• Wiredfire@feddit.uk
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    2 days ago

    We essentially already jad a de facto universal charging standard in USB-A. Whether the end that plugged into the device with USB-C, lightning, micro-USB, mini-USB they all had the venerable USB-A connector at the other end. So regardless of what device you were charging you could hook it into any old USB-A charger and be on your way.

    Then “everything must be USB-C” gets half-arsed into being. Suddenly anyone who hadn’t already stopped packing chargers with their devices used the “reduce ewaste!” rhetoric of the ruling to justify only supplying a cable. Greenwashing but OK. Problem was then Apple and everyone else immediately jumped to packing USB-C to USB-C cables. Now there’s a bunch of USB-A chargers needlessy defunct and a lot of people had to actually but more chargers so they had something that worked with a C to C cable. Or but an A to C cable but still waste that was utterly needless and entirely predictable.

    • microcapybara@sopuli.xyz
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      1 day ago

      You’re right for low-power devices up to 5V/2.4A, to a point. All those USB-A to C chargers/cables didn’t stop working; they should be replaced through normal attrition to the new standard rather than replaced wholesale. I know I still have a bunch I’m using and will continue to until they’re kaput.

      But PD capability via USB-C is a game changer. I’ve been in day-long meetings with people who just swapped one charger between at least three different brands of laptops/tablets. Now you don’t need think anymore about which I adapter you have, you just plug it in and it charges.