@paul June 25, 2026, 3:58pm

Got a bedside charger from Anker that has a little screen that shows the wattage draw. Well, it turns out I've been using cables that can't handle more than 12w to try to power a laptop from a 65w charger. What a mess!

9 replies

Thomas Fuchs June 25, 2026, 4:00pm
USB C is great, instead of different plugs that clearly denote different capabilities we now have the same plug for like a dozen different cable types. Which aren’t marked in anyway to say what cable they are!
Paul Campbell June 25, 2026, 6:45pm
It’s wild! If only there was a way of differentiating different versions of the same thing with some wild identifier, like … different colours! Could never work…
Thomas Fuchs June 25, 2026, 6:47pm
I think it's low-key a sign of the times—nobody gives a shit anymore.
Paul Campbell June 25, 2026, 8:39pm
Well, I think there's been a lot of not giving a shit over the years, particularly in the USB world, what with mini USB, and micro USB and USB itself with general shitness. It's just a shame that USB-C couldn't solve the last mile of usability.
Thomas Fuchs June 25, 2026, 8:46pm
On that note, USB is a protocol but USB-C is a type of connector (which is also used by things that aren't USB).
Paul Campbell June 25, 2026, 9:20pm
Just wait until the EU finds out.
Rowan Manahan June 27, 2026, 10:53am
www.whatcable.uk Have you seen this, Paul? Nice little utility I came across when I had the same problem.
Paul Campbell June 27, 2026, 1:45pm
Nice!