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Microsoft Thinks USB-C Isn't Ready For the Mainstream (digitaltrends.com)
When Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop last week, it left many customers and members of the press scratching their heads over its lack of a USB Type-C port. According to general manager of Surface Engineering, Pete Kyriacou, Microsoft seems to think that the technology isn't ready for the mainstream. Digital Trends reports: Microsoft does not want customers to deal with the various Type-C cables, underwhelming chargers, all the adapters, and the third-party Type-C docks. That is why the Surface Laptop features only one USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port, one headphone jack, one Mini DisplayPort connector, and the Surface Connect port. Simplicity. That latter connection is how customers can "safely" expand their Surface device experience. Microsoft's $200 Microsoft Surface Dock adds two Mini DisplayPort connectors, one gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports, and one audio out port. The dock connects to a compatible Surface device via Microsoft's proprietary Surface Connect port. Right now, it works with the Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, and Surface Book but the Surface Laptop will undoubtedly be added soon. While limiting a Surface device's connectivity seems like forcing customers into purchasing the dock, Microsoft sees this setup as brand stability. Customers won't get ticked at Microsoft because they are confused about the different types of cables, chargers, and so on. Microsoft is controlling the end-to-end experience and there is nothing wrong with that.
Apple is dropping everything and only offers USB-C while Microsoft includes almost everything except USB-C.
It's like both companies don't want to have transition periods between the present and the future.
At least Microsoft isn't braindead and is keeping the traditional headphone jack. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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My new laptop at work (ZBook 15 G3) has USB-C. It's everything USB should have been since the beginning.
Reversible, Just Works(Tm). It'll drive 2 4k external TVs.
Laptop itself has Ethernet, VGA, 3xUSB3.0 and 2xUSB-C ports. Holds 64GB of RAM, 2xM.2 NVMe drives and 1x 2.5" drive.
The dock could still use some work. You shouldn't have to issue a white paper on how to hook up monitors (Which is still wrong, the HDMI port drives 4k just fine.).
If I *need* to do some GPU work I can plug in an external GPU. Or gigabit ethernet or any other PCIe device.
Microsoft screwed up on this one. They're releasing old hardware. I bet they could have easily charged a surface on over USB Power Delivery. It's taken us a while but USB-C is pretty damn good as far as a physical connection. And Thunderbolt 3 is equally as good of a protocol.
For most people if the 'desktop is dead' it's because USB-C/TB killed it. I just want to plug my laptop into cluster of CPUs when I'm at my desk.
USB C is, finally, USB done right. The connector is small, which is good for small devices; there is only one connector (no A and B variants); since there's only one connector you don't need a huge variety of cables (just USB A to USB C plus USB C to USB C and you are covered for 99.9% of scenarios); the plug doesn't have a "top" or "bottom", it just plugs in; and it was even designed to deliver useful amounts of power (enough to charge a small laptop).
My phone and my wife's phone are USB C and I just bought a Samsung Chromebook Plus, which charges by USB C (and it has two USB C ports, making it better than the Apple netbook). I'm planning to ask my employer to give me a laptop with USB C ports. I'm just waiting for a compact camera that uses USB C for charging and data and I'll buy that too. If I can manage it I won't buy another gadget with Micro USB or Mini USB ever again.
So congratulations, Microsoft! You managed to give me yet another reason to not buy your mobile devices!
P.S. I'm waiting for someone to make a kit that includes two or three USB C cables (USB C on both ends) plus a bunch of adapters: USB C to USB A, USB C to Mini USB, USB C to Micro USB, USB C to USB B, USB C to Ethernet jack, etc. Plus a USB to serial and USB to parallel and USB to IDE and SATA. It would be one kit that would let you connect almost anything to your laptop.
lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
I am a big fan of USB C. I searched high and low for a laptop that charges over USB C and meets my other requirements. I found one. I use a Pixel XL. Both these devices charge over higher voltages (5-9V for the pixel, 12-20V for the laptop) using USB Power Delivery. It was supposed to be Utopia. Instead, I've had to dig through spreadsheets, comb through reviews, and still haven't been able to find everything I'm looking for in terms of USB C accessories. Yes, one day everyone will catch up. A surface pro would help it along. But I can't blame them for waiting. They're right.
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USB-C is not as robust as USB-A. For a device that is expected to be replaced every year like a "smart" phone, USB-C is ok. For devices expected to last longer such as a laptop, USB-A is a better choice. Plus using USB-A ports greatly reduces the need for adapters or adapter cables.
This whole marketing idea that thinner is better is BULLSHIT!! I would rather have a device that is a little thicker, and have it not be as fragile, and have room for standard connectors (USB-A ports and the 3.5mm headphone jack spring to mind!).
Microsoft is the same company that almost missed the Internet for Windows. When The Road Ahead by Bill Gates came out, it had no mentioned of the Internet. Gates and the publisher revised the book. You can't have a visionary missing one of the biggest technological developments of his time.
USB-C is not as robust as USB-A. For a device that is expected to be replaced every year like a "smart" phone, USB-C is ok. For devices expected to last longer such as a laptop, USB-A is a better choice.
That is utterly stupid and backwards. For something that will just be around in a year, USB-A would be OK because that's still well supported.
But for something you plan to use for any length of time, more and more advanced stuff will come out primarily for USB-C. I would not buy a laptop I planed to use longer than two years at this point if it did not support USB-A.
Plus using USB-A ports greatly reduces the need for adapters or adapter cables.
Actually not the case already. I was looking for a decent small external case for an HD and the bets one I found was - USB-C!! I needed to buy an adaptor to use that with the USB-A on my laptop... When you buy a USB-C device you buy a small dock converter for a number of ports and then you are done, along with converting a few key things (like USB readers) to USB-C versions. Then you use them forever after because going forward USB-A is absolutely going to take over the USB world in short order.
This whole marketing idea that thinner is better is BULLSHIT!!
That's why marketing doesn't use that notion for any ad I've ever seen.
No, the very REAL advantage of USB-A is quite simple - you can plug it in either way. AT LAST the rest of the world gets to enjoy Lightning like simplicity in USB plugs.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Of course MS knows better than us that its new proprietary connector is much more ready for mainstream than the standard USB-C.
This time, yes.
I disagree. USB-C is clearly going to replace USB-A over time. It works well and provides high speed and good power connectivity. However not many devices support it yet so if you want a machine that you can use today and still use in a few years time the best bet is a machine which supports both USB-A and C. Instead we have Apple producing machines which will be great in a few years time but bad now and MS providing ones which are great now but will be a pain in a few years time....which is why I bought a Dell with both USB-A and C so I can use it now and in a few years time.