USB-C in 2016 for 5K iMac?

[turbineseaplane]

grayskyz wrote above (regarding USB-c):
"And here's your proof. It will be compatible."

I wouldn't be surprised to see USB-c completely replace thunderbolt within the next two "generations" of Macs, perhaps even sooner.

However, I expect that we'll still see "standard" USB3 ports on Macs for at least five more years. There must be tens of millions of devices out there with standard USB connectors on them!

You're going to see USB-C TB ports very soon indeed...

...and I'd bet a LOT of money against standard USB ports five years from now on Mac's. That is *not* how Apple rolls and 5 years is an eternity.

 

[dyn]

This is very interesting. If you are correct, for the sake of this discussion I shall assume you are, this will once again make it annoying to utilize existing components but will simplify connectivity at some future point where systems and accessory makers all use the same connector for a myriad of devices.

USB-C will be the default connector for USB for many years to come and it will solve USBs biggest issue: having to plug the darn thing in a couple of times before it fits. But USB-C is more than that (well, it actually is just a connector which can carry many protocols) and Intel wisely made great use of it. Maybe we'll see the two being fused in the future...

Shall I further assume your information presupposes monitors at some point accepting this connector as input?

Take a look at CES 2016 reports, they've shown some USB-C displays on CES. Unfortunately USB-C is only used for display output, the display does not function like a dockingstation (so no USB-C competitor for the Apple Thunderbolt Dock)

I understood it perfectly. I merely said that it would be compatible not that it wouldn't require an adapter.

Then you didn't because there is no compatibility; USB and Thunderbolt are two different protocols and are not compatible. The only reason that connecting USB to a TB3 port is going to work is because of the integrated USB controller thus you are connecting a USB device to a USB port.

USB-C is merely a connector, it is not a protocol. It can carry protocols like DisplayPort, Thunderbolt and USB. That's what the picture you quoted also shows you (the picture is mostly about what USB-C can do). A lot of people seem to be mistaken USB-C as the new version of the USB protocol (that would be USB 3.1 Gen 2).

Now if you meant TB1, 2 and 3 being compatible then you simply used a completely unrelated picture.

However, I expect that we'll still see "standard" USB3 ports on Macs for at least five more years. There must be tens of millions of devices out there with standard USB connectors on them!

USB-C needs to be the default ASAP and the industry knows it. The fact that CES 2016 showed so many USB-C products gives you a good idea that the industry is putting its money where its mouth is. The fact that we already have some USB-C products on the market that sport a USB-A connector (or several; take a look at the USB-C dockingstations) also shows that there is no need to still have USB-A ports. Maybe on PCs but not on Macs (that's not Apple). We may see Macs with 2 TB3 ports (and thus USB-C) alongside USB-A for 1 or maybe even 2 years. I don't think anyone in the industry can sit back and still use USB-A ports on their machines for that long.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

USB-C will be the default connector for USB for many years to come and it will solve USBs biggest issue: having to plug the darn thing in a couple of times before it fits. But USB-C is more than that (well, it actually is just a connector which can carry many protocols) and Intel wisely made great use of it. Maybe we'll see the two being fused in the future...


Take a look at CES 2016 reports, they've shown some USB-C displays on CES. Unfortunately USB-C is only used for display output, the display does not function like a dockingstation (so no USB-C competitor for the Apple Thunderbolt Dock)


Then you didn't because there is no compatibility; USB and Thunderbolt are two different protocols and are not compatible. The only reason that connecting USB to a TB3 port is going to work is because of the integrated USB controller thus you are connecting a USB device to a USB port.

USB-C is merely a connector, it is not a protocol. It can carry protocols like DisplayPort, Thunderbolt and USB. That's what the picture you quoted also shows you (the picture is mostly about what USB-C can do). A lot of people seem to be mistaken USB-C as the new version of the USB protocol (that would be USB 3.1 Gen 2).

Now if you meant TB1, 2 and 3 being compatible then you simply used a completely unrelated picture.


