eh, USB-C is a mess, but it's got a messy problem.
I've found it to be a solid improvement. I would still be delighted to swap my thicket of USB cables, and a bizarre assortment of sockets over the past fifteen years, for a world of USB-A and USB-C.
I've found it to be a solid improvement. I would still be delighted to swap my thicket of USB cables, and a bizarre assortment of sockets over the past fifteen years, for a world of USB-A and USB-C.
Charging my phone with the wrong USB-C cable will still charge it when I need it, although very slowly. But I will end up with a usable phone. Not having a proprietary iPhone cable means my iPhone is a dead brick even if I have another device with USB port next to it.
One of the factors in the USB-C switch was that what were traditionally client devices, like phones, could now also be hosts. So now USB-C devices need resistors connected to a CC line to identify as host (power source) or client (power sink).
Also, there were good reasons for having multiple sockets. USB-C might be rated for 10k or whatever insertions, but it is quite a bit weaker than USB-A. The ports wear out and are not as resistant to stress since they are smaller and shorter. I'm pretty sure the USB-C port on my laptop died from just plugging & unplugging a dock for 2 years. Even if it wasn't completely dead, it no longer makes a secure connection. Of course USB-A wears out too, but not as much.
Receptacles: USB A, USB 3.0 A SS, USB B, USB 3.0 B SS, USB Mini-A, USB Mini-AB, USB Mini-B, USB Micro-AB, USB Micro-B, USB 3.0 Micro-B SS
Plugs: USB A, USB 3.0 A SS, USB B, USB 3.0 B SS, USB Mini-A, USB Mini-B, USB Micro-A, USB Micro-B, USB 3.0 Micro-B
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Host_and_device_i...
Is it? My sense is that USB-A ports just don't see many insertion cycles. If you go to say, a library PC where the USB-A ports are seeing a dozen insertions per day, they lose any grip or friction after a couple years.