| > Impossible, all USB-C QC chargers are also USB PD chargers. You have a lot of USB-A QC chargers, and you just take a usb A -> C cable. [0] > The port is either marked (everything but MacBooks) or doesn't matter (MacBooks, pretty sweet). https://p3-ofp.static.pub/fes/cms/2021/07/01/5q6w49cnwh2ka55... So... do I tell my grandma to plug it into the "weird robot"-symbol port (5), or the "danger, high voltage" one (6)? It fits into both. > No, not at all. 20 to 10 years ago all charging ports (including on cameras, phones, everything) were barrel plugs of slightly different diameter; everybody's cranking out their own boxy black chargers putting out maddening variations on the same ~20V for laptops and 3-5V for smaller devices, you can't share chargers between devices, can't always find the replacement, especially if the device is on the older side. Buying a device with a different connector - bam, old charger goes to e-waste (or e-bay). This is not really true... Some laptops maybe... Lenovo had a square one ( https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Charger-Adapter-ThinkPad-Un... ) for example. Phones had all the custom ones... ericsson examples: https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Cable-Ericsson-C510i-C702i/dp... https://www.navigation-accessoires.com/en/sony-ericsson/p-se... Either way, you brought one device + one cable, and you know where to plug it. Yes, from an average tech nerd perspective, this might be better, because people know and remember what to use where, which protocol their devices use, and which port they have to plug it in. Normal users don't.. and if it fits, they use it like that. If they buy a custom charger for their laptop, they won't use it to charge their phone, because they know their phone charger won't charge their laptop, even though everything fits. I'm not saying it's all bad, but dealing with several older relatives, and stuff that fits and doesn't work is making it a pain in the ass, especially with stores selling stuff (eg ikeas https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/askstorm-40w-usb-charger-dark-g... ) that works but doesn't charge if under heavy use. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Charge-Charger-Portable-Adapter-Folda... |
The exact shape of the port is clearly not the point of their statement. It is that you had specific, one use, variations of chargers that only worked for one laptop and were trashed when you got something new and were very difficult to get a replacement or additional charger for. Whether they were barrel or square isn’t the point.
> If they buy a custom charger for their laptop, they won't use it to charge their phone, because they know their phone charger won't charge their laptop, even though everything fits.
But most people handled it fine if they had a tablet, phone, and a few other random devices with micro USB. For the average person, moving to the semi standard micro USB was a net win, even though some people would try trickle charging their phones with old, low power usb chargers. Just because grandma can’t figure out what she is doing, doesn’t mean the actual average user won’t quickly figure out that their USB-C charger will work for anything less what the charger was rated for. Your laptop charger will charge your tablet, phone, and extras like headphones. Your tablet charger will charge your phone and headphones, etc. that is a good enough solution for most people, and simple enough most people will be fine. Knowing you can travel with 4-5 USB-C devices and only bring your laptop charger to charge everything is much better.