This post is about making the transition from a computer with conventional USB-A (the heretofore “normal” USB size) ports to the newer and smaller USB-C type. It’s not a strictly Kumamoto-specific topic but, on the other hand, I have a little advice about how to make the transition here in Kumamoto.
First, a little about “USB-C”: Apple’s new MacBooks have abandoned the USB-A standard and, according to the following article “It won’t be long before USB-C does to USB 3.0 what USB 1.0 did to serial ports. You’re going to start seeing a lot more USB-C ports on computers in the future.”
USB-C ports are much smaller than the old USB-A type, so they help manufactures of laptops build thinner models.
Now, here’s a little report about making the transition in Kumamoto. I recently got a new MacBook through my university but the computer arrived before the USB-C hub. So, I made a quick trip to Yamada Denki, an electronics store near my home in Obiyama, to pick up a USB-C to USB-A adapter that I could use to connect an old hard drive to my computer. When I got to the store, I was disappointed to find that, although they sold USB-C hubs that would do the job, they were all quite expensive. I only needed a simple USB-C to USB-A adapter but the closest thing was a relatively simple hub (USB-C to 4 USB-A outlets) for about 2,000 yen. (A clerk told me that simple adapters “were not available” – making it sound like they hadn’t been invented or something.) Other hubs were as much as 6,000 yen or more. Then, last night, I happened to stop by a local 100 yen shop (this one is called “meets.” – no capitalization + meaningless period) where I bought the adapter you see for 100 yen. After bringing it home I confirmed that it works perfectly. I plan to buy several more to carry with me so that I can connect usb flash memory sticks, an old USB to ethernet adapter, and other USB peripherals to my new computer when the need arises.
So, if you need to make the transition, or if you already have a USB-C computer, I thought you’d like to know that 100 yen stores may have items that you can’t find in larger electronic equipment stores. Perhaps the big stores don’t to sell inexpensive adapters of the type I bought last night because they don’t want them to cut into their hub sales. Caveat emptor.
– Kirk