Toshiba embraces USB Type-C with Canvio Premium HDD and TransMemory EX Dual
USB is one of the most important inventions in the history of computing. You young folks don't know how good you have it -- before USB, installing hardware was a huge headache. Over time, the standard has become faster and ubiquitous, but always had one huge issue -- knowing which way to connect it! A rectangle is a stupid port design; that was one way the now-dead FireWire was superior.
The invention of USB Type-C, however, remedied that large user pain point. This new connector can now be inserted in any direction, making USB even better. Some companies, like Google and Apple, were early to adopt it, but now, it is starting to explode in popularity. Today, Toshiba announces some good-looking USB Type-C drives, with its new Canvio Premium HDD and the TransMemory EX Dual flash drive.
"Canvio Premium portable drives provide a convenient and user-friendly storage option that is compatible with conventional USB 3.0 devices and USB Type-C devices via an included onboard adapter. This allows the drives to integrate seamlessly into users' existing ecosystem of devices as the Canvio Premium HDDs can be used with a wide array of PCs – from ten-year-old machines to the latest convertible laptop – without the need to purchase separate hardware", says Toshiba.
These beautiful slim drives are bus-powered and come in capacities of 1TB ($85), 2TB ($130) and 3TB ($160). You can choose between either black or white -- Apple users will likely want to opt for the latter. While the drives should prove reliable based on Toshiba's reputation, the company offers a 3-year warranty just in case.
What about the the TransMemory EX Dual flash drive? Toshiba explains that it, "features a dual interface with both USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports. With read and write speeds up to 95MB/s and 80MB/s, the EX Dual allows users to quickly and efficiently transfer photos, videos and documents to and from their existing devices".
This TransMemory EX Dual only comes in a 32GB capacity, but it is reasonably priced at $40. While this is not the first flash drive to offer this functionality, it is still cool nonetheless. It offers a way to bridge the gap between Type-A and Type-C, making it a very useful tool in any tech geek's arsenal. It is perfect for Android or Windows 10 Mobile phones with that connector too.
It is important to remember that USB Type-C and USB 3.1 are not synonymous. While these drives have the new connector, they are still USB 3.0. This is totally fine, as the drives really wouldn't benefit from the faster speeds. In other words, if you have an existing USB 3.0 flash drive or hard drive, these would not be upgrades from a speed perspective. If none of your computers or devices have a Type-C port, this really isn't for you.
Are you excited about USB Type-C? What computers or devices do you own that are USB Type-C ready? Chromebook Pixel? MacBook? Nexus 6P? Tell me in the comments.