[ruuda]

Imagine this happened a few years ago, and the EU had instead demanded micro-USB. Then we would still be flipping plugs twice, and I wouldn't be able to use my laptop charger to charge my phone. It's not clear to me that USB-C is good enough to be the "final" connector, especially with the mess around USB versions, Thunderbolt, Displayport, etc. Unlike e.g. power sockets, where I am pretty confident that the current design can last another 15 years. (But which is not standard across EU countries!)

[crote]

They did mandate micro-usb, actually.

I believe the exact wording was that the industry was required to standardize on a connector, which at the time turned out to be micro-usb. Now the industry is shifting to usb-c, which is objectively better.

The current law already includes provisions to switch to a potential superior connector in the future. If the industry comes up with something better, the EU is not going to demand they stick with usb-c forever.

[nosianu]

> Imagine

But it didn't, and it may very well be because those people are not as incompetent as betting on making something a standard prematurely. They id it only now.

Be careful with hypotheticals as basis of an argument.

[blueblisters]

In this case the counterfactual is a stronger argument than you saying "they did it only now" with appeal to authority. Unless there's a well reasoned approach to this policy, we are practically stuck with the current standard until the EU bureaucrats decide everyone needs an upgrade.

[nosianu]

> with appeal to authority.

What???

It's an appeal to reality! It's what actually happened!

What do you prefer? Imagination and "I can say whatever and who cares about facts"?

> counterfactual

There was not a trace of "fact" in that argument, it was 100% imagination.

[ISL]

Pretty good chance that the USB-C plug-design will be with us for decades to come. Even if new protocols emerge, they're likely to use the same plug.

When it comes to charging and slow transfers of data, today's USB-C sockets will probably still work.

The next realm of standardization will probably be in the wireless-charging market (where standards are already maturing).

[datavirtue]

A magnetic attachment and break/away connector would be welcomed over the current usb-c connector. Now you can't have it.

[int_19h]

Magnetic breakaway USB-C cables are already a thing.

[baq]

Remind us in 10 years.

[ddoolin]

I don't really see how this is any worse than the current "do whatever you want regardless of what everyone else is attempting" that manufacturers currently go by.

But as other commenters point out, provisions exist to assist with this.

[MayeulC]

I am pretty sure something similar hapenned a few years back, and they mandated USB-A on the brick/cable? My recollection is fuzzy.