21–30 of 64 posts
As others have pointed out, there's a lot to be exited about. I definitely see this as a big step forward. That said, I think the connector shape is flawed. I've seen too many micro USB connectors break off in phones because it's hard to make something that small strong enough for movement from the cable. I wish they would have chosen something closer to the lightning connector or magnetic for durability. I'd hate to…
If laptops can charge via USB, international travel will be so much nicer. USB has already made international travel much better (thanks to 90% of your key electronics being USB, and international USB adapters being cheap and reliable, or heck just buy a local one in each country, they're $5/each). Most laptops have a "brick" which works in most countries, but you still need to find the correct local cable or have an…
> If laptops can charge via USB, international travel will be so much nicer. I got the HP Chromebook 11 for just that reason. It charges with a micro-usb port, i.e. the same cable as android phones. It's nice to not need to bother packing a charger or cable for it. It's too bad all ultrabooks don't add a micro-usb port just for this purpose (in addition to the normal charger). The current chargers are much thicker th…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Latest rumor is Apple's Air is going to have only one USB 3.1 port for everything. http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/06/macbook-air-12-inch-redesign/ No maglock power supply, no display port, just the one port.
Its kinda limiting. That's means I have to lug a hub around with me at all times, a spare port would be nice for phone charging, usb drives, etc.
And even if you run out of juice, you can probably recharge it within 30-60 minutes. So it would only mean this long without a usb drive.
Finally, who knows - perhaps Apple will turn the power brick into a usb hub.
If laptops can charge via USB, international travel will be so much nicer. USB has already made international travel much better (thanks to 90% of your key electronics being USB, and international USB adapters being cheap and reliable, or heck just buy a local one in each country, they're $5/each). Most laptops have a "brick" which works in most countries, but you still need to find the correct local cable or have an…
I'd like to see an interim conversion adopted for charging from USB3.1 to things like Magsafe on the MacBooks. In the dark days of laptops, stepping on the power cable could end your laptop, USB 3.1 looks like it'd be a return to that if used as a primary charging source. Other than that, USB3.1 looks fantastic. Thunderbolt 1.0 speeds, big power, and much better connector.
Unfortunately, the owner of patents on magsafe is unlikely to allow that to happen.
When can I buy a phone with a Type C connector?
Well, Nokia is on board, and I expect all the other mfgs will follow in 2015: http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/18/7239695/nokia-n1-first-ta... Welp, time to buy 15 new USB cables again! At least it's worth it this time, vs mini -> micro, which has been a lot less durable in my experience (the shape of the mini B connector + height made it a lot less likely to bend at the flexible plastic part you grab)
If laptops can charge via USB, international travel will be so much nicer. USB has already made international travel much better (thanks to 90% of your key electronics being USB, and international USB adapters being cheap and reliable, or heck just buy a local one in each country, they're $5/each). Most laptops have a "brick" which works in most countries, but you still need to find the correct local cable or have an…
> USB has already made international travel much better (thanks to 90% of your key electronics being USB, and international USB adapters being cheap and reliable, or heck just buy a local one in each country, they're $5/each). I often travel with just one power adapter, for my laptop, and then I charge my cell phone from my laptop via USB, rather than bringing a separate charger and thus needing a second power adapte…
http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd like to see an interim conversion adopted for charging from USB3.1 to things like Magsafe on the MacBooks. In the dark days of laptops, stepping on the power cable could end your laptop, USB 3.1 looks like it'd be a return to that if used as a primary charging source. Other than that, USB3.1 looks fantastic. Thunderbolt 1.0 speeds, big power, and much better connector.
> to things like Magsafe on the MacBooks Unfortunately, the owner of patents on magsafe is unlikely to allow that to happen.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> to things like Magsafe on the MacBooks Unfortunately, the owner of patents on magsafe is unlikely to allow that to happen.
The patent could probably be challenged. Magnetic power connectors existed prior to MagSafe (e.g. you don't want hot oil from your deep fryer to spill on you if you trip over the cord), so the patents seem more like those "X but on a computer "-type patents.
That said, I think the specific innovation they rest their patent on is that it can be inverted. Under current patent doctrine that might be enough, and I suspect people wouldn't be very happy with a non-invertable magsafe-like.