The shiny new watch on Tim Cook’s wrist wasn’t the item that tipped Apple’s hand as it bets on the future of computing.
The really big development was what wasn’t in the room: multiple ports on the new ultrathin MacBook.
The future lies in a single port for powering the device and seemingly not much else. It’s called USB-C. And the “C,” for now, stands for confusion.
USB-C is not another Apple attempt at building a proprietary connector (like it did with MagSafe or Lightning). USB-C is soon to become an industry standard and Apple is among the first to transition with a new product utilizing it.
“The Type-C plug is a big step forward,” Jeff Ravencraft, chairman of the USB Implementer Forum, told Computer World last year. “It might be confusing at first during the transition, but the Type-C plug could greatly simplify things over time by consolidating and replacing the larger USB connectors.”
Maybe we should think of the “C” as consolidation. Here’s why we will quickly and happily adjust, in un-wonky terms:
It’s a single connection for everything: The new MacBook’s USB-C port will support video connections (HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA, but not Thunderbolt or the ancient FireWire) as well as handling USB and power connections.
It goes both ways: USB-C attempts to consolidate computing activities with a bi-directional cord, meaning power goes both ways. You can charge other devices by plugging them into your laptop or you can charge your computer by plugging into the wall or another power source.
It’s always right-side up: Like Apple’s Lightning plug, there’s no top or bottom to USB-C cables or ports. Happily, this will eliminate the hassle of figuring out which side is up. Just slide it in and you’re golden.
It’s more powerful: USB-C delivers extra juice, topping out at 100 watts, meaning you could power devices and have enough to run hubs and displays.
It’s faster: USB-C cables transfer data faster than their predecessors. It’s USB 3.1, so theoretically it could deliver data twice as fast as USB 3.0 cables — a top speed of 10 gigabits per second — although Apple says the MacBook’s port will max out at half that, according to The Wall Street Journal.
It’s backward-compatible (with an adapter): Those adapters — like USB-C to HDMI, USB-C to VGA and, of course, USB-C to USB — will be a necessary evil until all our peripheral devices move to the new standard or go wireless. Apple has a number of adapters in its store and Sandisk makes a 32GB flash drive with a USB-C connector.
David Pierini is a former newspaper writer and long-time photographer. Considered a luddite by most of his friends, they did not believe him when he broke the news that he would be writing for a technology website. He is fascinated by human nature and would love to cultivate stories about the people driving the tech bus. Reach out to him at [email protected].
79 responses to “The ‘C’ in USB-C is for confusion (but you’ll adjust)”
I’ve been hoping the USB-C-standard would be compatible with Thunderbolt. Apparently it’s not. How were you able to confirm?
Yes this is an important question, I need to know whether this can work with my Thunderbolt display.
Exactly. If not, this Mac is worthless
Far from it.
No, the Thunderbolt display can only be used on a Thunderbolt port. As I said to the other guy, Thunderbolt is an external, PCIe bus. USB can’t be adapted that way, but you can get additional USB-C ports out of a Thunderbolt port (just like the dongles for FireWire and GbitE).
So it would not be possible to have a Thunderbolt adapter for a USB-C port?
No, but you can have a USB-C adapter for your Thunderbolt port!
Different technology. Thunderbolt is basically an external connector for the PCIe bus, which can also handle all the same protocols as USB. But TB has double the bandwidth and doesn’t require a hub for daisy-chaining (like FireWire). But no, you won’t be able to adapt USB-C to TB. There will eventually be adapters that go the other way, though (like the Thunderbolt dongles for FireWire and GbitE)
It’s also a way Apple makes you toss out your old and buy new ones. Just as they did with the Lightning Connectors and going from 4 to 6 inches.
This is not that. Apple is still supporting and shipping Thunderbolt for quite some time.
So in your opinion which is the superior connection?
Thunderbolt, hands down. More bandwidth and no need for a hub to daisy chain. Thunderbolt 3, which doubles bandwidth again to 40Gb/s, is coming with Skylake. It’ll also allow 5K video over DisplayPort and 4K over HDMI, both at 60Hz.
Remember, Brand new out of the box you will need to buy an adaptor to charge your phone and Macbook at the same time.
