Opinion
I still recall when USB v2 was launched, promising faster data transfer speeds. That was nice, but not fast fast, given that Firewire 800 was faster still. It took until USB v3 to finally kill off Firewire, whose cables tended to be expensive; since most computers didn’tcome with Firewire, there was a higher cost in buying the adapter.
Then we discovered USB-C v3, and how it had become the connector to end all other connectors. It did everything:
- High data transfer speed
- Supply power to computers (aka PD, power delivery)
- Handle ethernet networking
- Read data from multiple sources, like SD card adapters
- Output HDMI to one or more second screens
- Could be inserted irregardless of orientation
Two of my laptops use USB-C based port extenders to handle all of these functions through the one port. A simple, single un-plug action, and the laptop is ready to take along. (Port extenders have been available to laptops for a couple of decades, but before USB-C they used proprietary interfaces and cost too much.)
The ideal laptop today has two USB-C v3 ports (one on each side) and one USB-A port. That way, the power can be plugged in from either side.
Cool Stuff With USB-C
With USB-C going universal (even notoriously-walled Apple bowed down), there are all kinds of cool devices inventive people have come up with. Here are some of the ones that I’ve acquired, which might be of keen interest to Apple users:
- External floppy disk drive that plugs into USB-C port.
- 4TB external solid-state drive.
- DVD burner, which, while it plugs into USB-C, is, sadly, no faster.
- External monitor that derives its signal and power through a single USB-C cable.
- Infrared camera that plugs into my Android phone:
- High-end headphones that read the digital signal through the USB-C port, and then use their own higher-quality DACs [digital to analog converters] for superior sound reproduction:
- USB-C cable with an on-off switch, to more easily turn off the power to my external monitor:
- Miniature port extender that provides two USB-C ports in the size of a thumbnail:
- Short 90-degree USB-C adapters, so that cables align better. (You could get these for USB-A, but then had to specify left or right, and inevitably get it wrong.)
- USB voltmeter to tell me how much voltage and how many amps an electronic device is requesting from the power supply. Some USB-C cables have a power display built-in:
- USB-A to USB-C adapters and reverse.
- Candle lighters, high-power flashlights, and cordless screwdrivers that recharge through their USB-C ports.
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