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I'm a USB-C Maximalist

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Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#321

Post by brookst »

Aurornis wrote: post #316
timc3 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps you are just not careful with things, I’ve been an early adopter and never broken one ( I probably have at least 40 different ones, some of which get plugged/unplugged multiple times a day). My kids haven’t broken a single one either and they destroyed plenty of lightning cables.

The GP comment is one of those HN comments where I can't tell if someone is making up a ridiculously high number to tell a story online, or if there really are people out there breaking 52 USB-C plugs per year going about their normal lives.

I mean I don't know how people avoid breaking them. Prying paint cans open, rappelling from height, driving nails into roofs... don't you find them fragile for these daily operations?

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#322

Post by m463 »

philistine wrote: post #285
ACCount37 wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. The two fucking resistors. All it takes 2 x 5.1K, and yet, somehow, people keep fucking it up. It's not expensive or complex. It's just that somehow, no one thought to look up "how to add type c to your device" online, or ask an LLM, or put literally any effort into making sure the device works as it should.

Those two resistors cost money. It's not incompetence. It's a deliberate choice.

I've read countless stories of designs sent out getting backroom-cost-reduced by removing the most ridiculously cheap parts.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#323

Post by nirui »

The USB-C idea is great, but the port design is not. If you search with the keyword "USB-C" and "tugged", you'll find a lot of horror stories ranging from bent socket/connectors to fried systems.

A few samples:

    - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11021665 (read comments)
    - https://www.quora.com/Is-it-just-me-or-are-USB-C-ports-not-actually-very-durable-or-stable
    - https://www.reddit.com/r/PSVR/comments/11mdfn8/so_this_happened_accidentally_tugged_cable_ps5/
    - https://www.reddit.com/r/daddit/comments/1s1kk4i/pro_dad_tip_if_your_kids_have_lights_or_toys_that/
I really like the idea of single port all capable, but the current design of USB-C port is just not up for the task. At least you need a port design that is fail-safe, not fail-dead, to do this job.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#324

Post by m463 »

wwalexander wrote: post #143
m463 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a sonicare. great. The travel case it came with is actually an inductive charging case with a USB-A hidden inside ready to be unfurled.

The pricier ones have a case with just a USB-C port.

it's possible current models have moved on. My toothbrush is a couple years old now (which is a good thing!)

EDIT: just looked. current ones have bluetooth and an app. sigh.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#325

Post by copperx »

lstodd wrote: post #290
_jackdk_ wrote: post #282

USB-C maximalism is great for travel. I personally recommend travelling with a USB-C desktop charger, but use one that accepts a IEC C7 ("figure-8") cable. Then, travel with only the cable corresponding to your destination (or buy one when you get there). That avoids having a wall wart that might not fit in narrow spaces, or whose weight might make it fall out of older sockets. I wrote about it a few years ago; the p…

C7 is great advice. But also pack a short length of cat5 twisted pair just in case. When all else fails, it allows to rig up most anything.

PoE maximalism would be interesting.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#326

Post by mystifyingpoi »

rwmj wrote: post #92
mystifyingpoi wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious, what amp is this? Is it for charging something? The end is TRRS, is there a DAC/ADC molded in the plug for audio interface purposes?

The amp is this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B098JTSJTH As far as I could tell the cable is dumb. If you plug the cable into a regular USB-C socket (which I do not recommend) then the tip is +5V and the rest is ground. In fact it's designed to plug into the plug marked "mobile" on the amp and the 3.5mm end goes into the line out of something else, providing AUX input, which is mixed straight through to the output…

This is cursed as hell. Thanks for sharing.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#327

Post by edent »

palata wrote: post #165

> instead I purchased a cheap USB-C rechargeable fan I really don't get that. Why not a handheld fan? It's cheap, doesn't require a battery, and doesn't need electronics. I see more electronic fans than handheld fans, and I just don't get it. People like buying brittle plastic future e-waste?

Because I can put it next to my bed at night and have it cool me. Not all of us travel with a punkah-wallah.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#328

Post by imp0cat »

ValentineC wrote: post #163
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 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 thought the same, but that'll happen with devices that use AA batteries too. I was using a cheap Panasonic EW-DJ10 water flosser that uses AA batt…

Inductive charging, like the often-mentioned-here Sonicare toothbrushes have.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#329

Post by ssl-3 »

throwaway219450 wrote: post #230
ludwigschubert wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thickness, and also cost.

Cost, really? A 2m USB4 cable from Belkin is $20 (eg INZ004bt2MBK). You don't save much going to 4 ft, sadly. I find their cables to be pretty good (the TB5/USB4). They're certainly cheaper than Apple's. They have a soft rubber coating (not quite silicone) and a good bend radius. Compare to the super-stiff (but good) cables that Dell provide with their monitors.

Cost, really.

I buy USB C cables cheap. The last batch were Anker B8752, came in packs of 2, were bought online as clearance items from Menards. They were delivered for free to the store that I drive past twice on most days. They work fine; no complaints.

With tax, the individual cables were $0.55 each. I can afford to stock up on cables at that price, use them whimsically, cut them up for projects, and give them away to anyone when that seems useful. I don't miss them when they get lost; I just get another one. I don't have to decide between buying a decent dinner or traveling with spares; I can just toss some into my bag.

Meanwhile: I can't afford to do those things with cables that are $20 each. That's a vastly different value proposition. If I had $20 USB C cables instead, I'd guard them the same as I do the twenty-dollar bills in my wallet.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#330

Post by yellowapple »

_jackdk_ wrote: post #282

USB-C maximalism is great for travel. I personally recommend travelling with a USB-C desktop charger, but use one that accepts a IEC C7 ("figure-8") cable. Then, travel with only the cable corresponding to your destination (or buy one when you get there). That avoids having a wall wart that might not fit in narrow spaces, or whose weight might make it fall out of older sockets. I wrote about it a few years ago; the p…

> It’s important that the charger accepts an IEC C7 cable. This is an international standard, so you’ll be able to find local mains cables at office supply stores or borrow them from nearby appliances, and it’s a two-pin design. Having a two-pin mains lead means you don’t have to worry about finding three-pin (earthed) power outlets in areas where they are not yet universal. It also means that an ultra-compact travel adapter like the Road Warrior can serve as a backup option if you don’t have a local cable.

An earthed-to-unearthed adapter (preferably with some alternate path to ground) seems like a better solution there than restricting oneself to C7 and its 2.5A max current. And when the ground prong is available in the outlet, it's often a useful mitigation against the looseness of worn-out sockets (since it adds another area of support).

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