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Comment on USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed to be reversible

Perhaps a controversial opinion here, but the usefulness of reversibility is vastly overrated. It’s not a game changer, just tiny first-world luxury that’s nice to have, but it does it by introducing a bunch of unnecessary complexity that I’d rather avoid. Not worth the trade off IMO.

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Ejh3k@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I’m happier with how long usb c last before they start getting finicky than I am the reversiblity.

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- hcbxzz@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  In theory, USB-C should be better, but in practice, the quality control is all over the place.
  
  All of my micro USB cables and ports have lasted just fine. I used one daily for 10 years with no issues, and only had maybe two cables ever actually fail. Meanwhile, I’ve already had at least 5 USB-C cables or dongles that have fully failed, and plus the primary USB-C charging port on a laptop just completely die. I wish it was better, but it just isn’t.
  
  Also if USB-C was just replacing just micro USB I’d be ok with that. But the problem is they’re also replacing USB-A, and Type C is not nearly as durable as Type A since it’s so small, it’s just physically impossible.
  
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  - cheery_coffee@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    I’ve never had a good experience with micro-USB, mini USB was meh, but for whatever reason the stuff using micro was always bad.
    
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  - Natanael@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    They exist
    
    www.startech.com/en-se/cables/usb3sab10m
    
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    hcbxzz@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    That’s not going to get you Thunderbolt, mate
    
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  - dgriffith@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    USB C was designed so that the spring contacts that wear out/get damaged are in the relatively cheap cable, and the solid, more durable tang that the contacts slide on is in the expensive device.
    
    Now let’s have a look at Apple’s design for their lightning connector… hmm I wonder why they designed it like that?
    
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Socsa@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
The issue is that USBC was the first standard to really take the mechanical design process seriously in a consumer context. In doing so, it was made both way more ergonomic and way more durable. I’d argue that without the focus on some of these “small but marketable” consumer-oriented bits, we would not have gotten the great overall connector design we did.

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- hcbxzz@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  I’m not a big fan of Apple, but the lightning connector is just better, physically. It’s way more durable in practice since it’s just a solid piece. I wish USB-C was designed that way instead of what we actually got.
  
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  - owatnext@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    If I recall correctly, Lightning connectors are designed in a way that makes the port more likely to wear out. USB-C is designed in a way that makes the cable more likely to wear out. I would rather replace my $5 charging cable than replace my $150 (or more!) phone.
    
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p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Yes, you’re right. That was controversial.

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afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I am just laughing here because I spent the day dealing with ancient serial tech pigtails and DB9s. You people have no idea the pain of losing multiple days of your life trying to get RS-232 to work. Especially when stuff doesn’t follow the standards it is supposed to follow.

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