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USB-c -- Still a mess?

Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Feb 20, 2009
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Article here:
https://www.androidauthority.com/state-of-usb-type-c-870996/

Excerpt:
===
It’s 2018 and USB Type-C is still a mess

USB Type-C was billed as the solution for all our future cable needs, unifying power and data delivery with display and audio connectivity, and ushering in an age of the one-size-fits-all cable. Unfortunately for those already invested in the USB Type-C ecosystem, which is anyone who has bought a flagship phone in the past couple of years, the standard has probably failed to live up to the promises.
===

I found this article on the state of USB-C. What does everybody think?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yes, fast charging doesn't work for me with all cable/charger combinations but I prefer qi charging for my phones so the cable isn't a issue for me since I rarely use them.
 
When I read pieces like this, I try to think of the average user, like my wife or parents.

For the broadest sector of the market, I don't think these are serious challenges.

I think most folks just use the ports for power.

With the world moving to mobile, laptops comprising the majority of computer purchases and the prevalence (perhaps abundance is the better word) of cloud storage, I just don't think the USB-C problems are a big deal.
 
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I think the main difference with this port is that people actually have to think a bit more before getting a cable and/or power adaptor.
Most are used to "if it fits it works" while this certainly isn't true with USB-C.
Also for the people that focus on getting cheap crappy cables, its even harder to get stuff what works.

One thing that is annoying though is that many manufacturers aren't very clear on what "services" or support their USB-C "port" on the gadget actually has.
Was playing with an Acer the other day where there was no info on what the USB-C port was supporting.
 
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Blame the industry for being slow at bringing native cables to the market. You still have to dongle and adapterfy many things, but some peripherals and monitors don't work properly through a dongle (on any operating system)
 
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SoyCapitanSoyCapitan said:
Blame the industry for being slow at bringing native cables to the market. You still have to dongle and adapterfy many things, but some peripherals and monitors don't work properly through a dongle (on any operating system)
Click to expand...

The industry didn't make you buy a laptop with only USB-C. They develop for the market and the market is still 90% non USB-C. Why would they use USB-C when almost all thier costumers being on USB-A. Even Apple who makes the laptops with only USB-C, still use the old connectors for thier other devices.
 
To me the biggest problem is cable confusion. There is no standard or requirements in clearly labelling different flavors of cables with use of one or both ends being USB type-C. The power rating, the USB speed version, or even being TB3 compatible, and then being passive or active... I came to the point of needing to attach tags to some of my type-C cables myself.

The other issue is device priority. The most notable case is when plugging a Nintento Switch to a MBP with a C to C cable, the MBP actually decides the Switch is a power source and charges off it! On a Mac it may be possible (but not trivial) to force-route power from MBP to Switch, but on a "dumb" device like a power bank you cannot do that. (I have a power bank that only has one type-C port which doubles as a PD in and out.)
 
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Sebastian79 said:
My biggest issue is that they get loose over time very quickly.
Click to expand...

Interesting you mention that, they do definitely feel less secure than mini/micro/normal USB. Micro-USB feels like it's glued together!

The reversible nature of USB-C is of course welcomed.
 
Ries said:
The industry didn't make you buy a laptop with only USB-C.
Click to expand...

We already heard this type of excuse when the iMac came out in 1998 or any period when old standards were left behind. It's regurgitation.

The onus is on the peripheral industry to keep updating their cables and gadgets in a timely manner.

If Apple wanted they could have released a much wider range of USB-C cables, drives and so on. Companies should be grateful that Apple didn't do that and is happy to sell their products on Apple Store shelves, so they should step up.
 
SoyCapitanSoyCapitan said:
We already heard this type of excuse when the iMac came out in 1998 or any period when old standards were left behind. It's regurgitation.

The onus is on the peripheral industry to keep updating their cables and gadgets in a timely manner.

If Apple wanted they could have released a much wider range of USB-C cables, drives and so on. Companies should be grateful that Apple didn't do that and is happy to sell their products on Apple Store shelves, so they should step up.
Click to expand...

Except USB provided a tangible benefit over what it left behind. For most people, USB C is pointless beyond "can plug either way", which isn't enough. And how will most peripheral makers sell the same mouse but with USB C? It certainly won't be better any other way, the connector will be different.

