Now, listen. Perhaps I’m in the minority here. I still love USB-A. I know the EU wants to drag me kicking and screaming into some glorious utopian future where every device is powered by just a USB-C cable and nothing else is connected to it, but I’m not ready to give up my nice asymmetric port. So tell me, Tim Cook, where is the USB-A port on the new M4 Mac mini you just announced?
that’s right. The next-generation Mac mini looks like a great little device that’s small enough to fit in your hand. – But Apple has officially ended its long-term relationship with USB-A, ditching the two ports found on previous models in favor of more USB-C ports (five total). This is a big change, and it goes hand-in-hand with Apple redesigning its “Magic” accessories to include USB-C instead of the older proprietary Lightning port (yes, charging the Magic Mouse The ports are still on the bottom, but I don’t think I’m kicking that particular hornet’s nest right now).
Understood. As a longtime Apple critic, I can honestly say this is a good move by the company. The switch to a unified connectivity standard will help connect platforms, reduce monopolistic influence within Apple’s tightly controlled hardware ecosystem, and, most importantly, reduce the growing burden of e-waste. help you tackle the problems you face. This is good. this is good.
I keep telling myself – and without a doubt, I’d be very happy to see Lightning go to a great electronics store in the sky – but there’s a part of me that gets disappointed when I see new versions of the best Apple products. There is (that’s right, I said) it arrives with no USB-A port in sight.
USB-A still matters
I didn’t want to pounce on this article without any supporting statistics, so I did what everyone does these days and turned to Google for help. According to Google’s generated search results, there are many reasons why USB-A is still widely used around the world. The main reasons are ease of use, backward compatibility, and cost.
Now, I’m not done asking AI for help with my argument, but Google’s bot makes some good points. USB-A is cheaper to manufacture, and many devices (including my own desktop and laptop) still have compatible ports. It’s no surprise that many manufacturers still sell products that use USB-A or have USB-A ports. If you purchase a third-party wireless mouse, there’s a pretty good chance that the included cable connects to power via USB-A rather than USB-C (we won’t talk about USB-B).
It’s also worth noting that while USB-C may be quickly becoming the new standard in Europe and the US, that’s not the case in other parts of the world. Many countries are effectively “outdated” when it comes to computer hardware, where USB-A is still very standard. Heck, even my country’s National Health Service still uses seriously outdated technology. When I was in and out of the hospital for cancer treatment, I saw a lot of USB-A ports.
Don’t even get me started on flash drives. I know I’m not the only one still using it, everything I own uses USB-A. I have all kinds of projects and old files backed up, and it also includes several installable Linux distributions, including a complete Windows 10 installation image. When I mentioned it in a meeting, my boss (played by the feisty Matt Hanson) asked me how long I’d been using it. I said, “Three days ago.” I don’t want to get rid of it because it’s convenient.
A pleasant farewell
Now, you’re probably thinking: Christian, what’s wrong with the USB adapter or dock? And, admittedly, I don’t have a good argument against that other than to say I want more, because I already have enough small gadgets that I can’t keep track of. more? That’s not true.
But as much as it pains me to admit it, it may finally be time to say goodbye to my beloved OG connectivity standard. In the world of technology, progress is king, and USB-C represents a rare kind of progress that is actually universally good. The environmental benefits alone are a huge plus, and anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I can always get behind something that helps. Breaking monopoly. Oh, and let’s not forget the old USB-A Super Position.
That being said…come on, Apple. You can’t charge $29 for a USB-C cable. Especially when you can buy basically the exact same product on Amazon for $10. You are now sitting at the family table. Please play nice.
