Still, it’s so much better than the old mishmash of USB connectors.
Except youre not, because maybe those devices dont work together.
Maybe one of them is not USB-C, but Thunderbolt.
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Or perhaps the cable itself can only transfer power, not high-speed data.
Whats the Problem?
USB-C is a connector designed to replace all previous USB connectors.
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Looking at it from this angle, it really is amazing.
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The problem comes when you actually use it.
The same USB-C connector is used for power, USB-C 3.1, USB-C 3.1 gen.2, and Thunderbolt.
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Each one requires a faster, more capable cable than the last.
The USB-C cables that Apple ships with its iPads, for example, are mainly for power.
And even the basic power part is confusing.
“To get this benefit, however, requires the right combination of charger, cables, and unit.
The Solution?
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Is the answer to just go back to having separate cables for different devices?
“This can be addressed through cable management or by color-coding the cables for specific devices.
However, these drawbacks are minimal and do not outweigh the advantages of USB-C,” says Young.
The USB-IF (Implementers Forum)recently announceda new set of labels to help.
Perhaps we just need something like those old mauve- and peppermint-colored plugs used for mice and keyboards?
Maybe it’s time for us users to invent our own color-coding scheme and label those cables ourselves.
