In early-2022 I modded my HP laptop from an old barrel jack plug we all know into the cool and convenient USB-C plug. This amazing HP laptop still has years left till it dies and I also wanted to try out whether using one charger for all your devices was possible. I made a video on how I modded that laptop here and how I charge it on the go alongside all my other tech:
(I also somehow got hackaday to cover this!)
I have always recycled old powerhouses, including this one, but soon enough I think I should treat myself to a new reliable Apple Macbook Air M2. I loved finding laptops that were basically new but had a few quirks that could be easily fixed with a YouTube tutorial. My last two laptops were 'bin' finds which were only a year old at the time and only needed an hour or two of tender, love and care.
As USB-C slowly dominates the market (if not by force from the EU - too bad Apple), we start to see how easily it will be to connect to our devices using one charger. My dream is to be able to connect all my devices to one charger, because I love the sense of nimbleness and convenience. Imagine travelling with just one charger for all your devices - it would truly make life simpler.
The problem is cables. I hate organising cables. Dealing with unorganised cables is annoying and so is storing them, but I believe I have a solution and it requires someone willing to dive into retractable cables and creating a robust and unique mechanism. Past patents show attempts to create this great solution (as far back as the 90s), but imagine the pain when laptops and several devices had different proprietary connectors and jacks.
2023 will hopefully be the end of that!
In other words, the time for a perfect portable and nimble charger is now. Let's make a charger that has a retractable cable assembly that can be replaced and upgraded over time. I think it would attract people like me who want a organised and nimble solution.
(PS: Are you or someone you know a good mechanical engineer willing to tackle this? Send them my way!)
Let's chat again when I have my hands on a USB-C iPhone.
Yallah bye!