USB Ports
 

Ima not understand??

The universal part is on the motherboard, not the plug end.

USB standard defines an electrical (physical) and communication (data transfer) standards. Multiple hardware can provide those standards. However Mini USB has since been de-standardized. Since Micro USB is superior in size and life expectancy. I believe the term they use for no longer standard is deprecated - not to be confused with depreciated.

And yes, USB does provide an Ideal Mechanical Advantage.

That's what I was thinking, the bus part is inside the 'puter.

Doesn't that 'bus' serve the same purpose/function as the big copper bar-type 'bus line' like in a factory's electrical wiring set up?

If what the bus on the motherboard does is universal, why do some use 4 pins to do it, while others need 5 pins, or 24 pins. Doesn't sound very universal. :eyebrow:

It's universal because they say it is. Do you need to get re-educated, comrade?

External USB connectors are universal for connecting the same kinds of devices to your computer regardless of brand name. That's their forte, eliminating various proprietary connectors which would require adapters to connect different brands of equipment. Different kinds of devices still require different connectors with varying numbers of pins/wires to meet each kind's power and data transfer needs.

Additionally, USB connectors have evolved to accommodate changes in technology packages and capabilities (like micro-USB for smartphones). When a new kind of device is created for which no existing external USB connector suffices, there's an organization that determines what the new external USB connector design will be, which all manufacturers of that kind of device will use.

That's my understanding anyway.

Yeah, somebody gifted me a My Passport Ultra a couple years ago but that takes a USB 3(?) that I don't have.

Your USB 3.0 device may very well be backwards compatible with USB 2.0 on your computer. It will just run at reduced speed. USB 3.0 is like 10X faster. If a data transfer using 3.0 would've taken 20 seconds, connected to a 2.0 port it'll take 3 1/2 minutes; but, it may still work. The main difference between the connectors is that the USB 3.0 ones are color coded blue. The capability change is behind the ports, in the processing card, on the motherboard. Do it yourself 2.0 to 3.0 upgrade cards are available (there are YouTube tutorials); but, for computers of relatively recent manufacture.

Yeah, slower. I have an external drive that's working so since there's no advantage I'll save it.