I think apple is betting before they have the design all across board they will have released an apple made wireless charging framework.
False.
Plug them both into the wall. Don’t be dumb.
You can’t sync from they wall…
You just refuted your own statement. Wi-Fi sync works great!
Yea I forgot about wifi sync, it takes longer and just prefer it connected to the computer.
So you mean a USB-C power splitter? Will probably cost like $2.
More likely everyone will have a power supply with multiple powered USB-C sockets, that’s the point of standardization.
Yet another reason to stick with the more able bodied macbook pro. Would it have killed them to provide two usb-c ports?
They are betting on wireless. this laptop is simply for the person who is entirely wireless. if you need to plug stuff in then this just is not the laptop for you. it will 1-2 years before apple brings this type of design completely across board, so you have until then to transition to a wireless solution.
This design will not happen “across the board”; I guarantee that. We will still have the MBP, Mini, Pro, iMac and probably even the MBA with multiple ports because not everyone can work like this (especially all the professional users). This is a design relegated to its own class.
Do you mean the MacBrick Pro?
No hubs yet that I could find in 20 mins of searching.
Apple is about looks..not functionality. It’s counter-intuitive, takes time getting used to, and is made for people who want to be more vain than productive.
I disagree with this statement. This laptop is built for a wireless future that isn’t quite here yet. however by the time this design works its way across the rest of their laptops i am sure we will have transitioned. an analogy would be the removal of the disc drive in the Macbook Air. people lost their minds when they did that but nowadays i know of very few people who even own discs let alone put them in their computers.
“… i know of very few people who even own discs let alone put them in their computers.”
You and your friends must be 12 years old.
That or you have a disposable income that allows you to buy new computers every other year and backup your data on SSD’s.
Either way, you’re too cool for school. Or broadcast television. Or professional photography.
Woah, why don’t you back off you pompous prick. Don’t you condescend to me when I have solutions that don’t require optical discs or extensive amount of cables. How about next time you comment something rational and contributory instead of simply mocking the other person. All you have done is commit two logical fallacies, Appeal to Ridicule and a tad bit of straw man.
“… i know of very few people who even own discs let alone put them in their computers.”
Did I hurt your feelings? Yep, you must be 12.
Regarding computing, I have 15 years of broadcast television EDL’s, including original media, stored on my hard disk drives. Along with more than 25,000 professional still photos, scripts, research and journals going back to 1980. My computers, a Toshiba Windows XP laptop… a custom-built Windows XP desktop… an Apple G4… G5… PowerBook G4 17″… and a MacBook Pro 17″ and all have spinning drives. As does my original 1984 Mac.
So please give us your credentials and tell us how long you’ve been computing and how you store your massive media files.
Unless storage isn’t a problem because you use your computer only for emailing, cruising the net and checking your work schedule at Pappa John’s or the Post Office.
LOL, it seems you love humiliating yourself in public.
I don’t follow.
But thanks for your puzzling reply.
I think what he is saying is you are a bully and an asshole.
Dave tell me this and please be honest: how many action figures do you have on your computer table?
I think David was talking about CDs, not spinning hard drives. And if you need to edit broadcast video, as you indicate below, I think the USB-C connector would be your least worry, as you’d likely be more concerned about processor speed, which wouldn’t make the MacBook your first choice, anyway. Apple has a history of being among the first to establish new trends by dropping things it feels are no longer an important built-in component, be that floppy disk drives, CD drives, or ethernet ports, sometimes perhaps a little earlier than what leaves us quite comfortable. At any rate, USB disk drives and hard drives can still all be connected with an adapter, and its actually easier now as you can connect power, 2nd monitor, USB hub all with a single connection, USB-C.
Godo, not that it matters but I wasn’t discussing computer specs but instead replying to one sentence in Sir David’s pronouncement that I found bizarre: “… i know of very few people who even own discs let alone put them in their computers.”
I believe Sir David was referring to HDD’s but even if he was writing about CD’s… or DVD’s… his comment is still wonky.
What computer owner doesn’t have CD’s, DVD’s and at least one external drive in their home? People over the age of twelve, I mean. Maybe Sir David just doesn’t know many people who own computers… or perhaps his entire life fits on a 256 GB SSD.
