Got a new MBP. You know, the one with USB-C only. Also, bought the USB-C to USB-A dongle (added charge) just to be safe.
Then I got a Samsung T3 SSD which included a USB-C to USB-A connector. It turns out that the T3 is a USB 2.0 device that uses a USB-C connector, probably because it’s smaller and also because it means you’re hip.
But there is no way to directly connect the new SSD to the new MBP with either of the cables I have…
Wait, what about the MBP power chord? That’s USB-C to USB-C. Should work.
Sort of works. The power cord lowers the speed to USB 1.0 levels (about 40MB/s). Apparently these cables need smarts and the power cable has none.
After meditating a bit, I hook one dongle to the other giving me a double dongle for USB-C to USB-C that operates on the SSD rated as USB 2.0. This gives a speed of about 480 MB/s which is the fastest that can be expected from the T3.
Is there a USB-C to USB-C cable that operates at USB 3.0 speeds? I’ll cross that bridge when I buy an SSD rated at USB 3.0.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB for details on USB versions and speeds.
