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I'm a USB-C Maximalist

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Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#341

Post by superxpro12 »

orphea wrote: post #42
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.

Especially my cheap consumer electronics. Sometimes they will charge, sometimes they won't charge This is not USB C's fault. It's the manufacturers who cheaped out a cent - or even less - on CC resistors.

on 0401 5k resistor is fractions of a penny. its just silly at this point. My belief is that they all used some crappy reference schematic which omitted it once upon a time, and that's proliferated amongst all the cheapo designs.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#342

Post by superxpro12 »

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.

Micro usb was by far the worst cable I've ever had to use. USB-C reliability seems to be improved on top of that, despite having.... 15 more pins?

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#343

Post by superxpro12 »

porridgeraisin wrote: post #305
siraben wrote: post #301

I love traveling with this Anker 160W charger, which has 3 USB-C ports.[0] I just found out about GaN technology last year and I can't believe it isn't more widespread. This one can charge two MacBook Pros and an iPhone at full speed. [0] https://www.anker.com/products/a2687-anker-prime-charger-160...

Gan chargers also die really fast.

It's because they try to market the power density claims. So they're smaller, which compromises the cooling, which makes them run hotter.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#344

Post by wolrah »

josephg wrote: post #334
_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…

If you’ve got one of the older style Mac chargers, the part which plugs into the wall physically separates from the rest of the charger. You can connect different plugs for all the different countries. There is a plastic seam where the charger separates. It’s easy to miss. I’ve slowly acquired all the global adaptors for Mac chargers. I just bring a usbc Mac charger when I travel with the destination country plug att…

Those Apple chargers in fact use the C7/C8 connector to interface the plug adapter, so you can skip their official parts and use any compatible cord.

I for years used a power cable from an Xbox with my old Magsafe1-era Macbooks.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#345

Post by SideburnsOfDoom »

> My wife and I recently went on a 7 week holiday around Europe.

Yes, USB-C is very common in Europe, and indeed worldwide. And this is partly as a result of European policy:

> One common charging solution for all

> USB-C is the common port.

https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/electrica...

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#346

Post by anilakar »

yellowapple wrote: post #330
_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…

> C7 and its 2.5A max current

If 250 W (in the absolute worst case, a 100 V .jp grid) is not enough for travel purposes, I have no idea what will satisfy your requirements.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#347

Post by sails »

josephg wrote: post #334
_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…

If you’ve got one of the older style Mac chargers, the part which plugs into the wall physically separates from the rest of the charger. You can connect different plugs for all the different countries. There is a plastic seam where the charger separates. It’s easy to miss. I’ve slowly acquired all the global adaptors for Mac chargers. I just bring a usbc Mac charger when I travel with the destination country plug att…

I do this too, the recent MacBook chargers have 2 usb-c and I have 4 of the plug parts that adapt it. Very minimalist but for short trips with single charger it is great

This might if you’re from the US as I’ve collected the ends over time, but I’ve never seen them for sale except the US one: AC Power Adapter Wall Folding Plug Duck Head,US Standard Plug Duck Head Compatible with MaBook Pro Air/Maci Book/Phone/Pod Power Adapter Brick

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#348

Post by josephg »

sails wrote: post #347
josephg wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’ve got one of the older style Mac chargers, the part which plugs into the wall physically separates from the rest of the charger. You can connect different plugs for all the different countries. There is a plastic seam where the charger separates. It’s easy to miss. I’ve slowly acquired all the global adaptors for Mac chargers. I just bring a usbc Mac charger when I travel with the destination country plug att…

I do this too, the recent MacBook chargers have 2 usb-c and I have 4 of the plug parts that adapt it. Very minimalist but for short trips with single charger it is great This might if you’re from the US as I’ve collected the ends over time, but I’ve never seen them for sale except the US one: AC Power Adapter Wall Folding Plug Duck Head,US Standard Plug Duck Head Compatible with MaBook Pro Air/Maci Book/Phone/Pod Pow…

> I’ve never seen them for sale except the US one

Apple - at least used to - sell an international plug pack if you’re missing some. I can’t even remember where I got some of my plugs. They’ve been doing this for decades, and the international plugs are still compatible.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#349

Post by beagle3 »

sails wrote: post #347
josephg wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’ve got one of the older style Mac chargers, the part which plugs into the wall physically separates from the rest of the charger. You can connect different plugs for all the different countries. There is a plastic seam where the charger separates. It’s easy to miss. I’ve slowly acquired all the global adaptors for Mac chargers. I just bring a usbc Mac charger when I travel with the destination country plug att…

I do this too, the recent MacBook chargers have 2 usb-c and I have 4 of the plug parts that adapt it. Very minimalist but for short trips with single charger it is great This might if you’re from the US as I’ve collected the ends over time, but I’ve never seen them for sale except the US one: AC Power Adapter Wall Folding Plug Duck Head,US Standard Plug Duck Head Compatible with MaBook Pro Air/Maci Book/Phone/Pod Pow…

It’s been years since, but I bought on Amazon a bag of 8 different ends that work everywhere in the world.

It wasn’t from Apple, but it’s basically a plastic shape and 2 or 3 (depending on end) metal parts - it’s hard to get wrong, and easy to test before use.

Re: I'm a USB-C Maximalist

#350

Post by mcv »

siraben wrote: post #301

I love traveling with this Anker 160W charger, which has 3 USB-C ports.[0] I just found out about GaN technology last year and I can't believe it isn't more widespread. This one can charge two MacBook Pros and an iPhone at full speed. [0] https://www.anker.com/products/a2687-anker-prime-charger-160...

I recently got the Anker 140W. I bought a MacBook, and apparently they come without a charger these days. So instead of buying an expensive Mac charger, I figured the widely recommended Anker 140W offers a lot more functionality for less money.
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