Clearly, security issues aside, offsite backup is prudent because computers and disks can be stolen or damaged by fire, acts of God, acts of dog and whatnot.
But storage of original data… and working with it online… especially over WiFi… is a big bag of hurt. What if the Internet goes down or isn’t accessible at all? What if the connection is slow? What if you’re dealing with massive files like video or professional stills?
Pardon my condescension, but that’s not an option for me. I need local storage in massive amounts and SSD’s aren’t cost effective.
In closing, I wonder how this conversation would have played out had Sir David and I been sitting in some dive bar in the heartland of America, say Arnie’s in Toledo, Ohio.
Me, I never write anything online that I wouldn’t say to a guy in a bar, so I would have asked Sir Dave if he stored all his massive original data on SSD’s because he didn’t look like he was twelve years old and therefore may have never seen a HDD, CD or DVD.
Do you think Sir Dave would have called me a condescending, mocking, pompous prick? To my face?
And how do you think I would have responded?
Hey, let’s hear from Sir Dave on this one!
Lou, you make some reasonable points. It is just that I think it would be better if we all indulged a little less in name-calling.
Godo, read Sir David’s comment below.
I guess he didn’t read my reply to you. Or maybe he did, but has comprehension issues.
Anyway, why would someone who wants to have a serious discussion throw insults around like he does?
What do you think: would he talk like this to someone in a bar?
And do you think he can take a punch to the head?
Lou…they hibernate mostly at the latte sipping joints…going to the post office and pizza joints is beneath them. No free WiFi there for them to freeload off of.
I back up over the internet. Only a fool backups up onto local disk (hint: fire, theft, poor redundancy).
Wow, wish I’d thought of fire and theft. And earthquakes, firestorms, torrential rain and flooding. And let’s not forget large, pesky canines! Woof!
Dang, I wish I’d thought about using off-site storage services like Dropbox and iCloud for archiving projects AFTER they’re edited.
As for you, I wish you’d try to edit ten hours of broadcast-quality video over the Internet. Or even large photo files stored on remote servers. Seriously, do this; it’s the best workflow choice ever!
Okay you rascals, this has been far too much fun, so I’m signing off.
And hey, stop trolling these comment sections and go get yourself a date. With a real women… or man… not the inflate-a-date kind…
Good luck!
Lou can i ask why you are such an asshole? i mean seriously. instantly out of the gate you insult me by calling me 12, which lowers your conversation skills down to that of an angry kid on xbox live, “yeah i bet your gay too, heheheheh”. seriously man if you have a different opinion then lets talk about it. yes in your situation you require optical disks and on site backups. but because i don’t work in broadcast doesn’t make me a 12 year old waste of life. you need to hop of your high horse and realize that maybe there are people who don’t share your opinion and that doesn’t make them immature and worthless. thought maybe i could comment and have a real discussion with a normal human being but i got stuck with a prick with a god complex because he works at a broadcasting company. *twirls finger upwards
i think you are a bully and an asshole and that you should seriously rethink your communication skills since all you have done on this thread is make fun of me.
Would you talk to me like this if we were in a bar?
Do you get punched in the face much?
Honestly i wouldn’t even be talking to you in the first place. if your first instinct was to instantly insult me instead of carrying on in a rational conversation i would have walked away. i think the fact that violence and insulting someone is your first instinct goes to show you are little more then a shit shoveling troglodyte with some grudge against anyone with a different opinion. i am done talking to you since you are far to deluded to see past the bridge of your nose at the possibility that you are in fact in the wrong here.
“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent” – Isaac Asimov
“… you are little more then a shit shoveling troglodyte.”
Dave, Dave, Dave! Why so angry? Didn’t get any respect from the ‘rents growing up? Turned to computers and video games as your only friend?
Dave, when you let your anger get out of control like this, you start calling people names, your reading comprehension goes out the window and you turn yourself into a piñata ripe for the bashing!
So let’s really concentrate and stay on topic. We’re two guys sitting on stools there at Arnie’s on Central Avenue. We’ve had a couple of Scotch and sodas and you say, “… i know of very few people who even own discs let alone put them in their computers.”
