With many new Mac and Windows laptops it'sclearthe USB-Cconnector is here to stay. Here's why that's a good thing. Get a lot more details about usb type c



What'sUSB-C?

USB-Cistheemerging industry-standard connector for transmitting power and data. TheUSB-CconnectorwasdesignedbytheUSBImplementersForum,thegroupofcompanieswhich hasdeveloped,certified,andshepherdedtheUSBstandard.Itcountsmorethan700companiesinitsmembership,includingApple,Dell,HP,Intel,Microsoft,andSamsung.Thisisimportant,asit'spartofUSB-PCmanufacturershaveso readilyacceptedC. Contrast this with the earlier Apple-promoted (and developed) LightningandMagSafeconnectors,whichhadlimitedacceptancebeyondAppleproducts,and,due toUSB-C, are soon to be completely obsolete.



IsItLikeMicro?

TheUSB-CconnectorlookssimilartoamicroUSBconnectoratfirstglance,thoughit is more oval-shaped and slightly thicker to accommodate its best feature: LikeLightning and MagSafe,theUSB-Cconnectorhasnoupordownorientation.Lineuptheconnectorproperly,andyou alsodon'thavetoflipittoplugitin.Thecablesalsohavethesameconnectoronbothends,soyoudon't have to figure out which end goes where, which hasn't been the case with all the USB cables we'vebeenusingforthepast20years.



USB-USB and C3.1

The default protocol withthenewUSB-CconnectorisUSB3.1,which,at10Gbps,istheoreticallytwiceasfastasUSB3.0.But aside from on desk tops,it ismuchmorecommontoseeUSB3.1portswithUSB-Cconnectors.



The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has defined the USB 3.1 Gen 1 standard as meeting the same interface and data signaling rates as USB 3.0. USB 3.1 Gen 2 refers to data signaling rates at 10Gbps, double that of USB 3.0, and matching the speeds of single-channel Thunderbolt.



Thunderbolt3

Perhaps themostusefulprotocolUSB-CsupportsisThunderbolt3.Thisaddsmajornewfeatures,such as40Gbpsbandwidth,reducedpowerconsumption,andtheabilityto



AdaptersandCables

USB-C is electrically compatible with older USB 3.0 ports, and, as we discussed above, is completely compatible with USB 3.1 ports.Buton account of the new style of port,cables or adapterswith both of theplugs that were requiredare indeedrequiredshouldyou want to connect any thing that does nothave the USB-Cplug.Anewlaptopwillcomewiththese,inothercasesyoumighthavetopurchasethem. Apple,forexample,sellsa variety ofUSB cables and adapters for connecting to other technologiesincludingLightning ($25fora1-metercable) or Ethernet ($34.95foranadapter). You can also find a variety of these for PC as well shouldyoubrowseonlineretailers.Someevensupportolderormoreesotericprotocols,toensureadeviceyou'vefromyearsagowillworkontoday'shardware: ItwaseasytodiscoverUSB-Câ??toâ??DVIadapters,for instance,butwealsocameacrossonethatsplittotwoRS-232serialconnections.



Thegoodnews,though,isthatshouldyouinvestinafewnormalUSB-Ccables (theyrangeinpricefrom$10to$30),they're going toworkwithanythingandallthatsupportsUSB-C.



DockingProcedures

HaveoneUSB-Cport? Don'tfret,astherearemultipleUSB-both from PC manufacturers like Dell and HP C docking solutions available,andthird-partyaccessorymakerslikeBelkin,Caldigit,andOWC.



DoYouNeedUSB-C?

Thepresence (orabsence) ofaUSB-CportisincreasinglybecomingaconsiderationwhenbuyingaPC.In the event thatyou buy an ultrathin system,such astheZenBook 3, the new MacBook Pro, or the HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx,it willalmost certainlyhaveaUSB-Cport,whichwillcatapultyouintotheecosystem. In the eventyou aremore of a lover of desktops,you'realmostcertaintofindtheportsthere,too,particularlyonhigh-gaming and enddesktops.ButifsupportforUSB-Cfromperipheralmanufacturersislightoverallatthemoment, nowthatthe floodgates were opened by Apple's,it'sonlyamatteroftimeuntildevicesthatuseitare. Inseveral years, USB ports using the old Type-Astyle connector willbemuchhardertofindâ??and who will want to put up with their sluggish speeds at that point ,anyway?



Evenif you don'tneedUSB-Cnowâ??and since even power users probably do nothavemuchhardwarethatcanfullytaskit,especiallyifThunderbolt3isinvolvedâ??youwillbeforelong.We'reonlyscratchingthesurfaceofwhatUSB-Ccando,butonethingiscertain: Thenextgenerationofcross-platformconnectorsishere,alsoit'sabouttoreplacetheoldguardjustastheoriginalUSBstandardreplacedAppleDesktopBus (ADB),FireWire,parallel,PS/2,SCSI,andserialportsonMacsandPCs.USB-C is one port to rule them all.