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  Why do keyboards have hard-wired cables anyhow?
Captive cables only need enough copper to supply enough current for the device they're built into.

Separate cables, OTOH, need enough copper for 500mA with a certain voltage drop to be USB standard compliant. Means 24AWG or bigger for a 2m cable [1].

That's why your keyboard, mouse and webcam have skinny cables while other USB cables are much thicker.

[1] http://cdn2.goughlui.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/USB-Cabl...



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