It's completely understandable that IT companies introduce different plugs to their chargers. It is a part of differentiating the brand, making it stand out. The problem has been getting less annoying lately as the companies has started using the same plugs for all their devices. This is definitely a simplification. It used to be so irritating when you needed two separate chargers for just slightly different models of NOKIA phone.
Perhaps it's getting a little bit better within the one company but you still need specific chargers for products of different brands. You cannot use your iPod charger with your Samsung phone, for example. But what about computers? There is no way for the consumer to have one charger for three laptops of different brands. Well, not only brands but with computers the rule still holds for models. Again, the companies has been introducing one type of plugs into all of their devices but firstly, it's going to take quite a time for this challenge to be completed and secondly there is always one model that the company just cannot leave the same and wants it to be different.
What does it mean for the consumers? Well, it would surely be a huge simplification - having one charger to all of the same label devices instead of at least a couple. But let's be honest, how many consumers stick just to one brand? People usually have quite a variety of labels on their electronics. How to solve this problem? It cannot be expected from the companies to implement universal plugs in all of the devices available on the market.
This makes one wonder, what if there was a convertible charger that would provide us with all the plugs. How much easier would it be to worry about packing just one charger when going away instead of at least two or three? Such a solution would also be a great space and time saver - it would use just one socket but there could be a whole bunch of devices plugged in, charging at the same time. Perhaps it would take a little bit more time for them to get their batteries full but still, it would be much more comfortable.