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An USB plug that goes both ways

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Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#111

Post by regularfry »

phillmv wrote: post #83
pyre wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More like the USB spec should have realized that the ports may end up in all sorts of configurations, especially on devices where they are trying to make the maximum amount of limited space (i.e. laptops, netbooks, etc). The connector was designed without really allowing normal people (or at least people are aren't 'in' on the group-think that can go on in working-groups) to try and use it.

You know, back in '96 I can give them some slack for not necessarily thinking about that use case.

I can't. RJ11, RJ45, RS232 and PS2 plugs were already everywhere back then, and they were mounted every which-way. And they were all physically keyed at the connector such that you could figure it out blind. Bah and humbug, I say.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#112

Post by regularfry »

marshray wrote: post #38
jws wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

USB ports are supposed to be current limited. Given that those components cost money to buy and money to place… I think we know where low end equipment vendors are going to end up.

I'd expect current limiting to be a feature of even the cheapest USB interface ICs. It's really easy to test and potentially a short-circuit/fire hazard. Not the kind of thing any testing lab would be likely to overlook.

How very... trusting of you. In a similar vein, I would have expected a motherboard USB circuit to handle an overvoltage from a dodgy peripheral in a contained fashion.

I can point out the blown 7A(!) fuse on the IBM T41 motherboard if necessary.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#113

Post by JacobAldridge »

eru wrote: post #105
JacobAldridge wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Put your hands in front of you, palms facing inwards . Where the thumb and index finger form an L, that's your right hand. And of course, cars where I grew up (Australia) drove on the opposite side of the road to the cars on tv (mostly US shows and movies). I think these are both great ways to help teach kids left and right; I just like to point out the flaws since neither way helped me (and I still have to think abo…

Didn't I imply that cars drive on the right side i.e. the left side of the road?

Yeah - I was making the point about it being a confusing tool to use. When I'm outside, cars drive on the left; when I'm inside watching a movie, they drive on the right; so my brain isn't getting wired with clear signals.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#114

Post by regularfry »

thushan wrote: post #103

I never understood why plugs like that needed to go a certain way. On a technical standpoint, yes, I get that the leads need to be oriented in such a way, but why design it so people have to think about it? Apple's mag safe connector is a perfect example of how plugs should work - it does not require anyone to think about what the correct orientation is. Same with magnetic stripe readers for credit cards and transit…

Because the physical spec was dreamt up by electrical engineers, perhaps? I can cut them a little slack because they had to spec something everyone in the consortium could manufacture for peanuts, but not much.

The USB plug is far from the worst connector design out there. My favourite is the audio jack, where you are guaranteed to short the signal lines to earth on connection and disconnection. Really smart, that one...

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#115

Post by regularfry »

sliverstorm wrote: post #23
dylan62 wrote: post #5

I've always wondered why the USB port is the way it is. It seems such an unbelievably stupid design, but I assume there must be a reason for it. Does anyone have a link, or brief explanation? Incidentally a search for "why is the usb port such a stupid design?" (without the quotes) brings up nothing remotely relevant on any of the major search engines. Strange.

Probably because it's just really, really simple. Short of audio jacks, it's one of the simplest computer plugs in existence. That's a good thing when you're trying to achieve universal adoption.

Unfortunately, audio jacks are also bone-headed.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#116

Post by regularfry »

Zak wrote: post #27
jmaygarden wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

UltraTek makes something similar: http://www.flipperusb.com/

End the frustration of broken USB connectors and end-user support issues I'm afraid to ask... do any significant number of users actually break their USB ports by trying to insert the plug the wrong way?

Yes. In my experience it's typically done by less technical users who simply haven't noticed that the connector is asymmetrical, so if it's not going in it must just be a tight fit.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#117

Post by regularfry »

Waywocket wrote: post #72
richbradshaw wrote: post #41

Who still uses USB regularly enough to feel this is a problem? Memory sticks are irrelevant in todays Gb ethernet as standard world, printers are wireless or networked, scanners don't exist for all intents and purposes, mice and keyboards are bluetooth... the list goes on!

On average, I use a USB connector about 3 times a day. I have yet to see a Bluetooth device that isn't a phone (I literally don't know a single person who has a Bluetooth controller that isn't one of those never-used phone features, nor anyone who actually owns a Bluetooth gadget, and the only ones I've even seen for sale are headsets for - you guessed it - phones).

I have a bluetooth dongle, but it was bought for and only used with my wiimote. Which was fun.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#118

Post by regularfry »

richbradshaw wrote: post #41

Who still uses USB regularly enough to feel this is a problem? Memory sticks are irrelevant in todays Gb ethernet as standard world, printers are wireless or networked, scanners don't exist for all intents and purposes, mice and keyboards are bluetooth... the list goes on!

The 13 USB devices hooked into my desktop would disagree with you.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#119

Post by regularfry »

kenkam wrote: post #104

Great design, although I doubt anyone will seriously benefit from it. Why not just plug it in where the USB symbol is on top? How does this solve anything?

Your comment amounts to "Why can't people know everything and never make mistakes?" I hope you see the problem with that.
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