HDMI Adapter for 2017 13” MBA

[krs]

Ten second search on Internet:

USB: Everything You Need to Know

Ha, ha, ha.....
Now we are going around in circles.

That's what started the last part of this discussion in post 13:

I see that as part of the problem. Why should you have to do research to understand what's going on?

...having to go to the internet....

As to the link you posted - have you read the main article there?
That has to be the most confusing article I have read in a very long time.
Paragraph on paragraph describing what he various USB types, ports and connectors look like.
What happened to just posting an image.

And USB port and USB cable compatibility?
Rather obvious what plugs into what..and what doesn't by just looking at it - who needs a table for something that basic.
What doesn't seem to be covered (maybe I didn't find it yet) are some of the more subtle incompatibilities, like a USB 3.0 flash drive not working at all if plugged into a USB 2.0 port -fits perfectly mechanically but does not work at all at any speed.

 

[MacInWin]

What doesn't seem to be covered (maybe I didn't find it yet) are some of the more subtle incompatibilities, like a USB 3.0 flash drive not working at all if plugged into a USB 2.0 port -fits perfectly mechanically but does not work at all at any speed.

Why would you even think that could work? That is a bit like putting diesel into a gasoline engine fuel tank and then expecting it to work. "Hey, the nozzle fit so...."

 

[MacInWin]

One last post and I'm done with this. Technology is complicated. I get that. But complaining that technology is complicated, why can't it be simple is like complaining that I cannot cook like a Michelin 3-star chef. I put the ingredients in a bowl, mixed them and it didn't look at all like the picture. What do you mean, I was supposed to mix those first, then put in that, bake it and THEN frost it. I just shoved it all in a bowl, mixed it all together and poured it in a pan. I turned on the oven, didn't matter what temperature, then put the whole mess in and waited. Next thing I know I have smoke everywhere and it doesn't look at all like the pictures. Why can't it be simple to make a three-layer cake!!! I don't want to read some stupid recipe, and I certainly don't want to have to go look it up. I just want the cake.

Did you follow any of the links in the article at all? They led to more discussion of the various standards and cables. You can't make a technology "cake" without reading the recipe.

 

[krs]

Why would you even think that could work? That is a bit like putting diesel into a gasoline engine fuel tank and then expecting it to work. "Hey, the nozzle fit so...."

Poor analogy - the nozzle of a diesel pump actually doesn't fit in the fuel tank opening of a gas engine - at least in Canada.
I know that because I wasn't paying attention and tried to use diesel in a gas engine car - except I couldn't; would have been an expensive repair.

As to USB 3.0 Flash drives, there are many that work just fine in a USB 2.0 port.
I could ask you the same question - why would you think that should not work?

I can plug a USB 1.1 mouse into a USB 2.0 port and it works just fine
Same idea if I plug a USB 2.0 device into a USB 3.0 port - it should work as well - but some do and some don't

 

[krs]

Did you follow any of the links in the article at all? They led to more discussion of the various standards and cables. You can't make a technology "cake" without reading the recipe.

I did, but they are not any better.
First link I looked at from the main article was about the comment in the main article that smart phones use the micro USB port for power.
Click on the link - it talks all about smart phones and wht they are called smart phones and how they get close to a computer with capabilities, but not a word about the micro USB port on the smart phone and its use.
Just confirms my impression of that article - and the links I checked - pretty terrible.
The editor didn't do his/her job - or maybe there was no editor.

 

[MacInWin]

Poor analogy - the nozzle of a diesel pump actually doesn't fit in the fuel tank opening of a gas engine - at least in Canada.

But the other way works--gasoline in a diesel tank. Been done before, with interesting results.

I've never used a USB 3 flash drive in a USB 2 port that I can recall. I'm surprised you got one to work. The timing signals between he two standards are really different. I guess some USB 3 drive manufacturers are using chips that can be throttled back. You can use slower devices in faster ports, as you say. Every USB 2 drive I have used in a USB 3 port has worked, but that's because they are supposed to be backward compatible. Ditto for mouse/other devices. Slower can be plugged into faster, but not the other way, at least not reliably.

 

[krs]

I've never used a USB 3 flash drive in a USB 2 port that I can recall. I'm surprised you got one to work. The timing signals between he two standards are really different. I guess some USB 3 drive manufacturers are using chips that can be throttled back. You can use slower devices in faster ports, as you say. Every USB 2 drive I have used in a USB 3 port has worked, but that's because they are supposed to be backward compatible. Ditto for mouse/other devices. Slower can be plugged into faster, but not the other way, at least not reliably.

It must depend on the chip set that is used.
I have a number of older Macs with only USB 2.0 ports and I would be upset if my USB 3.0 Flash drive wasn't recognized when plugged into a USB 2.0 port.
So now I read the print on the package to see what it says and I look for drives like this one:
https://www.123ink.ca/en/p-322259-d...8zWanFeZNssdzgoWJMgVxRoCISAQAvD_BwE#sku362142

 

[MacInWin]

Yeah, that packaging says its backward compatible. Not all (or even many) are, I bet.

 

[Ratsima]

Jake, you've done a great job of making my point.