Because we can see each other and I can see you’re not 12, I reply as I did in an earlier post: “What computer owner doesn’t have CD’s, DVD’s and at least one external drive in their home? People over the age of twelve, I mean.”
This is not an insult, it’s a legitimate question. Read it again, slowly if necessary.
So you would take offense? You would call me a pompous asshole and shit shoveling troglodyte? To my face?
Word to the wise: in the interest of your own personal safety, it’s not smart to call people names in a bar. Unless, of course, you like getting your ass kicked.
Once again, I have to ask: does that happen to you a lot? Do you ever wonder why?
No, it not him, you’re just an asshole. Please get cancer and die, soon.
lol
Why so angry, nutty? Try a couple of hours of My Little Pony and you’ll feel much better!
That was me being nice!
Fair enough if you disagree. But I think the issue with many Mac owners is they are so self-deluded that they forget to raise their heads and see what options are around them and how PCs have their benefits and strengths as well.
Apple takes control away from the user…it’s all about Apple and Apple’s vision only. You are told how to do things and what to do…it’s not about you…it’s about them. Just like Jobs, it’s all about control.
Personally I don’t want a product that limits what I can and cannot do. Options are important to me….and when paying a premium for looks…it better be sandbox too.
Your troll is weak.
Not really…it’s fact…now go run to the nearest coffee shop and pay for a $5 bagel and $5 latte and look cool with your skinny wireless Mac…lol
Your troll is getting weaker. You sound desperate.
Oh damn..did I identify you at the coffee shop?? Shame…
Nozferat, I think it’s for people who want to be productive on the go. For me, light weight and small size ARE functionality because it means I can use the MacBook where I wouldn’t have carried a 4 pound MacBook Pro, adding extra time to when I can be productive.
Packaging is Apple’s forte..no doubt about it. They make small packages that are lifestyle oriented more than all out power houses for all use.
But I could probably do a lot of a cheaper tablet these days with a keyboard attachment that I could also do on an overpriced Mac laptop. That’s ultimate functionality.
“In my opinion Apple is about looks..not functionality. It’s counter-intuitive, takes time getting used to, and is made for people who want to be more vain than productive. In my opinion.”
Fixed.
Thanks for your deep insight. That must be the reason that most professional graphics designers and music producers use Macs then?
And everyone uses PCs for everything else…so yes I suppose.
“The ‘C’ in USB-C is for confusion (but you’ll adjust)”
Yes, we’ll adjust.
Remember way back, when Apple first announced they’d be putting USB (1.0) on computers? “Huh?”, everyone said. “What’s USB? Why do we need it?” Even PCs didn’t have USB ports. But it worked, and allowed for a lot of connectivity previously unavailable.
Then USB gave way to the faster USB 2.0, because Apple made it so. A few years later, Firewire. “Wha?”, we said. “Fire-what?” But we not only adjusted, we embraced the faster protocol for years. FireWire 800 came next. “What are they doing to us!?”, we cried. “They’re taking away our Firewire 400 connectors and making us buy new cables and gear!” But no, both connectors graced many Apple computers for a long time, and FW 800 was really fast… for the time. Then USB 3.0, then Thunderbolt… all better, faster, more capable, but not without many users saying things like, “What in the world is Apple doing to us!?”
Ah, then there was the 30-pin connector for iDevices that we •thought• we loved, except that it was only worked in one direction, and was sometimes problematic. And they were expensive. And cheap ones broke. We didn’t know it could be better until Apple announced the new Lightening connector. Still, many cried out loud, “WTF! Now I have to buy new cables!? What a joke!” But Lightening proved to be much better, more solid, easier to use, more capable and… double-sided. The same has been true of almost every protocol Apple has ever brought to market: mp4 (AAC), Apple Lossless, Magsafe connectors, Flash memory, SSD drives, and on and on.
Yes, we’ll adjust. I for one, will also trust.
We’ll adjust. But couldn’t they give us at least 2 ports?
