Hardware and Software
Computers: Hardware and Software
Here's how to tell the difference between hardware and software - hardware can make you bleed.





In the late 1980s I was responsible for the creation of the usenet newsgroup comp.fonts. I've always been interested in typefaces.








Epson Stylus pigment ink printers




thinkpad
 ThinkPad Documentation


The Thinkpad brand of laptops have been the gold standard for Windows-based notebooks since 1992, over 60 million ThinkPads have been sold as of 2010. With more than 2,000 design awards under its belt, ThinkPad famous firsts include first: laptop to fly in space, spill-resistant keyboard, built-in CD-ROM, built-in DVD-ROM, built-in wireless, embedded security subsystem, built-in fingerprint reader, dual screen mobile workstation.



Why your USB C cable problem exists

Until USB 3, USB was easy. There's one type of cable, even if there are a lot of different connectors. USB 3 itself is very different. It also uses different connectors, not just the USB C one that is now everywhere.

It's reasonably complicated. Briefly though, there are two types of USB 3 cables. One is power only, the other is power and data. You may see "high speed" or "turbo (or "fast") charge" cables.

The first type is "power only". It doesn't have all the pins to do data and it just for power delivery.

The other type - power/data works a bit differently. When a cable is plugged in to both ends, they talk, and negotiate the voltage and current.
Older devices with a USB C connector may not work with just any USB C cable. Some expect a fixed voltage and current and can not negotiate what they want. Generally the cable they came with and not much else will work unless you find a cable likes that.

I'd like to say "just read the specifications or the numbers on the cable" but alas, now that we have the convenient of being able to buy USB cables in gas stations and convenance stores, the downside is they have no marking and no manual. They are what they are. If you have some device that doesn't seem to work with any but the cable it came with stop trying cables at random. Look up the specs for the product you're trying to connect and find the voltage and the current it expects. Now at least you know what you need.