The 667MHz Machine • Hacker News Board

Re: The 667MHz Machine

#11

Post by conception » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC

atoav wrote: post #4

somat wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like to joke about what sort of idiot designs a round connector that is keyed, the worst of both worlds. Now, a round keyed connector is not necessarily a bad thing, the round shell can be very strong, but the ps/2 mini-din went too far. the shell was too small and the key not assertive enough. It was a bad connector. The worst I have seen was an old ati all-in-wonder I had where the video input ports were on a don…

The worst connector IMO is the HDMI connector. I run the mediatec at an university and the amount of well-shielded cable I have to throw into the bin each semester because yet snother perdon levered off that plug is mindboggling. On top of that, HDMI tries to be to much and do too much

USB-C has entered the conversation.

Re: The 667MHz Machine

#12

Post by somat » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 8:44 PM UTC

atoav wrote: post #4

somat wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like to joke about what sort of idiot designs a round connector that is keyed, the worst of both worlds. Now, a round keyed connector is not necessarily a bad thing, the round shell can be very strong, but the ps/2 mini-din went too far. the shell was too small and the key not assertive enough. It was a bad connector. The worst I have seen was an old ati all-in-wonder I had where the video input ports were on a don…

The worst connector IMO is the HDMI connector. I run the mediatec at an university and the amount of well-shielded cable I have to throw into the bin each semester because yet snother perdon levered off that plug is mindboggling. On top of that, HDMI tries to be to much and do too much

On that topic, the 8pin modular ethernet plug has a number of downsides, but it has one huge upside that completely redeems it in my books.

It is super easy to field terminate ethernet. I wish all connector ends were as easy to replace. I have this vague boil-the-ocean type idea where we could replace usb with poe ethernet.

Re: The 667MHz Machine

#13

Post by atoav » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 11:54 PM UTC

conception wrote: post #11

atoav wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst connector IMO is the HDMI connector. I run the mediatec at an university and the amount of well-shielded cable I have to throw into the bin each semester because yet snother perdon levered off that plug is mindboggling. On top of that, HDMI tries to be to much and do too much

USB-C has entered the conversation.

I have heard that story, but so far I have yet to see a broken USB-C plug. I have seen broken USB-C receptacles tho, levered off the PCB. But there are sturdy variants of those as well.