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Author Topic: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....  (Read 3962 times)

Offline Sooz

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Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« on: March 21, 2026, 01:46:39 PM »
Hi, everyone and happy Saturday! 

I wanted to download something from a pin drive onto my desktop but my pin drive won't fit into the itty bitty teeny tiny port on the back of my new iMac.  What kind of adapter do I need?  I only have two ports--are they the "lightning" ports or regular ones? ...not that I know the difference except lightning is fast, I guess!

Also, I have a wireless mouse.  The keyboard has a connector cord that can connect to the mouse for charging, I guess? BUT how does it charge if nothing is plugged in to any kind of an electrical outlet or to the back of the computer? Is this magic??  :cheer:

Thanks and smiles!
Sooz
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2026, 05:41:35 PM »
Edytid four spelyng :wallbash: :no2: :nono:
Ah Yes... Apple Ports changes! So much has happened since we were young! (There will be a test at the end! PAY ATTENTION!) :coolio:

Here are some images that have some of the port/cables labeled. There is also one that purports (some kind of cat connections, I guess! :dntknw: ). Does your laptop have those ports?

There is a whole industry trying to keep up with the changing names/shapes/capabilities of Apple's ports. One image has labels for 'normal' Apple ports. One important development is that Thunderbolt and USB-C connections/ports can be interchanged to some degree. In other words, you can use USB-C cables in the Thunderbolt ports to act like just USB connections. You may also be able to use Thunderbolt cables to act like a regular USB connection. I don't have anything that has a Thunderbolt port except for a small hub. I do have it using a Thunderbolt cable connecting it to the iMac. BTW, the "Lightning" cable/ports is pretty much dead. :doh:

The other images show various cables you might find useful; USB to USB extension cables, Type swapping plugs/cables, plugs with multiple connectors one each side. :blink: :whistling: :WOW:

I use an extension cable to reach a scanner to my wife's MBP because they are so far away from each other. I also use a USB to a short USB-C plug adaptor to connect her external backup drives to the MBP.

I bought a small hub for the iMac that has one Ethernet input, five USB (old A/B/2) inputs, three USB-C/Thunderbolt inputs. That is the second biggest change in the smaller/cheaper iMacs.

One of those USB A/B to USB C plugs should easily connect the 'pin drive' to the Mac. Much as I hate to recommend Amazing.com, they do have a huge variety of cables/plugs/adaptors. While you are shopping it might be wise to buy some shoebox sized plastic containers (w/lids) for storing your collection of connectors, I guarantee your collection will grow!

ERROR young Will Robinson! Download have exceeded the 1000KB limit! Remove or reduce the image sizes as appropriate!
« Last Edit: March 22, 2026, 10:05:19 PM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2026, 05:49:30 PM »
Additional USB images:
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
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And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2026, 05:53:32 PM »
Even more:
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
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And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline jchuzi

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2026, 01:00:18 PM »
Just to be clear, Jim meant Thunderbolt, not Thunderbird. I bought the appropriate adapters when I got my iMac and they work fine. Fortunately, I have a USB hub with 8 ports, plus one that connects to the computer. That one uses an adapter but the other 8 take standard USB A connectors and all work perfectly.
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Offline Sooz

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2026, 10:17:07 PM »
Ohhhh y’all know how much I love them there pictures!! It’s like you really know me!!! Thank you!! :notworthy:

Good suggestion about getting some kind of “box” to be the Keeper of the Cables etc.  I’m hoping a plastic shoebox will do just fine—or The Dollar Tree always has containers, with or without a lid.  I ordered some plastic ties so I don’t have them loose like snakes in the box.

Sumtymes, Ah lyk ta spelll lyk dis, jest fer Pham butt dat dare dammmnable “Otto Korreckt” thang….walll, Ah doan lykes dat wen spilling lyk dis.  lolam!!!!
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Offline Sooz

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2026, 06:16:44 PM »
Sooooo, what exactly do I get? Thanks!  Sheesh, it took me a few times to post this photo! :clap:
Smiles,
Sooz
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2026, 08:25:24 AM »
"took me a few times to post this photo!"

Looks like it wourkd at least twice! :clap: :thumbup:

"Sooooo, what exactly do I get?" Sorry, there is no 'prize' for uploading an image. :sweatingbullets: :wallbash: :dntknw:

Oh, you mean what to get to replace that old wooden analog ruler? :Thinking: I like the metal ones that include inches/feet along cm/mm and even different model railroad guage markings. :dntknw:

Or one of those USB A to USB C plug type things in my previous image post #4.
https://techsurvivors.net/forums/index.php?topic=29229.msg221446#msg221446"
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2026, 10:16:18 PM »
If you haven't bought an USB A to USB C adaptor, you might snag one of these:
OWC USB-A to USB-C Adapter Cable
New | Open Box
4.95
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Sooz

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2026, 02:28:00 PM »
Thanks, Jim!!!

I had a health curveball for a bit but thankfully am back to "normal" and back online (what is normal?? :confused:)

I have a couple more questions--I'm sure the beginning of many!
If I download Brave or DuckDuckGo as backup browsers (I'm not sure why except it makes me feel good to have more browsers), will they automatically go into my dock?

Do I have an icon for my hard drive?

How do my keyboard and wireless mouse get charged if they don't get plugged into the back of my my computer?  I certainly have a learning curve!!!

Thanks!
Smiles,
Sooz
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2026, 09:12:18 PM »
"[If] I download Brave or DuckDuckGo...will they automatically go into my dock?"
They will go into the Dock when you run them, but they will only stay in the Dock if you want them to.
When they are running, you can ctrl-click their icon and select the Options item in the pop-up menu. There is a choice of "Keep in Dock" which is what you probably want. First image.

"Do I have an icon for my hard drive?" More importantly, I want that kind of stuff in a Finder Window. See second and third images.

Does this mean you don't have a free USB-C port on the Mac. (Apple saved you lots of money by not having enough ports! :thanx: :tears: :wallbash: ) So, with all that saved money, I'd suggest buying a small USB hub and some USB cables. The Hub will connect to one of your USB ports on the Mac. You can then connect other USB cables to the ports in the Hub and use them for additional external drives (including that pin drive) and any other USB device (Phone/iPad/Mouse/Touch Pad/etc.). Just make sure you know what types of ports are on the hub (older) USB A/B/3) or (newer) USB C. I assume (dangerous as that may be) the mouse uses a USB-C. The cable then needs to have whatever the Hub provides on one end and a USB-C on the other.
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline jchuzi

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2026, 01:39:51 PM »
I have been very pleased with my pre-USB C hub from TrippLite. I looked up the model number at TrippLite's website and came up with this Although it has the same model number, it appears to be a bit different but it should fit your needs. It appears that you can get it at Amazon with various options. You need a USB A to USB C adapter in order to connect it to your computer. Then, simply plug your old USB devices into the hub and it will work.
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Jon

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Offline Sooz

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Re: Teeny tiny "port" on the back, and ....
« Reply #12 on: April 04, 2026, 05:26:34 PM »
Thank you, Jim and Jon!!!  I hope to get to it within a week—anytime I have a health issue, it seems to set me back for a bit!
Hugs and Smiles,
Sooz
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