Tera 🇨🇦

Don't buy basic peripherals that have a #USB-C connector, like basic USB-C flash drives, mice, Logitech transceivers, etc. Because you can always buy an inexpensive USB-C male to USB-A female adapter, but: USB-A male to USB-C female adapters are illegal per the USB Type C spec.

Only buy USB-A peripherals of these basic peripheral types, so you can use them on both modern (with a legal adapter) and older systems. Because otherwise you're buying them only for modern systems, as an adapter that adapts the other way is illegal.

Jun 28 at 3:29amWeb
Show threadBurner 2d ago

@TeraKaktos meanwhile, the USB C port I use on one of my laptops is from one of those non-compliant adapters because the actual USB C port isn't accessible (and is also used by a VR headset) lol

I increasingly do want USB C peripherals but only for more specific use cases, like having a more flush Logitech receiver for a laptop or forcing me to use a higher speed cable for external SSDs. Or for yubikeys, but I have USB A and USB C yubikeys.

Show threadTera 🇨🇦1d ago

@burner I have a laptop like that too, a Lenovo ThinkPad that only has one USB-C receptacle, and it only charges via USB-C, so...

But I personally see this as, as I am privileged enough resource-wise, that this either means I have this laptop and thus can't fully adopt USB-C without a high end multi-port adapter or that USB-C isn't universally preferable as I laid out (but if one is not as privileged resource-wise, they would be more open to non-compliant adapters, as they might have no choice but to have such a laptop)

Buying flush or convenient USB-C things with an explicit commitment is a good point too as an acceptable idea!

Show threadCharlotte /Cinny     2d ago

@TeraKaktos nobody cares about usb legality tbh

i have never seen a spec compliant way to connect a peripheral to a micro/mini usb phone, both the phones and the cables are always wrong

Show threadCharlotte /Cinny     2d ago
@TeraKaktos if you wanted to make a usb device and follow spec you have to register a company and pay usb if $6,000 or more
Show threadTera 🇨🇦1d ago
@charlotte In this case I am not speaking about certification but just compliance with the specification documents
Show threadCharlotte /Cinny     1d ago
@TeraKaktos a vendor id is a required part of the device descriptors
Show threadMiff2d ago
@TeraKaktos I have to see a USB-C mouse or any other basic peripherals, other then select flash drives that advertise themselves as for phones specificity.
Show threadMiff2d ago
@TeraKaktos It's like DisplayPort - it's an acceptable standard but good luck finding it on anything 1080p60 when HDMI 1.x is good enough.
Show threadSominemo2d ago
@miff @TeraKaktos you can also search "for MacBook" nowadays
Show threadSominemo2d ago
@miff @TeraKaktos another trick I learned, if you want a reeeeeally long USB-A to type-C cable with a decent speed, search for "USB cable for Meta Quest"
Show threadTera 🇨🇦1d ago
@miff Not sure how many manufacturers are doing this yet for mice but I know of Lenovo
Show threadKlay2d ago
@TeraKaktos this, and the usb c female-to-female coupler being out of spec, are "skill issues." there is no compelling reason why these can't be supported. the spec is wrong.
Show threadTera 🇨🇦1d ago
@nycki An easy example of the undesirable cases the spec thinks about would be a USB-A to USB-A connection created using the referenced adapter. Would need to be addressed because not all existing devices are tolerant to that. Not sure how that could be addressed if the referenced adapter were allowed.