This seems to be a constant question or speculation about the next version of the iPad, will it have USB? My feeling is that iPad will never add a USB port to their post-PC device, the iPad, and it all comes down to the fact that USB use amongst users is just too hard.

Go to any electronics store near your house and you’ll see shelves of random unknown brand TV tuners that retail for some cheap price of $40 and come in some cheap packaging. Plug it in and you’ll find the dodgy drivers only allow it to work on a Windows PC (possibly only a 32bit copy).

That’s really confusing and odd for most users. If I can plug it in to my USB port and it fits, why won’t it work. It’s The USB right? That’s the problem with USB, this powerful and extensible connectivity format has no guarantees on OS or computer support.

With Apple building this post-PC device the plan is to rid users of the relics which came with computers; filesystems, Windows update, setup installers, RAM upgrades and USB. Removing the relic USB means Apple can say to users, whatever you plug into this thing just works. There’s no need to look at the system requirements, if the package says Made for iPad buy it and it will work as soon as you plug it in. USB itself has no promises, it’s just a plug. The iPhone/iPad connector has promises, it was built for the iOS family.


Update: Someone very rightly pointed out that the “dongle” or Camera Connection Kit has a USB port. If you look at the description, Apple states it is used for plugging in camera USB cables. While we all know the iPad actually can support keyboards or USB sound devices (like the iMic), Apple wants to ensure people think it’s a camera connection kit and not a USB connection kit.