Yeah, the naming convention for USB is honestly wild. Especially because they have changed the numbers in the past, so old devices are labeled incorrectly. The version went from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0…3.0 was twice as fast as 2.0 and introduced some new architecture, so it makes sense to have a whole new number. And that was fine for a while.
Then they added a USB 3.1. It doubled the speed again, but relied on the same basic architecture. Sure, fine, whatever. Not a whole number revision, but at least 3.1 is distinct from 3.0.
Then they had a fucking stroke, and renamed 3.0 to 3.1 Gen 1, and moved the old 3.1 to 3.1 Gen 2. So now all of the old USB 3.0 and 3.1 ports are incorrectly labeled, because they literally changed the names after devices had already been on the market for years. And it means 3.1 Gen 1 is the same speed as 3.0, but all of the old (now mis-labeled) 3.1 ports will be twice as fast as 3.1 Gen 1.
Then they release USB 3.2. Another doubling in speed, but again, relying on the same architecture as 3.0. Or wait, now that’s 3.1 Gen 1. Fuck. Okay, well it’s faster but not a big enough change to require a whole number increment… So sure, 3.2 I guess. So now we have 2.0, 3.1 Gen 1, 3.1 Gen 2, and 3.2…
Then they had another fucking stroke, and renamed 3.1 Gen 1 to 3.2 Gen 1, 3.1 Gen 2 became 3.2 Gen 2, and 3.2 became 3.2 Gen 3 2x2 wait what the fuck did they just completely abandon the “Gen {next whole number}” naming scheme halfway through renaming everything?? God fucking damn it.
So now 3.2 Gen 1 is the same speed as 3.0, but is half the speed of 3.1. But 3.1 is the same speed as 3.2 Gen 2. And 3.2 Gen 2 is twice the speed of 3.1, but half the speed of regular 3.2?? And don’t even get me started on how 3.2 Gen 1 is only a quarter of the speed of 3.2, which was the first generation of 3.2 but isn’t called 3.2 Gen 1.
Finally, we get USB 4. Odd that it’s not 4.0, but at least it’s a new whole number. Can we abandon the dumb naming schemes now?? This one supports a whopping 20Gbps. Which is… Wait. 3.2 (3.2 Gen 2x2) also supports 20Gbps? Why the fuck did this get a whole number but 3.2 didn’t?? Fuck it, at least we’re onto a new whole number. This is our chance to reset and start fresh. No more of the dumb “we’re changing the name of something that has existed for years, and now all of the old labels are inaccurate” stuff. We can all be happy now, right?
The next revision! This one supports 40Gbps. Another doubling from the old USB 4. And this new one is called USB 4… No wait, that can’t be right. No… They didn’t. They wouldn’t. They called it the same fucking thing as the old version? You were supposed to be the chosen one! You were supposed to bring balance to the naming convention, not leave it in darkness!
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Okay, okay… Let’s take a moment. Find some sort of silver lining. At least they didn’t rename all of the old 3.x shit again.
And then in 2022, specs were published for the next USB iteration. This one supports a whopping 80Gbps. And it is called… USB 4 2.0. We already have a USB 2.0. We already have two versions of USB 4 that are both just called USB 4. But now apparently we have a USB 4 2.0 as well. Couldn’t this have been 4.1? Or 5? Hell, I’d even accept renaming the two versions of USB 4 to USB 4.1 and 4.2. Then make this one 4.3… But no. USB 4 2.0… Fuck it, I give up. I’m tired.
For a supposedly seamless standard those seams are quite visible. Its no reason why these comparisons are made, when below the surface this standard is literally hell.
This standard should really pull their shit together. Like the legacy connectors, USB is the same - but it sweeps that complex necessary shit right under the carpet.
Why won’t this docking station with 4 USB ports support all 4 USB devices being plugged in?? Oh because it’s just USB, not Thunderbolt.
