Do you also have two USB ports on your keyboard? Don’t worry because you’re not alone. Many people have two ports on their keyboards and you might be wondering about the purpose of it.
So, in this article, we’ll first understand the difference between the 2 USB ports and then see why keyboards have two USB ports and what they’re used for.
Let’s get started!
What Are The Differences Between The Two USB Ports?
The two USB ports on a keyboard are used for different reasons. The first port is called the “legacy port” and it’s used for connecting keyboards to docking stations, monitors, and other peripherals that have a USB connector. The second port is called the “type-C port” and it’s used for connecting keyboards to smartphones, tablets, and other types of devices that use the latest version of the USB standard, known as Type-C.
Now that you understand the difference, let’s dive deep into the usability of the two ports.
What Are The Other Uses For The Legacy Port?
Aside from connecting keyboards to other devices, legacy ports can also be used for another purpose: charging your computer or smartphone. If you have a docking station or an extra power outlet nearby, you can use it to charge your phone or laptop while you’re still using your keyboard.
This is especially convenient if you plan on working on your laptop in bed or on the go. You can continue working without having to worry about running out of battery life or missing important calls because your phone was dying from being off-limits. So, if your phone dies while it’s connected to the keyboard, you won’t lose any data or have to scramble to find another charger.
What Are The Other Uses For The Type-C Port?
Type-C ports are Designed Specifically For Keyboard Use. Unlike legacy ports, which are designed for connecting peripherals to your computer, Type-C ports are designed for connecting peripherals to your smartphone or tablet. This means that type-C ports are more versatile than legacy ports. For example, You can use them to connect your keyboard directly to your device as you would with a regular USB cable. You can also use them in conjunction with an external power supply like an AC adapter. You can even use them as charging docks!
If you are still wondering we do we have 2 USB ports then here is a very precise answer, followed by the benefits it provides:
Why Do We Have 2 USB Ports On Our Keyboards?
Having two ports on a keyboard is a good idea. In the past, people had to use two different cables to connect their keyboard to their computer or other device. With two ports, you can use either one of the cables to connect your keyboard directly to your device.
This saves you time and money since you don’t need to carry around multiple cables and you can easily switch between devices without needing to reconnect the keyboard. Another reason is that some devices may not have enough space on their ports for a single cable, so using two ports allows for more flexibility.
Benefits of having 2 USB ports
A keyboard often comes with only one USB port to connect peripheral devices like printers, scanners, and external hard drives. If you’re using a keyboard with an additional USB port, it can come in handy when there is a lagging port. This is the case especially when you have multiple devices that you need to connect at the same time.
Moreover, the transmission rate of keyboards through their ports is between 12-480 Mb. This is quite low in today’s devices since most electronics transmit over 3Gb per second. So, a single 480 Mb port might be slow but having an additional USB port can make a big difference in how quickly and efficiently you can transfer files and work.
Other advantages include:
- Ease of Access: The ease of access to a keyboard is one of its most important features. That is why many keyboards have two USB ports so that you can use wired speakers or headphones. This way, you won’t have to worry about whether or not your computer is close enough to the keyboard for sound to come out. Plus, it’s easier than using an audio cord.
- Cable Management for neatness: While data transmission for most of the devices is done wirelessly, still there are some that need a cable. A neat cable management system can help you organize and manage all your cables. So, a few connected USB devices are preferable to a messy cable system.
- Power Supply: The keyboard’s USB ports provide a max of 5 volts and 1.8 amps of current. Power like this allows different electronics to run without harming the sector of data transmission; so the importance of USBs on the keyboard is equal to other electronics.
- Port Conflicts Resolution: there can be instances where there is a conflict between the various USB ports and other devices. Here, a keyboard with 2 ports is very useful and necessary to resolve this issue for users.
Conclusion
To conclude, we can say that USB ports add functionality to keyboards, enabling them to be used as extensions of existing USB ports and as requirements for gaming computers. The ports also help with cable management by conveniently plugging devices into them instead of your PC. So, this is something that will come into handy in multiple ways as we have discussed in this article.
We hope that we were able to answer all your questions!
Thank you for reading!
