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I suppose this is more of an aesthetic thing than a tech thing considering that a cable like this probably doesn't match the USB spec very well ;-)

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Actually I'm not sure, I don't know much about the spec, but I know that USB 3 has certain pairings similar to ethernet, but USB 2 doesn't have those.

If the cable he's using is shielded by ground then I think it might be up to USB 2 spec?

Edit: Interesting mini-comparison of USB 1 and USB 2 http://ww3.microtek.com.tw/tw/uploads/faq/pdf/comparison-usb...

Shielding doesn't mean it meets the required impedance/attenuation for the USB frequencies. USB uses the same idea as Ethernet (differential signaling) so you can make an analogy - Ethernet requires different cable specifications depending on the speed, and it's the same with USB. And the same as with Ethernet, you can usually use a lower-specced cable for short lengths.

> Actually I'm not sure, I don't know much about the spec...

See the USB 2.0 Cables and Connectors Class Document[1], in particular, 4.10.7 Test Group '6'.

Why speculate when the USB-IF has made their standards both free and readily accessible?

[1] https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/CabConn20.pdf

Interestingly, even the full speed spec (which is likely what the keyboard is running at) requires a shielded cable (which the one linked in the post isn't).

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