Hold on lemme me consult a long ass chart so I know what all these obscure symbols next to the port translate to
3.2 Gen 2 is wild. Second generation of the second revision of the third version? Why wouldn’t you call that 3.3?
Yeah, the naming convention for USB is honestly wild. Especially because they have changed the numbers in the past, so old devices are labeled incorrectly. The version went from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0…3.0 was twice as fast as 2.0 and introduced some new architecture, so it makes sense to have a whole new number. And that was fine for a while.
Then they added a USB 3.1. It doubled the speed again, but relied on the same basic architecture. Sure, fine, whatever. Not a whole number revision, but at least 3.1 is distinct from 3.0.
Then they had a fucking stroke, and renamed 3.0 to 3.1 Gen 1, and moved the old 3.1 to 3.1 Gen 2. So now all of the old USB 3.0 and 3.1 ports are incorrectly labeled, because they literally changed the names after devices had already been on the market for years. And it means 3.1 Gen 1 is the same speed as 3.0, but all of the old (now mis-labeled) 3.1 ports will be twice as fast as 3.1 Gen 1.
Then they release USB 3.2. Another doubling in speed, but again, relying on the same architecture as 3.0. Or wait, now that’s 3.1 Gen 1. Fuck. Okay, well it’s faster but not a big enough change to require a whole number increment… So sure, 3.2 I guess. So now we have 2.0, 3.1 Gen 1, 3.1 Gen 2, and 3.2…
Then they had another fucking stroke, and renamed 3.1 Gen 1 to 3.2 Gen 1, 3.1 Gen 2 became 3.2 Gen 2, and 3.2 became 3.2 Gen
32x2 wait what the fuck did they just completely abandon the “Gen {next whole number}” naming scheme halfway through renaming everything?? God fucking damn it.So now 3.2 Gen 1 is the same speed as 3.0, but is half the speed of 3.1. But 3.1 is the same speed as 3.2 Gen 2. And 3.2 Gen 2 is twice the speed of 3.1, but half the speed of regular 3.2?? And don’t even get me started on how 3.2 Gen 1 is only a quarter of the speed of 3.2, which was the first generation of 3.2 but isn’t called 3.2 Gen 1.
Finally, we get USB 4. Odd that it’s not 4.0, but at least it’s a new whole number. Can we abandon the dumb naming schemes now?? This one supports a whopping 20Gbps. Which is… Wait. 3.2 (3.2 Gen 2x2) also supports 20Gbps? Why the fuck did this get a whole number but 3.2 didn’t?? Fuck it, at least we’re onto a new whole number. This is our chance to reset and start fresh. No more of the dumb “we’re changing the name of something that has existed for years, and now all of the old labels are inaccurate” stuff. We can all be happy now, right?
The next revision! This one supports 40Gbps. Another doubling from the old USB 4. And this new one is called USB 4… No wait, that can’t be right. No… They didn’t. They wouldn’t. They called it the same fucking thing as the old version? You were supposed to be the chosen one! You were supposed to bring balance to the naming convention, not leave it in darkness!
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Okay, okay… Let’s take a moment. Find some sort of silver lining. At least they didn’t rename all of the old 3.x shit again.
And then in 2022, specs were published for the next USB iteration. This one supports a whopping 80Gbps. And it is called… USB 4 2.0. We already have a USB 2.0. We already have two versions of USB 4 that are both just called USB 4. But now apparently we have a USB 4 2.0 as well. Couldn’t this have been 4.1? Or 5? Hell, I’d even accept renaming the two versions of USB 4 to USB 4.1 and 4.2. Then make this one 4.3… But no. USB 4 2.0… Fuck it, I give up. I’m tired.
They’re using the same naming system as my home folder
For a supposedly seamless standard those seams are quite visible. Its no reason why these comparisons are made, when below the surface this standard is literally hell.
This standard should really pull their shit together. Like the legacy connectors, USB is the same - but it sweeps that complex necessary shit right under the carpet.
At least that has an indicator of what it supports.
That’s better than 99% of USB C ports.
Thunderbolt FTW.