box!

You're welcome: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYJL5Z67

This device let me categorize all my loose cables (and throw out the truly terrible ones). It was worth every penny.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#15
I too am a USB-C maximalist, but with a handful of differences from OP:

- You lose me at "toothbrush." I don't want personal care items that have internal batteries at all, because they'll eventually die on me while the device itself (brush heads notwithstanding) is otherwise perfectly functional. I'd much rather keep rechargeable AA(A)s on hand for that kind of stuff. (I still haven't found a good electric razor for this purpose, though, and have actually just gone back to manual for the foreseeable future.)

- I don't think I could live off just one charging port, but would rather just ditch USB-A entirely.

- I'm using wired earbuds, with a standard headphone jack, but with the number of full-sized cans that are using USB-C in some way it baffles me that there aren't more or them (or any, that I've been able to find) that also support using it for audio input, so you you can play them while charging.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#16
> A Pixel 8 Pro (running GrapheneOS)

> Tracker What if someone steals my bag? Hopefully the PebbleBee "Find My" device will help me recover it.

In your review (from last year) of the tracker, you wrote it doesn't work with Graphene. [1] From the linked issue, looks like there's partial support now. [2] What's the experience like now on Graphene? Is it good enough for tracking a checked bag or similar?

[1] https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/01/review-pebblebee-clip-unive...

[2] https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/4079

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#17
I agree with using a single ubiquitous power standard for small electronics and electrics. That’s almost what USB-C is these days. We need better labelling of cable capacities when there are 20w and 120w cables that at a glance look the same.

I was afraid this article was going to say one connector for everything when it said maximalist. If it had said to kill eSATA, SPF+, RJ-45, DisplayPort, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, and a bunch of other ports it would have been far more controversial. I’ve seen people saying we don’t need card formats anymore because everything can just be an external USB-C flash drive. I’m glad this article wasn’t that maximalist.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#18
> What are the chances that I could find the exact charger needed for a GameBoy Colour?

Someone's trying to talk about stuff they never used, experienced or googled ever.

But yeah game boy advance cable is $2.5 one day delivery here in Poland

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#19

So many kids toys use custom brick chargers, especially remote control cars. I refuse to buy anything that isn't USB-C, I'm not keeping track of all of those.

I think that's changing too, my son got some cheap radio controlled boat a few weeks ago, the remote uses AA and the boat has USB-C as input (interestingly enough, it has a weird USB-C cable with a built in light to signal when charging is done).
Post reply on HN