USB-C needs to be the default ASAP and the industry knows it. The fact that CES 2016 showed so many USB-C products gives you a good idea that the industry is putting its money where its mouth is. The fact that we already have some USB-C products on the market that sport a USB-A connector (or several; take a look at the USB-C dockingstations) also shows that there is no need to still have USB-A ports. Maybe on PCs but not on Macs (that's not Apple). We may see Macs with 2 TB3 ports (and thus USB-C) alongside USB-A for 1 or maybe even 2 years. I don't think anyone in the industry can sit back and still use USB-A ports on their machines for that long.

USB A will be standard on cheaper machines for another decade hell many current machines still come with USB2 and only one USB 3.

USB C is just a port it will make no difference to anyone for years to come. The only time it will matter is when it also supports TB3 and that will not matter for the vast majority for another 4 or 5 years anyway. Most people are happy with 1080p and using HDMI, most people have no idea their Mac can use mini display port or even that such a thing exists and they also have no interest in external GPU's they just buy a PlayStation. On an iMac the vast majority will never use a second screen hell most of them won't even have a back up disk.

All this obsession with a port configuration that to the vast majority of people would just be an annoyance when their USB 2 thumb drive doesn't fit into it, is hilarious. Yes it's here, yes it'll be in the next generation of macs, probably replacing the TB ports. But to be honest it'll be alongside USB A ports for many years to come and mean nothing to the vast majority of home computer users.

Currently the USBC/TB3 is only useful in very specific situations with external 5k screens (that most computers have no chance of running well anyway) and external GPU's (which are of interest to a rather small group of gamers) it really is not worth worrying over nor is it in any way a game changer.

Going forward it is useful to eventually only need one port but let's be honest some new laptops still have vga ports for pity's sake the old ports and their functionality aren't going anywhere.

 

[dyn]

Quite simply: most people are completely clueless of hardware and software. They simply use whatever comes with it and stick to that. This is a big problem for manufacturers because people won't move to new ports. This can actually increase the manufacturing costs as well as material cost and thus create more expensive products. In this case we are talking about a universal connector that can be used for USB2, USB3, USB3.1, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, etc. That means that a manufacturer can buy in more quantities and thus get a higher discount. Or simply put: it makes things cheaper for them because they only have 1 connector. Look at all the products at CES 2016 and you'll see that manufacturers are well aware of this and already ahead of the game. You want people to use a port, you not only need to start putting them on devices but they need to be the only version on the device. You have to completely replace the old with the new because if you don't people will stick to their old stuff and keep the status quo. That's what I meant with "USB-C needs to be the default ASAP and the industry knows it.".

Very few new notebooks still come with a VGA port because for the same reason why the MacBook only has 1 USB-C port and because the MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt: the target audience wants it. The notebooks with VGA are business notebooks sold to businesses where you can still find a lot of VGA projectors. It is on the decline because of DisplayPort++ ports (these are multiprotocol ports that support DisplayPort, DVI/HDMI and VGA) where all you need is an adapter. This is common practice with Ultrabooks. Also the use of wireless technologies (AirPlay, Chromecast, ClickShare, etc.), HDMI and displays instead of projectors contribute to this decline. Most people don't care for any other port than USB on their notebooks because all they do is connect their external drive and mouse to it (if they still do this and not have moved to cloud computing and a bluetooth mouse or just the trackpad). External displays are hardly being used, it's almost exclusively seen in the business world and some hobbyists (most people have no clue about ergonomics either or it is simply too expensive).

Obsession? No, it is just basic knowledge of users, manufacturers, USB and the IT world as well as simply taking a look at what manufacturers are currently offering or going to offer this year. Like I said, look at the products at CES 2016, look at the current notebooks (both offerings as well as sizes...where would you put ports like VGA and USB-A if you also want to include something like USB-C), look at the sales numbers for notebooks vs desktops (desktops are the only ones big enough to have enough physical space for all those ports) and by all means look at things as they are. Manufacturers want to sell their products, they have no interest in you still being able to use your old USB2 stick. They are a company and thus have to make money in order to survive.