Why did USB start off with so many variants, and now that USB C is gaining steam, can it replace the rest of them?

Question

I don’t know how we got to where we did, but aren’t you glad USB C came along?

In: Technology

Answer 1

A couple of excellent explanations for the number of variations, so I’ll leave that alone.

The interesting part is WHY we have USB. Apple had already invented IEEE1394 (FireWire) which was technically superior in almost every way. Problem was…Apple wanted to charge implementers upwards of $1 PER-PORT to use it. That’s a lot, so several companies got together (under Intel’s guidance) and created a royalty-free semi-alternative interface and USB was born.