Why didn't they make USB 3.0 reversible in the 1st place (instead of version C)?! PIC

[JEDI]

http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/13/technology/innovationnation/reversible-usb/

luckily I haven't upgraded my desktop yet.
still have a usb 2.0 mobo and case (front headers).

I guess black tues in Nov 2014 will have lots of free usb 3.0 (old version) cases.

 

[Imp]

Psh.. Then you'd only have to buy newer release USB 3 cables for $5 a pop once.

 

[Brainonska511]

n/m

 

[nickbits]

Is it really that difficult to use an asymmetric cable?

Yes. USB cables are the worst thing.

 

[Brainonska511]

Yes. USB cables are the worst thing.

Nevermind. I had a brainfart there. I was thinking same connector on each side of the cable.

I agree, they're a pain in the ass when it comes to figuring out which way to rotate it to stick it into the port.

 

[Red Squirrel]

How about they actually start making USB 3.0 devices standard instead of a niche thing. 99% of USB sticks, HDDs etc sold are still 2.0 and mobos only typically have 2 ports and like 8 2.0 ones. Was same deal when 2.0 came out.

 

[DesiPower]

How about they actually start making USB 3.0 devices standard instead of a niche thing. 99% of USB sticks, HDDs etc sold are still 2.0 and mobos only typically have 2 ports and like 8 2.0 ones. Was same deal when 2.0 came out.

You living under a rock bro?

 

[Howard]

How about they actually start making USB 3.0 devices standard instead of a niche thing. 99% of USB sticks, HDDs etc sold are still 2.0 and mobos only typically have 2 ports and like 8 2.0 ones. Was same deal when 2.0 came out.

They're physically different, which is not the same for 2 vs 1.0/1.1.

 

[Lean L]

So I read the article and I can't figure out what the new standard is.

I couldn't figure out if they meant the PC end, the peripherals end or both.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/hardware/24253/new-usb-connector-type-c-teh-awesomez-itbwcw

This article explains it in one sentence.

 

[ElFenix]

So I read the article and I can't figure out what the new standard is.

I couldn't figure out if they meant the PC end, the peripherals end or both.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/hardware/24253/new-usb-connector-type-c-teh-awesomez-itbwcw

This article explains it in one sentence.

the new connector is the same on both ends. it also doesn't have an up or down side.


as for the OP's question, USB 3 is the electrical signalling. the port shape isn't the same as the signalling. you could solder the connection and it'd still be USB 3.

 

[JujuFish]

Hooray? A new cable that doesn't provide me any benefits and whose ports aren't backwards compatible. Yeah, that's exciting.

 

[lxskllr]

They're physically different, which is not the same for 2 vs 1.0/1.1.

USB3 is fully compatible with USB2 forward and back. Companies don't use it cause they're cheap asses is my guess.

 

[Lean L]

the new connector is the same on both ends. it also doesn't have an up or down side.


as for the OP's question, USB 3 is the electrical signalling. the port shape isn't the same as the signalling. you could solder the connection and it'd still be USB 3.

Yeah, I got that now. I was jabbing at the article for its vague wordiness.

 

[Newbian]

But but... half the fun was the port being magic.

 

[mikeymikec]

Yes. USB cables are the worst thing.

Relative to what? Are you sure you're not over-reacting just a teeny bit?

I'm thankful for the fact that the market (with a bit of prodding from the Chinese government to begin with as I understand it) is starting to standardise on connectors and cables, and because "oh no! I tried the plug in USB the wrong way around, now I'll need to try it the right way around! This is too hard!", we're going to throw all the standardised cables out the window and start again?

What a waste of time and resources.

What great revolution will we have next? A completely reversible cable that's the same at both ends because picking up the wrong end of the cable to begin with is "the next worst thing"?

 

[TridenT]

But but... half the fun was the port being magic.

My favorite is the comic showing proof that USB cables are actually in the 4th dimension.

 

[TheVrolok]

Hooray? A new cable that doesn't provide me any benefits and whose ports aren't backwards compatible. Yeah, that's exciting.

10 Gbps and 100W (theoretical) . Pretty big benefits.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Yeah you can always pay for ~$50 Thunderbolt cables that 99.99% of PCs and devices could never use instead of crappy USB3. But, but, USB3 can't daisy chain monitors! *sarcasm*

 

[ViRGE]

Why didn't they make USB 3.0 reversible in the 1st place (instead of version C)?

As others have noted, because they wanted to make it forwards and backwards compatible with USB 1 & 2. Specifically, so USB 1/2/3 A-type (host) plugs can be used in any 1/2/3 port, and 1/2 B-type (device) plugs can be used in 1/2/3 ports. It was deemed to be more important to be compatible than to be "better" for lack of another term.

http://blog.macsales.com/14399-usb-3-0-brings-a-newish-plug

Which takes us all the way back to 1996. When USB was invented in 1996 it was miles ahead of the serial and USB ports it replaced. No one really cared that it wasn't perfect; you could still blindly mate it (eventually) and it was far more durable, which is much better than the D-sub based connectors that came before it. And to be honest I doubt they could have reliably produced reversible connectors in 1996, even though the reversable Type-C is actually very simple electronically (it's just a full copy of the USB 3 connection on each side).

 

[Jeff7]

My favorite is the comic showing proof that USB cables are actually in the 4th dimension.

Link.


Followup.

 

[gorcorps]

Relative to what? Are you sure you're not over-reacting just a teeny bit?

I'm thankful for the fact that the market (with a bit of prodding from the Chinese government to begin with as I understand it) is starting to standardise on connectors and cables, and because "oh no! I tried the plug in USB the wrong way around, now I'll need to try it the right way around! This is too hard!", we're going to throw all the standardised cables out the window and start again?

What a waste of time and resources.

What great revolution will we have next? A completely reversible cable that's the same at both ends because picking up the wrong end of the cable to begin with is "the next worst thing"?

Can't tell if you're being sarcastic... Because this IS going to be the same on both ends

 

[Dari]

Because Apple hadn't thought of it yet.

 

[TXHokie]

Link.


Followup.

 

[PokerGuy]

This is a great thing. Once this becomes the norm all the devices will use it, and you'll be able to use it to charge larger devices like laptops and things like that. 10 Gbps transfer speed is sweet. One standard cable that you can use for just about anything that charges or connects to some other device is a great thing.

 

[Kaido]

For as much hate as Apple has gotten, especially with their previous crappy, fall-apart 30-pin cable, their new Lightning cable is an amazing design. First of all, it's tiny. Second of all, it's reversible - you never have to worry about getting it wrong or bending the header. Third, it's made out of adamantium - I don't know how they made such a tiny connector so strong, but my MicroUSB cables fall apart on a seemingly daily basis no matter what brand of cable I buy, so...yeah.