Ask Paul: July 29 (Premium)

After a week away, my Ask Paul skills are a little rusty, but here’s a great set of reader questions to get them back in shape.
HP laptops and USB-C
harmjr asks:

Have you noticed in your reviews of HP a move away on the part of HP from USB C power cables. I been shopping for a new HP laptop and noticed majority of them have a pin/barrel connector? Only a couple of USB-C power connectors. I concerned because I want something to connect to USB-C dock and provide power & data.

No, not as a rule, though you do see that from time to time. I have noticed that USB-C-based chargers are going up in capacity (and size) though. Very interesting.

Regarding a proprietary plug, if it still supports USB-C charging, I’m all for it. This frees up a USB-C port for other things and, if you forget your charging cable, there’s likely a compatible USB-C charger around somewhere.
Cruise recap
Harrymyhre asks:

I hope you do a cruise re-cap. Looked like the food was awesome.

Thanks. I did write a quick What I Use post, but I do have a follow-up sketched out. I expected to write that one quickly but it’s been busier than expected this week, plus we’re exhausted from travel.
Fingerprint readers
erichk asks:

Paul, has your experience with fingerprint readers been positive? I have two devices with fingerprint readers, a Dell Inspiron laptop and my 2017 iPad. In each case, it was reliable at the start, but then slowly degraded to the point where I basically gave up.

My experiences with fingerprint readers across device types are very positive. The exceptions stand out in my mind: some earlier OnePlus handsets (later fixed), the Pixel 6 Pro. But I’ve had great success across most PCs---Surface, HP, and Lenovo primarily---most modern smartphones (recent Samsung flagships, the old rear-facing Pixel units), and the iPad Pro. The 2017 iPad you mention is the old round Touch ID unit, right? Those were kind of hit or miss, I guess, but it’s been a while since I’ve used one. But even the smaller fingerprint readers (iPad Pro, the newer model ThinkPad X1s) have always been really reliable for me.

I prefer using a fingerprint reader over an IR camera to sign in on PCs because it’s deliberate. I don’t always want to sign in as I sit down in front of a PC.
Apple books
christianwilson

Less a question and more of a book recommendation. Have you read Ken Kocienda’s book “Creative Selection”? Ken is known as the developer who built the iPhone keyboard and the book is about his time at Apple. He spends time looking at other projects, like the development of Safari, which is an eye-opening story to me. You even get a peek behind the curtain of what it is like to demo in front of Steve Jobs. It is a good book and I think you’d appreciate the technical look and thought processes that went into a few of Apple’s key products.

I have: I listened to it on Audible and while I don’t remember the details, I feel like I dis...