With many new Mac and Windows laptops featuring the interface, it isclearthe USB-Cconnector is here to stay. Here's why that is a good thing.



What'sUSB-C?

USB-Cistheemerging industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power. TheUSB-CconnectorwasdevelopedbytheUSBImplementersForum,thegroupofcompaniesthat hasdeveloped,certified,andshepherdedtheUSBstandard.Itcountsmorethan700companiesinitsmembership,includingApple,Dell,HP,Intel,Microsoft,andSamsung.Thisisimportant,sinceit ispartof whyUSB-PCmanufacturershaveacceptedC. Contrast this with the earlier Apple-promoted (and developed) LightningandMagSafeconnectors,whichhadlimitedacceptancebeyondAppleproducts,and,due toUSB-C, are soon to be completely obsolete.



IsItLikeMicro USB?

TheUSB-CconnectorlookssimilartoamicroUSBconnectoratfirstglance,thoughit's more oval-shaped and slightly thicker to accommodate its best feature: LikeMagSafe and Lightning,theUSB-Cconnectorhasnoupordownorientation.Lineuptheconnectorproperly,andyoudo nothavetoflipittoplugitin.Thecablesalsohavethesameconnectoronbothends,soyoudo not have to figure out which end goes where, which hasn't been the case with all the USB cables we'vebeenusingforthepast20years.



USB-C and USB3.1

The default protocol withthenewUSB-CconnectorisUSB3.1,which,at10Gbps,istheoreticallytwiceasfastasUSB3.0.But aside from on desk tops,it'smuchmorecommontoseeUSB3.1portswithUSB-Cconnectors.



So when you seen USB 3.1 Gen 1, it basically works at the same 5Gbps speeds as USB 3.0. USB 3.1 Gen 2 refers to data signaling rates at 10Gbps, double that of USB 3.0, and matching the speeds of single-channel Thunderbolt.



Thunderbolt3

ThemostusefulprotocolUSB-CsupportsisThunderbolt3.Thisaddsmajornewfeatures,such as40Gbpsbandwidth,reducedpowerconsumption,andtheabilitytoAUSB-CportwithThunderbolt3meansasinglecableisallyouneedtopowerandtransferalargeamountofinformation (uptoandincludingtwo60Hz4Kdisplays) toandfromevenacomplexdevicelikeacomputer,somethingmanylaptopmanufacturershavebeenquicktotakeadvantageof.Thetop-of-the-lineversionofApple's2016MacBookProboastsfouroftheseconnectors,whichisasmanyaswe'veseen to date, and gives you more expandability potential than you had with earlier versions of USB.



AdaptersandCables

Butdue to the new style of port,adapters or cableswith both of theplugs that were requiredarerequiredshouldyou want to connect any thing that doesn'thave the USB-Cplug.Anewlaptopwillcomewiththese,inothercasesyoumayhavetopurchasethem. Apple,forexample,sellsvariousUSB cables and adapters for connecting to other technologiesfor exampleLightning ($25fora1-metercable) or Ethernet ($34.95foranadapter). You can also find a variety of these for PC as well in caseyoubrowseonlineretailers.Someevensupportolderormoreesotericprotocols,toensureadeviceyou havefromyearsagowillworkontoday'shardware: ItwaseasytolocateUSB-Câ??toâ??DVIadapters,for instance,butwealsocameacrossonethatsplittotwoRS-232serialconnections.



Thegoodnews,though,isthatshouldyouinvestinafewnormalUSB-Ccables (theyrangeinpricefrom$10to$30),they willworkwithanythingandeverythingthatsupportsUSB-C.



DockingProcedures

HaveoneUSB-Cport? Don'tfret,asthereare nowmultipleUSB-both from PC manufacturers like HP and Dell C docking solutions available,andthird-partyaccessorymakerslikeBelkin,Caldigit,andOWC.



DoYouNeedUSB-C?

Thepresence (orabsence) ofaUSB-CportisincreasinglybecomingaconsiderationwhenbuyingaPC.Shouldyou buy an ultrathin system,such astheZenBook 3, the new MacBook Pro, or the HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx,it willalmost certainlyhaveaUSB-Cport,whichwillcatapultyouintotheecosystem. In the eventyou'remore of a lover of desktops,you'realmostcertaintofindtheportsthere,too,particularlyonhigh-end and gamingdesktops.ButifsupportforUSB-Cfromperipheralmanufacturersislightoverallatthemomentthatthe floodgates were opened by Apple's,it isonlyamatteroftimeuntildevicesthatuseitare. Inseveral years, USB ports using the old Type-Astyle connector will probablybemuchhardertofindâ??and who will want to put up with their sluggish speeds at that point ,anyway?



Evenshould you notneedUSB-Cnowâ??and since even power users probably do nothavemuchhardwarethatcanfullytaskit,especiallyifThunderbolt3isinvolvedâ??youwillbeforelong.USB-C truly is one port to rule them all.