[POLL] When do you think USB-C will fully replace USB-A?

[GreaseMonkey255]

This is a question that has just been raised due to the "bleeding edge" computer devices on the market today. As of now, most computers have at least twice as many USB-A ports than USB-C ports (one for every two). Only some manufacturers have jumped ahead and replaced all USB-A ports with USB-C ports. These manufacturers include Apple and Dell (albeit only with their XPS lineup). Regardless of how many manufacturers use USB-C, nearly every USB device out there uses USB-A. This includes mice (or mouses, a personal preference), memory sticks, digital cameras, smartphones (hey, my new Motorola came with a USB-A to USB-C cable), microphones, external hard drives, etc. The only way USB-A will be completely phased out is if the majority of devices on the market use USB-C technology without a adapter (e.g. dongle).

So anyway, this is where the poll comes in. I decree, on this Sunday, 15th of July 2018, that USB-C devices will replace USB-A devices in 4 years. Voice your opinion in the polls.

 

[Drael646464]

I don't think it ever will. People are building usb-a into their house construction. USB sticks and peripherals all remain usb-a. And USB c is usually just connected by a cable with a on one end, and c on the other. I think usb-c will remain a supplemental port for mobile devices. I don't think it will ever replace usb-a's more central role. Cable standards aren't an either or. TV's still come with RCA, digital inputs, HDMI and display-port. Aerial inputs come in a variety of forms, speaker inputs come in a variety of forms. Usb-a just isn't unwieldy enough, or slow enough to be made redundant. And usb-c's only real advantage is it's size (yes it's reversible, can be used for charging etc, but in practical terms it's benefits strictly only apply to mobile devices - there's zero call for it on a console, smart TV, desktop, mainframe or anything with power)

The only thing I can see replacing it, is a super low latency high bandwidth, very reliable wireless protocol, but the potential candidates are scarce. Light is great, but it's point to point. Wifi is just never going to get there, and Bluetooth is a joke. Indeed the faster our fibre connections get (and they will get faster), the sillier wifi will start to seem when our internet access is 5,10 or 20 times faster than wireless AC, and even 5G is faster.

Instantaneous quantum transfer - now theres a real candidate. But despite laboratory models of quite decent transfer rates across potentially infinite distances, it's probably awhile from the shelf. I wonder will they make a quantum USB dongle?

The other thing about usb-c, is the impending graphene age. Graphene computing will make nano-computing a possibility when it's commercialised in approximately a decade. In two or three decades we might have computer paper. USB-c, is simply way too large, for what will eventually become our smaller applications. So it's not really so much a future, as a mid-way point inbetween anything of real note.

 

[realwarder]

The benefits of C over A means that it will become the standard eventually:
- High Power
- Smaller connector
- Massive bandwidth when combined with TB3 (e.g. multiple video streams, external GPUs)
- Backward compatible with Type-A
- All-in-one connectivity (dock to charge, power, expand)

But clearly there are 100's of millions of Type-A devices around. They are not going anywhere but with the right cables, don't have to. I do expect the world to transition over the next 10 years, but it will be coexistence in that time with laptops and phones all moving to Type-C pretty quickly while devices move slower.

 

[gold-stars]

Not without an evolution of the USB standard.

For example lets says USB 3.x splits itself into two tiers, simple & pro.

Simple = just the basic data transfer functions but can also optionally include other features of the USB 3.x spec, type a or type c connectors allowed.

Pro = includes the full blown specification of the USB 3.x standard. Type C connector is mandatory for the pro connection.

That would slowly to start to build out type C while phasing out type A. So when USB 3.5 or USB 4 comes along type C will be default connector for both simple and pro.

 

[Zulfigar]

Considering that USB C will one day power future VR headsets, the time of a USB C take over is coming, though a few years off.

 

[jSlides]

It will be a long time before USB-C replaces USB-A. As the main comment said, VGA is still common. Serial ports still exist on a lot of motherboards.

USB-C does not give you anything USB-A does other then a smaller reversible connection. Everyone makes a common mistake and links USB-C port specification with the USB 3.1 and thunderbolt specification. It is the USB 3.x and thunderbolt specifications that allow for higher data transfer rates and power output.

There is nothing stopping a company from making a USB-C port that is only running at USB 3.0, 2.0 or 1.0 speeds. Most only pair USB-C with USB 3.0 or higher but you do have to check the version, you may not be getting the power and speed you expect out of it. Conversely you can have a USB 3.1 type A port that outputs 100w of power.

The only reason not to put a USB Type A port on a Laptop is aesthetics, and no reason for a desktop to not have them.

 

[Martin Plamondon]

Not without an evolution of the USB standard.

For example lets says USB 3.x splits itself into two tiers, simple & pro.

Simple = just the basic data transfer functions but can also optionally include other features of the USB 3.x spec, type a or type c connectors allowed.

Pro = includes the full blown specification of the USB 3.x standard. Type C connector is mandatory for the pro connection.

That would slowly to start to build out type C while phasing out type A. So when USB 3.5 or USB 4 comes along type C will be default connector for both simple and pro.

We basically already have a standard vs pro if a type-c with thunderbolt can be considered a pro type-c.

 

[raycpl]

Considering that USB C will one day power future VR headsets, the time of a USB C take over is coming, though a few years off.

How long did it take for us to move from serial ports to USB? Or from VGA/RCA to HDMI? ... like a couple of decades!!
Sometimes I feel the race to be be the next big thing is nothing but a waste to resources

... !

 

[Sal98]

I like the USB-C connector much better than the USB-A. However, both connectors are much wider than the Lighting is. I think more thought needs to be considered towards the use of the Lighting since it is so more compact.

 

[realwarder]

I like the USB-C connector much better than the USB-A. However, both connectors are much wider than the Lighting is. I think more thought needs to be considered towards the use of the Lighting since it is so more compact.

It's not good having proprietary standards like Lightning. Microsoft or perhaps the USB group did show off a smaller Type-C connector recently for mobile devices. But even the existing Type-C connector is totally usable in phones today and benefits from being a more universal standard. I expect Apple to give up on Lightning at some point in the interest of being an environmentally friendly company.