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I'm a USB-C Maximalist

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Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#101

Post by mlindner »

I personally hate USB-C as it's a poorly designed connector. It's flimsy and can easily broken yet at the same time difficult to insert.

I've had a couple be broken by getting "squashed" because there's no mechanical support because of the rounded edges so the metal easily pancakes.

They also seem to be easily damaged such they stop connecting through a failure mechanism I haven't quite figured out (my macbook air no longer reliably connects to them).

Finally, the ports don't have reliable insertion and they're sharp, so they scratch up whatever device they're on as people repeatedly miss the insertion position resulting in surface scuffing. Phones especially should not be using them because of this issue and should be using something like lightning that did not have any sharp edges which avoided most scratching.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#102

Post by qurren »

notatoad wrote: post #95
eigencoder wrote: post #5

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.

This is really only a problem if you buy cheap cables. Pick the baseline spec you want your USB cables to meet, and throw out all the ones that don’t. Problem solved. It’s still a minor frustration if you have to borrow a cable, but that’s solved by packing a cable, and by encouraging as many other people as possible to also throw out their cheap cables.

If you want to cover all use cases your only option are the 240 W, 40 Gbps cables, and they are not cheap (https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Supports-Display-Transfer-Charg...).

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#103

Post by t1234s »

I too jumped on board with USB-C right away. Only downside is some hardware manufacturers use sloppy fitting USB ports. This was a major issue on my Touchbar Macbook Pro. Just slightly bumping the cable would lose sync with my dock.

I imagine whatever replaces USB-C in the future should fix this issue and make a more solid connection like USB-A. However USB-C could be the last wired interface as everything in the future will move to wireless.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#104

Post by walthamstow »

jitl wrote: post #55

Same. Other devices I'm powering with USB-C: - Vacuum, $???, Xiaomi, okay (hard to clean filter): https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-vacuum-cleaner-p30/ (gift from friends) - Beard trimmer, $90, Manscaped, great (but I just got it): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ1GZY7H - Shaver, $20, Xiaomi, great: https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-electric-shaver-s20... (purchased at Xiaomi store in Manila) - Front door…

How funny, I also have the Xiaomi shaver, also bought while in BGC Manila. It's great, but does have a tendency to turn itself on in a packed bag

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#105

Post by mlindner »

cliglot wrote: post #73
pluralmonad wrote: post #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.

Yep, I will say it’s not as bad a old USB-mini connectors but I’ve soured on USB-C after too many of them have broken on me (among other issues this thread covers well) Some years ago I may have cheered on the pushes to get iPhones to use USB-C, but at this point I think lightning is a superior connector in that sense. I’ve almost never had one break off.

I agree. Lightning is such a better connector and one of the main reasons I still haven't replaced my phone. If lightning could've just been updated for higher bitrates it would have been so much better.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#106

Post by hbn »

qurren wrote: post #97
chaosharmonic wrote: post #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 fo…

I break about 1 USB-C plug a week. They are simply not designed well for real people who do real things in the world, including physical work, exercise, hiking, woodworking, biking, and the like. They are designed by someone in a corporate office who just never gets out to see the real world. Here's how the last few broke: * Phone with typical inadequate battery + external portable battery pack plugged in, shoved in…

Is IEC really the gold standard for connectors to you? I always thought they feel terrible to plug in. There's no snap or solid bottom-out indication to when it's "connected." And it just sits in the socket from friction that doesn't feel particularly solid. It's the kind of connection where if it gets yanked a little bit and the connection fails, it's not obvious because it's half-seated in the socket.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#107

Post by atoav »

breezybottom wrote: post #100

USB-C connectors are so flimsy compared to USB-A, it feels like a real step backward. It barely takes any pressure on the cable to make my charging cable fall out, or to rotate it just enough that it loses connection.

Not to be that guy, but the USB-C specification requires an extraction force of 8–20 N for a new connector, measured on the sixth unplugging cycle after five conditioning cycles. After 10,000 insertion/removal cycles, the permitted range is 6–20 N.

Equivalent hanging mass:

  8 N is 0.82 kg  
  20 N is 2.04 kg
So the problem you have is likely one of your manufacturer not producing equipment suitable to pass the USB-C spec.

As an aside, the specified extraction force for USB A is:

  10 N minimum when new  
  8 N minimum after durability cycling
So pretty much the same, in some cases even less.

I don't have problems with USB-C connectors per se. I think HDMI is worse in terms of durability.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#108

Post by 0x457 »

theturtletalks wrote: post #81

I wish my Xbox Series S would work on USB-C. Some guy modded his with a buck convertor[0] and I wish there was an easier way in 2026. 0. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Z1U3AYo1I

Well, the issue is USB-PD:

- 12 V × 5 A = 60 W

- 20 V × 5 A = 100 W

- 28 V × 5 A = 140 W

Meanwhile, that Xbox roughly needs 12 V at 7.5 A (let's say 90 W, but the internal supply is 165W) . So there is just no easy way to do it with USB-PD. Technically, you can make/buy some sort of USB-PD bench power supply to do this, but I'm unaware of anything on the market right now. One that I use (DPS-150) is limited to 5A output.

You're better off buying some chunky power bank (like Anker Solix) that has your regular wall plug outlets.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#109

Post by notatoad »

qurren wrote: post #102
notatoad wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is really only a problem if you buy cheap cables. Pick the baseline spec you want your USB cables to meet, and throw out all the ones that don’t. Problem solved. It’s still a minor frustration if you have to borrow a cable, but that’s solved by packing a cable, and by encouraging as many other people as possible to also throw out their cheap cables.

If you want to cover all use cases your only option are the 240 W, 40 Gbps cables, and they are not cheap ( https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Supports-Display-Transfer-Charg... ).

amazon hides some prices because i'm viewing the page from canada, but it looks like that says the cable you linked is $15?

that's what i've been paying for cables, and it seems reasonable to me.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#110

Post by 0x457 »

snickmy wrote: post #3

Any recommendation for electric shavers that are USB-c ?

Keep in mind that you can buy cables that are USB-C on one end and whatever on the other end. I have multiple USB-C to 12V barrel jack cables for this reason specifically. No idea because you still need a special cable, but better than nothing.
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