Assuming this is just standard 2.0 speeds, it should be nothing. It adds a slightly more expensive connector and 2 resistors… and that’s it.

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crote 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

It is likely to be 1.1 speeds, and considering that USB-B connectors are chunky and dying out it is likely going to be cheaper to go for USB-C.

USB-C connectors from well-known brands start at less than $0.20, USB-B ones are $0.30. Same story for the low-end: C can be found for as little as $0.011, B starts at $0.05. Resistors are basically free - about a cent a piece if you splurge, more like $0.0007 if you really push it.

With the EU practically mandating USB-C on all portable electronics, the market is rapidly shifting towards it being the default for all 5V-powered gear: either you ship a cable/brick with it, or you give it USB-C. Even with a premium connector it is quite obvious which option is cheaper, so even bargain-bin gear is incentivized to adopt USB-C, which in turn pushes the connector manufacturers to develop dirt-cheap USB-C options.

	▲	Kirby64 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> It is likely to be 1.1 speeds, and considering that USB-B connectors are chunky and dying out it is likely going to be cheaper to go for USB-C. USB 2.0 is a superset of 1.1 spec and considered inclusive of 1.1 speeds. I said 2.0 speeds specifically because Type C does not even recognize “USB 1.1” as a speed, and when you go to 3.0+ you start to put other constraints on routing and most importantly requirements on the cable (it needs to be emarked if it supports super speed). The rest of your comment, totally agree. Especially with EU mandating power be USB-C if possible, which this easily could be.

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chipweinberger a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

If you consume power over USB-C, 2 resistor are enough.

But for providing power over USB-C, you generally need a dedicated IC to handle VBUS switching. It wasn't worth it.

Also, once you ship a consumer product with a USB port on it, you'll realize a lot of people really don't understand how USB works, and USB-C doubly so. Square holes for square pegs goes a long way.

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Kirby64 a day ago | parent [-]

Sure, but your power input should be a USB-C. No reason to use the clunky USB-B for that. Labeling as Power In and leaving a regular USB A for the output seems fine to me. Given that most older keyboards use USB-B for their input, A is a perfectly fine solution and solves the “input vs output”.

	▲	crote 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		OP mentioned in another comment that a decent chunk of users is elderly, and C-to-B cables (albeit rare) do exist, so confusion isn't impossible. I personally really don't like it in a world where everyone has USB-C power bricks readily available and USB-B cables are dying out, but considering the user base it is not an entirely unreasonable design decision - for now.

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bloudermilk a day ago | parent | prev [-]

These are the hardest cuts to make in design, being so incremental, but they add up!