Edit: I guess what I'm saying is that no, it isn't on the onus of the peripheral makers to switch pointlessly to something that doesn't benefit 99% of people.
 
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Not so sure for me if USB c is the issue or if it's just the docks; at work we have a devil of a time with USB c docks - I find them the most awful unreliable and annoying things out. It got to the point I got rid of my HP laptop and went for a desktop and augmented it with a MacBook Air. One of my new employees who's only been with me two weeks has already had to have multiple driver updates on her laptop because the dock keeps on losing its proverbial marbles. If it happens again then I'm putting in for a replacement dock (and no doubt restart the struggle all over again)

And it's not just HP's either - the Dells we have also seem to struggle with these bloody awful USB c docks.
 
SoyCapitanSoyCapitan said:
Please think before posting. There's a reason we no longer use parallel ports. Data keeps consuming more and more bandwidth and ports will continue to simplify (wireless high power transmission is long way away). eGPU is just an example.
Click to expand...
Building in a eGPU into the power adapter makes no sense, as that would just make it an: eGPU. So unless you have a MUCH better example, your argument is pretty pointless.
 
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SoyCapitanSoyCapitan said:
Please think before posting. There's a reason we no longer use parallel ports. Data keeps consuming more and more bandwidth and ports will continue to simplify (wireless high power transmission is long way away). eGPU is just an example.
Click to expand...

And I wonder just how may folks here remember the good ole Centronics 25 and 36 pin parallel cables and ports? Oh for the days of LPT1:cool: :D
 
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I'm going to throw this out there... I'd say USB C is a failure the same way Firewire was. I do not mean Thunderbolt 3 which uses the USB-C connector... I mean USB-C in adn ofWhen Apple does something usually everyone else follows suit... USB with the iMac, removal of floppy and optical drives, removal of headphone jacks from phones, the notch on the iPhone X, glass trackpads, backlit keyboards, nonremovable batteries).

That hasn't happened with USB C. It's nearly two and a half years since the Macbook first used it, and even now there are a few laptops that use it, but they usually have one port and it is usually only because they want Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. They include the full suite of other ports all the time so there is no incentive to use it. Most new Android phones use it, but only on the phone. The cables included in the box are almost always USB-C to USB-A.

The majority of use cases I see for the port are to use it as a way to connect hubs and dongles of all sorts. Apple doesn't even ship it's own stuff with USB-C. So where's the benefit? It's just a hassle as far as I can tell.
 
I have three MacBooks and some cameras with usb-c connectors. All the connectors are very loose and unreliable.
 
What are ideal properties of a port? Ubiquity, ease of use, future proofing through extra pins, versatility in use and unnecessarily high bandwidth...

With this in mind, USB-C shouldn't be seen as a black or white success/failure. The ubiquity and throughput are great pluses. Power management is debatable, but clearly an improvement over older USB standards. There are some downsides, like when USB-C replaced a much-loved magsafe power connector. And even with that, you will be able to bring one charger to power up your Macbook, and probably iPad and iPhone in the future.

When you add all of this up, I think the overall story is positive. And as a plus, USB-C is a universal standard.
 
My three year old phone has USB-C and the local gas station carries type C chargers on their car charger rack so I'd say by now it's more common than most give credit.
 
Fishrrman said:
Article here:
https://www.androidauthority.com/state-of-usb-type-c-870996/

Excerpt:
===
It’s 2018 and USB Type-C is still a mess

USB Type-C was billed as the solution for all our future cable needs, unifying power and data delivery with display and audio connectivity, and ushering in an age of the one-size-fits-all cable. Unfortunately for those already invested in the USB Type-C ecosystem, which is anyone who has bought a flagship phone in the past couple of years, the standard has probably failed to live up to the promises.
===

I found this article on the state of USB-C. What does everybody think?
Click to expand...

It's only a mess because its now up to supplies to deliver these adapters since Apple won't. That's why these certified programs exist. but not shop with USB is on board yet.

Its gone slower than a snail. I would although through Apple Pay in there as well... It too has taken it time outside U.S.

When in doubt,, go back to the old ways.. The new promises may not hold up, but at least you can still charge happy..

No one said this was gonna be a rush anyway.
 
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