Newsletter Archives

• Thunderbolt is not just for monitors

  Posted on March 10, 2025 at 02:44 CDT by Ben Myers • Comment in the Forums

  BEN’S WORKSHOP

  

  By Ben Myers

  When will Windows computer makers embrace Thunderbolt?

  This is not an idle question, but the answers are quite complicated, involving three different evolving industry standards: Thunderbolt, USB, and DisplayPort. Today’s Thunderbolt 5 offers the possibility of simplified and very fast connections for all manner of devices, not just monitors.

  The Thunderbolt 5 aggregate data transfer rate is up to 120 gigabits per second in both directions, providing single data channels faster than USB and in the ballpark of the speeds inside a computer.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.10.0, 2025-03-10).

  Ben's Workshop Apple, DisplayPort, HDMI, Intel, Newsletters, Thunderbolt, USB, USB 3, USB 4, USB Implementers Forum, USB-C, USB-IF, VESA, Windows

• Using USB-attached Windows media

  Posted on October 7, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Ed Tittel • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.41 • 2024-10-07

  WINDOWS

  

  By Ed Tittel

  Ports, cables, and devices all matter when you hook storage to Windows via USB.

  These days, it’s undeniable that the Universal Serial Bus — better known to all as USB — is the most common way to connect external devices to desktop and mobile PCs. And USB connects much more than mouse and keyboard. It also serves all kinds of storage, printers, and scanners. Indeed, ultra-fast modern USB versions such as USB4 can even accommodate high-resolution monitors via USB-C.

  USB has come a long, long way since the first version appeared in 1996. In particular, USB lets users add storage capacity to Windows PCs, across a variety of types. In this story, we’ll take a look at options for USB-attached storage, and present some possible selection criteria for same. But first, a quick review of USB-version history.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.41.0, 2024-10-07).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows External Drives, Newsletters, NVMe, Performance, storage, USB, USB4

• Thunderbolt

  Posted on October 2, 2023 at 02:42 CDT by Ed Tittel • Comment in the Forums

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ed Tittel

  Not many people know this, but Thunderbolt originated as an optical networking technology. Apple and Intel worked on its initial design.

  Known as Light Peak, it was based upon optical components and fiber-optic cables at Intel’s Silicon Photonics lab. When it turned out that copper cables could deliver the same 10 Gbps bandwidth as the more expensive and finicky optical elements, the cheaper, less demanding technology won.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.40.0, 2023-10-02).

  Hardware Docking stations, Newsletters, NVMe, Performance, Thunderbolt, USB, USB Implementers Forum

• Working with USB 3 and 4 in Windows

  Posted on August 21, 2023 at 02:43 CDT by Ed Tittel • Comment in the Forums

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ed Tittel

  The Universal Serial Bus, most commonly known as USB, has been a basic staple of computing since it first arrived on the scene in 1996.

  It’s a widely used computing-industry bus standard that’s overseen by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), an industry consortium that publishes and maintains standards for USB4, USB 3.2, USB 2.0, USB ports, cables, connectors, and more. I haven’t seen a PC that didn’t include multiple USB ports since the early 2000s.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.34.0, 2023-08-21).

  Hardware Newsletters, storage, USB, USB 2, USB 3, USB Flash Drives, USB-C, USB4, Windows

• Update fails, and WaaSMedic runs for hours …

  Posted on November 1, 2021 at 02:44 CDT by Fred Langa • Comment in the Forums

  LANGALIST

  

  By Fred Langa

  Windows 10/11’s built-in WaaSMedic agent is supposed to automatically detect and repair problems with Windows Update.

  But sometimes, it can’t fix what’s wrong; other times, WaaSMedic itself is the problem!

  Fortunately, there are a number of known solutions — including some new advice from Microsoft — to remedy this and other common Update problems.

  Plus: Edge won’t stay dead! And: A Wi-Fi dongle takes down a keyboard and mouse.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.42.0 (2021-11-01).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Edge, LangaList, USB, Windows Update

• There are no USB cables any more

  Posted on March 8, 2021 at 01:04 CST by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  It used to be that you could run any old USB cable between just about any two USB ports, and the devices on each end would simply work. But that hasn’t been true for a long, long time.

  As more and more manufacturers wanted to bring different devices with different needs to market, the standard USB-A cable was lost in the shuffle. Instead, we got a gaggle of novel USB connectors named Mini-A, Mini-B, Micro-A, Micro-B, Apple’s similar-but-different Lightning, and more.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.9.0 (2021-03-08).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Hardware, Public Defender AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Public Defender, Thunderbolt, USB, USB standards

• PC bargains: Buying a laptop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

  Posted on November 11, 2019 at 01:00 CST by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PC BUYING

  By Michael Lasky

  Shopping for a new PC this holiday season? The best bargains are almost always on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and the following Cyber Monday.

  While Cyber Monday’s online shopping binge might have lessened the Friday brick-and-mortar crowds — and extended the time we have to look for bargains — it hasn’t reduced the seduction for impulse buying.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.41.0 (2019-11-11).

  Buying New Hardware AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Black Friday, Cyber Tuesday, USB

• Windows 10 1709 still isn’t ready for prime time — and the latest buggy cumulative update, KB 4074588, proves the point

  Posted on February 20, 2018 at 07:32 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I’m seeing a whole host of different problems with this month’s cumulative update for Win10 Fall Creators Update.

  Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security Fall Creators Update, KB 4058258, KB 4074588, USB, Win10 1709