Articles about USB

USB-C was supposed to be the connection that simplified everything -- but it has ended up doing anything but making things simple. With different USB generations, and within those generations different levels of capability, it is no wonder people are confused about just what their USB ports and cables can do, and what level of capability to expect.

This is something Microsoft is looking to change. Pointing to the “inconsistent implementations of USB-C port capabilities across the PC ecosystem”, the company is seeking to end USB-C port confusion by using the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) to help people know precisely what to expect from certified PCs.

Continue reading →

Today, Plugable launches its latest USB-C hub for Apple laptops. Called "AMS-5IN1E," it is a 5-in-1 USB-C hub that adds five ports to your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, while still providing access to the MagSafe charging port. The hub includes a full-featured USB-C port that is capable of anything the MacBook port can do, such as connecting a 6K 60Hz display, transferring data up to 40Gbps, and pass-through charging up to 100W.

This 5-in-1 USB-C hub is designed to connect to any MacBook that has two USB-C or Thunderbolt ports next to each other. It is ideal for 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, introduced in 2021, or MacBook Airs, introduced in 2022. The hub was crafted deliberately to complement Apple’s MagSafe power connector; it features a cutout to avoid impeding the functionality or connection of the MagSafe charger.

Continue reading →

Windows installations benefit from fast hard drives, and installing Windows on USB Flash Drives may sound counter-intuitive on first glance. While it is true that dedicated hard drives, especially Solid State Drives, are better suited for running Windows, USB Flash drive Windows installations offer some features that these dedicated installations don’t.

Installation on a USB drive makes the Windows installation portable. You can connect it to different PCs and use it on these, provided that booting from USB is supported. One downside is that this works best with PCs that have the same hardware. This solution has other benefits; it can be used to boot a copy of Windows on a PC it was created on, even if the main hard drive is no longer available.

Continue reading →

USB-C docking stations are very common these days. Hell, websites like Amazon are littered with countless makes and models. Of course, not all of them are good, nor do they offer the same things. Features can vary from dock to dock, such as the number of USB ports or video outputs. I recommend sticking with reputable brands such as Kensington, StarTech.com, and Plugable to name a few.

Speaking of Plugable, today, that company launches two new USB-C docking stations. Called "UD-3900PDH" and "UD-768PDZ," both offer 100W power delivery and feature triple monitor support. While they both have SD card readers, only the UD-3900PDH has a dedicated micro SD reader as well.

Continue reading →

Sabrent has a new product called "USB Type-C Flat Docking Station," and while it does, in fact, use USB-C for connectivity, it is not a docking station. The company calls it "flat" because it lays flat -- it isn't actually flat, obviously. While the name is a massive misnomer, it is still rather cool.

Carrying the model ID of DS-UFNC, this "docking station" is actually a dual-drive enclosure and cloner. You see, it can simultaneously interface with both an M.2 NVMe SSD and SATA drive (2.5 or 3.5-inch) and act as either an external storage device or a standalone bi-directional disk cloner. Best of all, it utilizes a toolless design, so you can physically add and remove drives without the need of tools.

Continue reading →

What is a Chromebook? Quite simply, it is a laptop running Google's Linux-based ChromeOS operating system. However, when you connect one of these notebooks to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, it becomes a very capable makeshift desktop computer.

The most elegant way to transform a laptop into a desktop is with a USB-C docking station. But how can you be sure your Chromebook is compatible with such an accessory? Well, if the dock is officially certified as "Works With Chromebook," then you can be assured that it will work flawlessly.

Continue reading →

Back in the day, it was common for laptops to have a dedicated video output port, such as VGA or HDMI. These days? Not so much. Instead, computer makers rely heavily on USB-C, hoping you will invest in dongles for your video needs. And so, a USB-C to HDMI adapter, for instance, is a pretty common accessory.

What is not typical, however, is a USB-C dongle that offers four HDMI ports. The all-new Plugable Quad HDMI Adapter is exactly that. This dongle plugs into the USB-C port on your Windows or Mac computer and turns it into four HDMI outputs. And yes, the adapter is fully compatible with M1 and M2 Mac computers -- with the help of included software. If your computer doesn't have USB-C, there is no need to worry; a USB-A dongle is included.

Continue reading →

Does the perfect laptop docking station exist? Maybe for some consumers, but ultimately, no it does not. The reality is, consumers have differing needs and wants, so no single dock can truly please everyone. With that said, a new docking station from Plugable should prove to be a great option for most consumers.

Called "UD-ULTCDL," it technically is an update to an existing Plugable dock that carries the same name, but really, it is significantly different, meaning it should be considered an entirely new product. This second generation version features three HDMI ports as opposed to outdated DVI and VGA options. Not to mention, it now offers 100W charging (96W certified).

