There are many good things about USB-C. Access to incredibly fast data transfers. Video capabilities at a (somewhat) universal standard. But the best thing for me by far is that you can use it to charge almost any device with the same cable. I want all my battery-powered devices to allow charging through a USB-C port.
And we’re almost there. My phone, my tablet, my laptop, my headphones, even my power banks that I use to charge them while I travel, each use USB-C. All this is good. But most of the time, a phone, tablet, headphones, etc. only need one USB-C port. That’s all that’s practical for these devices.
A laptop needs multiple USB-C ports. At least two, if only so you can charge it and use an additional device like a flash drive without needing to carry a dongle. And at least one of them should be on both sides of the laptop.
Additional reading: Buy a USB-C cable? Beware of These 6 Crucial Mistakes
Flexible charging is important
In my case, this is specifically so you can load it from the left or the right. And it’s important for laptops in particular, because laptops are mobile devices, and mobile devices that are larger and bulkier than phones and tablets.
My ThinkPad X1 Nano, pictured above, was considered quite premium when it came out three years ago. It’s super lightweight and designed for business trips. And yet, its two USB-C ports (its only Ports: They are on the left side. Extremely frustrating!
When you’re on the go and need a charge, you can’t always find the ideal place for it. Maybe you’re in a coffee shop and the charger is on the side of the table against the wall. Or in a hotel where it’s only on one side of the bed. A bus where the exit under your seat is broken and you have to ask your fellow passenger if you can politely invade their space. (Fix your buses, Martz, the Wi-Fi hasn’t worked for years.)
