(Old Thread) RANT: What idiot designed the USB standard?

[GTaudiophile]

Old thread.
admin allisolm

I mean, I don't know about you all, but I like to keep my computer room/office/man cave in the dark/dimly lit. So I bend down to insert my Corsair Flash Voyager into one of the front USB ports on my PC and of course I have to fumble with the thing, rotating it around until it's positioned the right way, etc. And then it hits me: how many hours of my life have I wasted fumbling with USB devices (in the dark or otherwise) to go in properly? And then I wonder, what idiot thought of a plain rectangular design that must be inserted a specific way to work? I mean, it's a 50/50 chance you'll get it right the first time.

Whereas, the folks at Apple or where ever had the right idea with Firewire ports. It only fits one way. Duh.

Sorry, I think I've wanted to rant about USB for years.

WRONG:

Right:

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Intel, Compaq, Microsoft, NEC, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM, and Nortel. Morons.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Intel, Compaq, Microsoft, NEC, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM, and Nortel. Morons.

And not a one of them focus-grouped the standard before release.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

And not a one of them focus-grouped the standard before release.

I actually agree with your rant

 

[mcurphy]

This "idiot" was co-inventor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqLPHrCQr2I&feature=player_embedded

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

This "idiot" was co-inventor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqLPHrCQr2I&feature=player_embedded

That's an awesome ad!

 

[secretanchitman]

That's an awesome ad!

great ad! although the guy in the ad is just an actor.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/10/conan-obrien-talks-to-the-co-creator-of-usb-on-the-tonight-show/ - that is the real ajay bhatt talking to conan!

edit: http://vimeo.com/10662430 - video didnt work for me so here is another working link.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Wow, I actually agree with the OP 100%.

God trying to plug in your damn usb mouse and keyboards (and other USB devices) behind a computer without pulling the whole tower forward is an exercise in frustration.

 

[mcurphy]

great ad! although the guy in the ad is just an actor.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/10/conan-obrien-talks-to-the-co-creator-of-usb-on-the-tonight-show/ - that is the real ajay bhatt talking to conan!

edit: http://vimeo.com/10662430 - video didnt work for me so here is another working link.

Haha, I never realized it was an actor, thanks for the info. The Conan interview was great!

 

[sdifox]

PC connectors were all uniquely shaped all the way up to USB. And before some ass brings up minijack audio ports, they were not designed by PC people so they had no choice but to use it.

I hate the USB connector too, you can actually jam it in the wrong way. But to be fair, the standard does call for the usb symbol being on the up side so at least you can look at your cable and plug it in that way.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

While we're at it, let's rant about optical audio ports. Same thing really - sure, they have that little notch in the socket, but it's tiny and the connector is delicate.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Intel, Compaq, Microsoft, NEC, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM, and Nortel. Morons.

No wonder 3 of them (Compaq, DEC, Nortel) are gone.

(Actually it would be said that out of all the standards I dealt with over my short life (and I dealt with way too many), on the software level of things, USB is very well thought out. Just compare it to something obnoxious like SCSI, or Secure Digital)

 

[MovingTarget]

Agreed. Although I'm a big fan of USB, the connectors could have been much better designed.

 

[sdifox]

While we're at it, let's rant about optical audio ports. Same thing really - sure, they have that little notch in the socket, but it's tiny and the connector is delicate.

That was created by audio people, not computer people. So go rant at Toshiba

I never had trouble with toslink though, yes, it is not sturdy, but you are not supposed to hang your equipment from it either.

 

[Zedtom]

I cuss to myself every time I try to plug in a USB device. I look at the firewire plug and think that somebody actually considered the human element when engineering these things.

 

[QueBert]

QTF, was working on somebodies PC today and needed to plug a USB flash drive in the back. Was in a tiny ass pc tower space on their desk. Naturally the cords going to the PC were too short for me to be able to pull it out far enough to see WTF I was doing. I had to unplug a few cables to get it out enough. After I had a bitch of a time getting the cables back in because 1. I couldn't see and 2. there was no room really.

I haven't seen pics, but I hope to holy hell USB3 cables have better connectors.

 

[daw123]

I agree with the OP's rant. I have to contort my body at weird angles to plug in my USB devices into the back of my PC, which is on the floor. The damn thing is heavy to lift and it doesn't slide very well on carpet.

 

[daw123]

QTF, was working on somebodies PC today and needed to plug a USB flash drive in the back. Was in a tiny ass pc tower space on their desk. Naturally the cords going to the PC were too short for me to be able to pull it out far enough to see WTF I was doing. I had to unplug a few cables to get it out enough. After I had a bitch of a time getting the cables back in because 1. I couldn't see and 2. there was no room really.

I haven't seen pics, but I hope to holy hell USB3 cables have better connectors.

I thought USB3 used the same connector as USB2, so that it is compatable.

Edit: The connector has the same overall shape, but USB3 uses different connection points.
http://www.reghardware.com/2008/01/09/ces_usb_3_revealed/

 

[Wag]

That guy.

 

[Schadenfroh]

That is not the abomination of USB, this is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus#Connector_types

 

[ComputerWizKid]

Great rant OP! but don't get me stated on the Idiot who designed the HDMI connector and also MS because they spaced the HDMI and the AV out too close (On-Purpose probably to get you to buy the MS brand cables)

 

[Wag]

Great rant OP! but don't get me stated on the Idiot who designed the HDMI connector and also MS because they spaced the HDMI and the AV out too close (On-Purpose probably to get you to buy the MS brand cables)

Don't get me started on HDMI...Why the hell did Nvidia all of a sudden decide to change from the standard HDMI plugs to the mini HDMI plugs on their new cards?

 

[sandorski]

Yup. What pisses me off more is the complete lack of Standards regarding Motherboards Header Pins and Case USB/Firewire/Audio headers. Hell, there isn't even a Standard for labeling individual Posts/Wires, making it somewhat a complete crapshoot for Noobs. Even if you get it right, the connection is often rather precarious as the Plug/Post combo lacks any reasonable amount of friction to maintain itself.

 

[ComputerWizKid]

Don't get me started on HDMI...Why the hell did Nvidia all of a sudden decide to change from the standard HDMI plugs to the mini HDMI plugs on their new cards?

Because Nvidia Sucks! ATI FTW!

 

[QueBert]

USB3 cables look very close, SHIIIIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIET!!! Ok, I did this in about 30 seconds in an old ass version of Photoshop

maybe not that funny but I'm sure many people on here can relate to the frustration.