[userbinator]

There has been maybe two dozen different barrel plugs widely used over the last two decades, and "12V" and "20V" were already a de-facto standard for laptops with 2S and 3S batteries respectively (there was some artificial segmentation like 18.5V, 19V, 19.5V, 20V, etc. but they are all within tolerance range). I have not seen a male laptop; they are always female, being the "receiver" of the power.

Search for "laptop" here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_power_connector#Listin...

[Hamuko]

Two dozen different plugs over the last two decades means that we're averaging 1.2 different barrel plugs per year.

[makeitdouble]

That leaves out all the "what is a computer?" devices that had all sort of plugs that wouldn't be barrel: tablets, chromebooks, raspberry pi, e-readers etc.

Same for all the smaller dedicated devices (audio recorders, camera, controllers etc.)

Those didn't go the barrel plug route in the first place to allow for charging through the same port, and would have been a loophole if barrel was mandated. USB-C was honestly the only option that made sense IMHO.

[userbinator]

tablets, chromebooks

Most of those used either USB or a barrel plug depending on their size.

raspberry pi, e-readers

USB.

Same for all the smaller dedicated devices (audio recorders, camera, controllers etc.)

Many of those use smaller barrel plugs, appropriate for their lower voltage.

The main problem with USB-C is the tiny fragile connector (search for images of "bent USB-C"), and the fact that it's a standard that tries to be what should really be a bunch of separate standards. It's hard to get a barrel plug wrong. It's too easy to get USB-C wrong, and cause damaged devices:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33713713