Continue reading →

If you are anything like me, you have several devices that use various chargers and cables. For instance, I recently went on a cruise with an iPhone and a Kindle. For the iPhone, I have a USB-C to lightning cable. For the Kindle, I have USB-A to micro USB cable. When packing for my trip, I had to pack both a USB-A and USB-C adapter so I could charge both devices. Isn't there a better way?

Yes, actually. Had I planned better, I could have purchased a single wall adapter that offered both USB-C and USB-A ports for simultaneous charging. This would have allowed me to pack less and use fewer outlets in my room. While there are plenty of these wall adapters on the market, a diminutive new model from Silicon Power, called "Boost Charger QM25," looks quite nice.

Continue reading →

With so many USB-C multiport adapters on the market these days, I'll be honest, it can be hard to get excited about new models. I mean, look, the dongles all pretty much work the same way, right? The adapter turns a single USB-C port into several useful ports.

Today, however, Satechi has a new such product that got my attention. Called "USB-4 Multiport Adapter with 2.5G Ethernet," the exciting aspect is in the name -- you get multi-gig Ethernet. Sure, plenty of similar adapters provide gigabit Ethernet, but the 2.5G offering here is rather special.

Continue reading →

Many people are working from home nowadays, using work-issued laptops. The problem, of course, is that these workers often own personal notebooks too. And so, if they regularly connect their computers to a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, it can be quite cumbersome to constantly plug and unplug cables when switching between two machines.

A KVM switch is a great solution for this dilemma, as it allows you to easily switch peripherals and accessories from one computer to the other. IOGEAR has unveiled its newest such product and it is quite elegant. Called "GCS72CC," it offers two USB-C cables that you plug into both computers. Then, the device offers two USB-A ports and one DisplayPort. This lets you connect a mouse, keyboard, and monitor. You then press a convenient button to switch between machines.

Continue reading →

USB4 is already plenty fast, with its theoretical maximum speed of 40Gbps. Quite frankly, it is much faster than most consumers truly need. Most people are not even taking full advantage of current USB4 speeds. But rather than leave well enough alone, The USB Promoter Group has instead decided to push boundaries once again, this time with what it calls USB4 Version 2.0.

The group has announced this second generation of USB4 doubles maximum transfer speeds, this time topping out at 80Gbps. But don't worry; the new standard is backwards compatible with the first gen of USB4, plus the even older USB 3.2, USB 2.0, and Thunderbolt 3. Best of all, USB4 2.0 performance should be possible using existing USB4 cables.

Continue reading →

Apple's iPad is a tablet, yes, but when you add a keyboard case, it magically becomes a laptop. But did you know the new M1-powered iPad tablets with USB-C can also serve as a legit desktop? It is true! By plugging in a USB-hub, you can connect a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and/or external storage. The desktop capabilities of Apple's M1 tablets will greatly improve with the upcoming iPadOS 16 too.

Today, Satechi launches the "USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD," which is primarily designed for M1 iPad devices such as iPad Pro and iPad Air 5. The hub plugs into the bottom of the tablet and offers HDMI (4K compatible), USB-A (up to 5Gbps), 3.5mm audio, SD card reader, and microSD carder. It even offers USB-C power delivery (up to 60W) so you can charge the iPad while the hub is in use. There is only a single USB-A port, however, so you will need to use a wireless mouse and/or keyboard -- both cannot be wired.

Continue reading →

USB-C docking stations and hubs are a dime a dozen these days. There are so many such products that can transform a single USB-C port into several others. Quite frankly, it is almost impossible to get noticed with such an adapter these days.

With all of that said, a new USB-C adapter from Belkin has managed to grab my attention. Called "CONNECT USB-C 6-in-1 Multiport Hub with Mount," it has a unique feature that I find quite neat. You see, the "mount" in the product's name indicates that it can be attached to the back of a computer, such as Apple iMac.

Continue reading →

Last year, in the beginning of 2021, we told you about the Envoy Pro FX -- an external solid state drive from OWC. What made this particular SSD special was its use of two chipsets to maximize compatibility with both Thunderbolt and regular USB-C. The drive even comes with a dongle to make it compatible with USB-A.

And now, in 2022, OWC is giving the Envoy Pro FX a capacity boost. While the SSD remains the same in all other ways, as of today, it can now be had with a 4TB capacity option. Previously, the drive was limited to 240GB, 480GB, 1TB, and 2TB sizes. As you can see, 4TB is a pretty significant increase.

Continue reading →