I think the justification for the F-35 was similar. Somehow creating a universal fighter plane would reduce waste and costs.The adoption of USB PD takes us closer to the ideal of universal power supplies, reducing incompatibility, reducing electrical waste, reducing consumer costs, reducing redundancy, improving reusability. It caters for all that but the USB PD specification also allows for use cases which work against that ideal.From what I can tell an assortment of incompatible device-specific PD chargers also does not reduce electronics waste compared to an assortment of incompatible fixed-voltage power supplies. PD doesn't seem more convenient, hackable or recyclable either, but that might just be me.
In retrospect, I'm not sure it did.
Although PD is a complicated and very specific protocol, it's clearly less annoying than the protocols used to guarantee compatibility of inkjet cartridges. I can also see how it might be convenient for a consumer to charge an iPad using the charger from their Galaxy. But were either sold without including a separate PD charger? How'd that decrease waste or costs?
On the other hand, if you have been able to design an electronics project that reliably draws 12V from a reused PD charger, I'd be interested.
Statistics: Posted by ejolson — Tue Apr 09, 2024 4:37 pm