I dunno. This particular MacBook seems to mark the first of a new era. Though it wasn’t spelled out in so many words, it’s clearly the beginning of the melding of an iOS-type product with a Mac OS product. The battery may be for all-day use, but I believe this computer is intended to be used for traveling and other mobile situations, and mostly in a wireless configuration. It’s processor is not for heavy computer use, but rather for less intensive tasks. An extra port is probably superfluous.
I love simplicity. Therefore, I have to love USB-C. It’s just that Apple missed such an awesome opportunity: use the power brick as a port hub. Maybe 2 or 3 versions, you choose which brick you want. After all, they are selling them separately now.
Nice idea
I really like that idea, and think it could be one of many solutions to the dilemma. I wonder if a third party will think of this, as it would be a great way to help transition between the new MacBook and the USB and Thunderbolt accessories.
USB-C can’t be adapted to Thunderbolt, but you can go the other way with it. Thunderbolt devices (like the Thunderbolt Display) can only be used with Thunderbolt ports
Buy a third party one, they’ll be available soon.
Do you think the newer versions of the 13″ and 15″ MacBook Pro will be getting USB-C? I’m wondering if the ports will remain in the larger model for some time, as people seem to use it often for the dual USB 3.0 ports and Thunderbolt. I’m not sure if I’d trade the ports for a thinner MacBook Pro just yet.
the USB-C port is a good idea, but at this point it shouldn’t be the only port. For the foreseeable future, this means carrying around a dongle to connect to anything else. I don’t know about you, but requiring the use of a dongle is not what I could consider cutting edge.
Everything what else? Are people so stupid that they can’t imagine people who don’t use the ports on their laptop?
And even if you do, people seem suddenly mortified of the idea of an USB hub? That’s all these “adaptors” are. Wait a month or two and buy one on Amazon for $20.
My favorite part of this ridiculous article was “happily, this will eliminate the hassle of figuring out which side is up.” How about, Unhappily, you now have to go through the hassle of buying and using a dongle to connect EVERYTHING YOU CONNECT TO YOUR COMPUTER.
I need an adaptor to connect nothing to my laptop?
So is Apple going to replace Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 with USB-C in upcoming products? I still thought of Thunderbolt as the future but it’s on the outs?
Will USB-C support daisy chaining like Thunderbolt? It seems it really has to with products with only one port.
No. Apple will still support Thunderbolt for quite some time. Thunderbolt is a superior interface for daisy-chaining because it doesn’t require a hub. USB-C is still just USB; it’s a USB type-C connector (just like we have type-A and type-B already). So no, daisy-chaining with it isn’t the same as TB.
How can you say they’re supporting Thunderbolt when they’re supplying a laptop that can’t utilise it at all?
Because all their other products have it and it’s a superior interface. This laptop will be a unique case.
I’d like to see that product release brief that states the new MBP will have Thunderbolt. As far as you and I know they’re getting rid of it across the board. Nothing about the last few days has shown that Apple intends to continuing supporting TB.
Nope. You’re an idiot for making an assumption like that based off of ONE product release. Sure, USB-C ports will start popping up on the other Macs when they get refreshed in October (possibly even at WWDC). It’s easy to see Apple replacing one of the USB-A ports on the MBP with a USB-C port, likewise for the MBA, Mac Mini, Mac Pro and iMac. But they won’t be replacing Thunderbolt because they serve entirely different purposes. The MacBook is essentially the iPad Pro, minus the touchscreen. It’s meant for basic computing needs and not power users or professionals. Those users will still utilize all the capabilities that Thunderbolt provides better than USB, which is still all this port is. USB type-C doesn’t magically gain abilities that type-A and B can’t already do (aside from the obvious reversibility of the connector).
The single port MacBook (technically, two with the headphone jack) will be the only single port Mac; that I can guarantee. And again, Thunderbolt isn’t going anywhere. You’re not going to see a Mac Pro with just a bunch of USB ports. Apple isn’t stupid.
No. Sorry. I mean a USB-c plug to a 5-way USB old style hub
USB-C is very new, you’ll have to give them a few weeks to come out with (powered) hubs which will have a mix of old plugs and C plugs no doubt.
As nutjob2 said, it’s forgivable to not have those hubs available yet. You don’t even own a computer that can use them yet. By the time these are available and shipping, we’ll start to see the hubs appear.