Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

ux.stackexchange.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 30 posts

Re: What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

#21

Post by bradknowles »

IshKebab wrote: post #13

Very wordy answers, and as far as I can see no single answer has both points: 1. The connector is symmetric. If it was asymmetric like HDMI for example it would be easier. 2. There's no bevel to guide the connector into place, so you can be very close and it still won't go in. That feels exactly the same as if you have it in the incorrect orientation. All the stuff about the logo is misguided. Nobody reads the logo o…

With respect, the external asymmetry of HDMI has only helped the situation somewhat, at least in my own personal experience.

IMO, the connectors need to be truly symmetrical both internally and externally. USB-C got this part right.

Then we have the problem of correctly implementing the various ways of using that connector, where USB-C fails horribly.

Re: What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

#24

Post by sliken »

leggomylibro wrote: post #9
rjplatte wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That seam is nearly invisible in the dark.

Good point, but so is everything else you would be using it with. I dunno, this is just one of those things that I can remember being annoying, but I can't remember the last time I actually experienced it.

Mini-USB was easily to feel it's orientation, they were also dramatically more reliable than micro-usb.

Re: What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

#25

Post by hakfoo »

chris_mc wrote: post #16
arbitrage wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

taking a quick look around my desk, and the slew of cables i have on it, i quickly find that less than 50% of my cables (many of which are popular and respected brands) do not conform to your description. admit it. USB-A plugs are terribly designed.

They're way better than what came before (like PS/2 plugs, those connectors with the dumb screws (DB9 and such), etc.). Edit: I can't post a reply to the comment below me because HN thinks I am posting "too fast", so here's an update to more thoughts I had on this: It's also age because USB-A is like 20 years old or more. Back then you didn't plug and unplug USB stuff as often, but today we use it as a charging port…

But DB-9 had a strong affordance for which way it fit. Mini-USB too, better than Micro.

Re: What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

#26

Post by dingaling »

chrisseaton wrote: post #11
leggomylibro wrote: post #4

I really do not understand how people still have trouble with this. We've had years and years to get used to these plugs. The 'top' of every USB-A plug I've ever seen is smooth, while the 'bottom' has a seam down the middle. And you can tell the receptacle's orientation from a glance just as easily, but you don't have to because the 'top' side of the plug should face the 'top' of the device it is plugging into in alm…

> The 'top' of every USB-A plug I've ever seen is smooth, while the 'bottom' has a seam down the middle. And you can tell the receptacle's orientation from a glance just as easily, but you don't have to because the 'top' side of the plug should face the 'top' of the device it is plugging into in almost every consumer device I've used. I can't tell if you're joking. You've just written three hundred characters about h…

> Why didn't they design it to go in in any orientation?

'They' ( Ajay Bhatt and his team at Intel ) considered that to be a good idea, but decided against it for cost reasons at a time they were trying to get USB adopted. A reversible plug would have doubled the wiring complexity in the connector and that was considered financially unviable. USB at the time had to be as cheap as possible to make it 'universal".

Incidentally in the UK we have a non-IT equivalent to the problem, the Standard Lamp Paradox. Since there is a switch on domestic electrical outlets, and another switch on a lamp, it often takes three tries in the dark to turn on a lamp since the initial switch state is unknown.

Re: What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

#27

Post by beatgammit »

chris_mc wrote: post #8

Here's a trick I use: most PC ports have the flat plastic (inside) on the top half [0], I have noticed. So, if you look at the USB dongle/stick/cord it will have some small holes punched in either flat side usually. Just look for the holes that aren't blocked by the flat plastic part [1] and make sure those are up, then you should get 95 percent of them correct. [0] http://i.imgur.com/k09dgzL.png [1] http://i.imgur.c…

Or just try plugging it in, and if it doesn't work, flip it over. It's not a big deal.

Re: What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

#28

Post by sebazzz »

hateful wrote: post #2

I'll answer this like most of my software vendors do: Please upgrade to USB-C to solve this issue, we are no longer supporting USB 3.0 or below.

* incomplete protocol support may exist and vary by cable, host or client device

Re: What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

#29

Post by neuralRiot »

dingaling wrote: post #26
chrisseaton wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The 'top' of every USB-A plug I've ever seen is smooth, while the 'bottom' has a seam down the middle. And you can tell the receptacle's orientation from a glance just as easily, but you don't have to because the 'top' side of the plug should face the 'top' of the device it is plugging into in almost every consumer device I've used. I can't tell if you're joking. You've just written three hundred characters about h…

> Why didn't they design it to go in in any orientation? 'They' ( Ajay Bhatt and his team at Intel ) considered that to be a good idea, but decided against it for cost reasons at a time they were trying to get USB adopted. A reversible plug would have doubled the wiring complexity in the connector and that was considered financially unviable. USB at the time had to be as cheap as possible to make it 'universal". Inci…

They didn't even needed to make it reversible just asymmetrical, the HDMI or the displayport connector should've be the USB.

Re: What's wrong with USB sticks that you need 3 tries to plug them in correctly?

#30

Post by DanBC »

leggomylibro wrote: post #4

I really do not understand how people still have trouble with this. We've had years and years to get used to these plugs. The 'top' of every USB-A plug I've ever seen is smooth, while the 'bottom' has a seam down the middle. And you can tell the receptacle's orientation from a glance just as easily, but you don't have to because the 'top' side of the plug should face the 'top' of the device it is plugging into in alm…

> Top of plug = top of device. Easy.

Incorrect on at least two mp3 players and one tablet I own.

Post reply on HN