I just bought a new PC, based on Lenovo Legion gaming desktop. It comes with 2 USB port in the front, 4 regular USB port in the back + 1 USB-C port. That’s a total of 7 USB slots.
It’s been like 2 decades that every possible hardware device comes with an USB interface. Keyboard, mouse, joystick, hard-drive, memory stick, headset, webcam, spot/photo camera, and many others.
Of course it’s my fault, I should have thought about USB connectors when shopping for a new PC and check before buying. but seriously, 7 USB slots is so few compared to all the device I have using USB
Most people will only need 3-4 usb ports…. Ever.
1-2 for the KBM, another for a printer (which are increasingly WiFi enabled,) and another for a sub stick.
Hubs aren’t that difficult and a single cable will look neater to your desk anyhow. Run your KbM/joysticks to the hub instead. (And you can get some 3m VHB tape, or far less permanently, the 3m command adhesive that’s double sided, to mount it somewhere like the back of the KB tray.)
I’ve got 7 USB ports on my PC and every single one of them is used. I don’t need anymore at the moment but I mean this adds up fast.
- Webcam
- Speakers
- Mouse
- Keyboard
- SSD
- HDD
- 4-Slot USB Hub
- Memory Card Reader
- Gaming Controller
- Wireless Headset Dongle
- Studio Microphone
Then I’ve got my HOTAS. I just unplug my controller and plug that in to use instead.
HOTAS, pedals, VR headset, earcans, KBM, webcam. Laser printer/scanner
A pi pico W that serves as control node for the adhoc pico network I’ve cobbled into a home control network. (Maybe I have a problem,)
A couple desktop 3d printers, plus their webcams.
A TX adapter for an R/C simulator.
And of course the hubs to manage all that.
We’re not normal, though.
A pi pico W that serves as control node for the adhoc pico network I’ve cobbled into a home control network. (Maybe I have a problem,)
Looks a pretty cool toy, don’t worry you’re normal it’s the other which aren’t.
But first I thought you were talking about the Pico USB oscilloscope (For this one, I dream of an Ethernet version as the standard, it’s easier to debut electronic from an office chair near the PC controlling it)
This seems like a lot, though. Like, they are all reasonable items! But it seems more like a niche/enthusiasts situation, which would require a niche/enthusiasm solution.
Not saying it wouldn’t be nice to have more usb as standard, but most decent motherboards I’ve checked out have around 4 2.0 slots, 2-4 3.0 slots, and 0-2 C slots. Just for back panel I/O
6-ish slots seems fine for most uses
Speakers > Why USB instead of optical/aux?
SSD, HDD, Memory card reader > Do you use all of them every day?
Headset + microphone > Why not combine/do you use both every day?
And I mean, you already have a hub, worst case if it’s full just get a second one or one with more slots…
Speakers - It’s both. They’re RGB.
Storage - Yep. Everyday. HDD is media, SSD is games, memory card reader for my microSD for lemmy posts.
Headset + microphone - Yes I do use them everyday and no they cannot be combined. The microphone is studio quality. The headset has good audio but no headset on this earth has microphone quality comparable to a stand alone recording microphone.
What’s annoying these days is how few USB-C port expanders there are. I get why - USB-C is supposed to be able to deliver a certain amount of power, and a hub can’t do that while staying compliant to the standard - but it means that I have to resort to switching back and forth between devices. It’s even worse with laptops that have only one USB-C port that also doubles as power delivery: can’t use a yubikey C while having the laptop plugged in!
