Essentials of the Cable Drawer
Technology is at a turning point right now, and growing pains come with that. By 2022 we were supposed to have flying cars and wireless charging. While both are true, they are only in their initial stage. Our devices’ processors are ultra-fast, but the batteries are only catching up to that requirement. The biggest requirement the tech of today demands from us is certain port sacrifices.
In an attempt to cut down on multiple cables, we now have fewer ports on our devices. However, not all peripherals have hopped on this trend. They are still using their other connectivity standards, so connecting them to a laptop can get tricky.
This is where that sacrifice comes in. Instead of always simply carrying around a laptop and getting everything done on it, we have to carry around little adapters that are just the right version for what you connect via them.
So here are a few dongles you need to keep around:
- A charging cable for your iPhone
iPhones have infamously not switched to USB C. However, the Apple ecosystem, in general, is slowly but steadily adopting the universal standard. So if you want to have more than one cable that comes in the box with your phone, you need to carry around an MFI-certified USB C to Lightning sync charging cable. You can even use this with a third-party charging brick that provides fast charging.
Not only for charging, but the MFI-certified USB C to Lightning sync charging cable also comes in handy when you want to sync your phone via your MacBook, which has a USB C port. This is the fastest way to transfer media within the Apple ecosystem.
Ethernet connections are not as rare as in advertisements or regular use. However, anyone with a fixed setup for work or a retail POS system can benefit from a USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapter. A wired internet connection ensures speed and reliability, both of which are crucial in something like a POS system. Wifi is, of course, preferred in terms of
For anyone who regularly needs to transfer media files from a camera to a computer needs this cable. While there is always cloud storage and wireless transfer available, this adapter makes quick work of it. Since pretty much anyone who is a professional photographer will capture images on SD cards, it is easier for them to plug it into the laptop to edit them. SD cards are massive storage devices now, and can therefore store huge amounts of data, like RAW images.
This is one of the most essential dongles you will ever need. Any peripheral not by a huge brand or slightly older will connect via a USB A connector. Your laptop might not have that and will have a USB C port. So a USB C to USB A dongle can bridge this gap.
All of these dongles can be separated for individual functions and devices, but you can also opt for a USB hub that can connect to your laptop and give you a range of ports. If you have a stable setup, opt for individual adapters so you can easily upgrade them when required, but for a more portable requirement, a hub will work better as it is easier to add to your backpack and brings a host of options.
