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

[Dacalo]

I was thinking the same thing the other day when I was connecting the mouse to my laptop; why not make the shape such that it plugs in no matter what (like round power cord) or in one way (like firewire as you stated in OP) Morons!

 

[Tsavo]

SATA is just as stupid. The plugs are always oriented backwards unless you mount your drives upside down.

 

[Patranus]

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)

How can you argue that SCSI isn't well thought out?
(for something from its era?)

SCSI > IDE/parallel port any day of the week

 

[Locut0s]

USB is fine, you know what sucks? IDE.

You force this motherfucker in wrong, you get bent pins. USB you can just try again.

But those have a tab you see notched out right there that usually make it fairly obvious which way is UP. USB doesn't even have this. A simple tab would make USB much better.

The worst is PS2, perfectly round mother-fuckers

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...nnector-black_male-_tilted_close_up_Δ0061.jpg

 

[Tsavo]

How can you argue that SCSI isn't well thought out?
(for something from its era?)

SCSI > IDE/parallel port any day of the week

I didn't like the 73,000 different types of SCSI connectors.

 

[Patranus]

I didn't like the 73,000 different types of SCSI connectors.

What about the billion different USB connectors?

 

[Patranus]

But those have a tab you see notched out right there that usually make it fairly obvious which way is UP. USB doesn't even have this. A simple tab would make USB much better.

That tab notched out was not always there or on all cables.

Which does does red go on
Where is pin 1 on the MoBo?

 

[Locut0s]

What about the billion different USB connectors?

Yeah this is another annoying issue with USB. They should just have 2 (or even 1) standard. I'd say mini or micro for consumer electronics and standard USB for computers is all they should have. Instead there are about 4 or 5 different types.

 

[Locut0s]

That tab notched out was not always there or on all cables.

Which does does red go on
Where is pin 1 on the MoBo?

Ahh yes I remember those days. That WAS annoying! However I think all modern ATA cables are notched now. At any rate it's all SATA now.

 

[mugs]

How can you argue that SCSI isn't well thought out?
(for something from its era?)

SCSI > IDE/parallel port any day of the week

SCSI allowed you to daisy-chain devices, but there were different types of connectors. IIRC I just had my computer, a hard drive and a Zip drive, and all three had different (but compatible) SCSI ports. I'm sure there were reasons for the different ports, but it was still an annoyance at a time when there was no place like monoprice.com.

I'm sure there's some reason why we need multiple USB connector types, but I have no idea why.

 

[Locut0s]

SCSI allowed you to daisy-chain devices, but there were different types of connectors. IIRC I just had my computer, a hard drive and a Zip drive, and all three had different (but compatible) SCSI ports. I'm sure there were reasons for the different ports, but it was still an annoyance at a time when there was no place like monoprice.com.

I'm sure there's some reason why we need multiple USB connector types, but I have no idea why.

The only reason I can think of for requiring different USB sizes are devise size. With devises like cell phones, mini point and shoot cameras and the like the standard USB cable takes up too much devise real estate. But I have no idea why they have other ones like the square plug you see on printers and the like.

 

[zCypher]

It is annoying because electrical connections of all types are too delicate to just jam in. So if it doesn't go in easy, flip it around. Hey it doesn't go in easy that way either. Flip, add more pressure, not going in. Flip, add MORE pressure, not going. Son of a bitch, I know I could accidentally break this tiny POS at any time. Flip, add more pressure... wiggle.... sigh.

lmao!

and yes, I hate the PS2 connector as well. USB isn't that bad.

 

[Locut0s]

Yeah here we go:

First 3 are the same I think just different mounting pins or something.

 

[Tsavo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzFUcDKC64E

 

[Tsavo]

Yeah here we go:

First 3 are the same I think just different mounting pins or something.

You fool! The first three are obviously (from left to right) USB 1, USB 2 and USB 3!

 

[Locut0s]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzFUcDKC64E

Ahh the years of "Plug and Pray". Funny how well it all ended up working actually. Rarely have any issues with crashes or drivers on new devises. Minor bugs are still and issue but major spoilers are few and far between.

 

[Locut0s]

You fool! The first three are obviously (from left to right) USB 1, USB 2 and USB 3!

Not sure if serious.

USB 3 usually users a blue connector, though it's not mandatory.

Sorry shit of course you joke, the connector standards are all the same between the 3. OOps.

 

[xSauronx]

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.

thats practically easy compared to earlier models of dell optiplexes....even on the front those fuckers are almost impossible to use due to the ports being at an ANGLE for fucks sake!

 

[spidey07]

When did anyone say otherwise? Stop posting spidey, you're embarrassing yourself again.

This is a technology forum. You would expect folks to understand the reasons behind serial transmission and what is required from a dsp perspective.

Next folks are going to bitch about cisco's serial port and v.35 cables and how you can mate them backwards.

 

[pontifex]

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:

but if you don't have the firewire cable situated correctly, you still have a 50/50 chance of getting it inserted on the 1st time...

 

[RadiclDreamer]

The usb logo should go up in the vast majority of applications. Doesnt help when they turn em sideways, but hey its better than nothing

 

[Locut0s]

but if you don't have the firewire cable situated correctly, you still have a 50/50 chance of getting it inserted on the 1st time...

It's easier to tell which is the right way though. USB you have to examine much closer to tell. The only way to tell is to look at the inside of the male and female connectors and line them up. With firewire at least one end of the connector is chamfered so it's easier on first inspection.

 

[Locut0s]

The usb logo should go up in the vast majority of applications. Doesnt help when they turn em sideways, but hey its better than nothing

They are almost always sideways though. And I've noticed that when sideways the logo doesn't always face you.

 

[mugs]

but if you don't have the firewire cable situated correctly, you still have a 50/50 chance of getting it inserted on the 1st time...

Er... yeah, but you can look at a firewire port, even at a sharp angle, and then look at the connector, and you'll have a 100% chance of getting it inserted on the first attempt. You have to look INSIDE the USB port then look inside the connector to figure out which way it goes in. You can't look inside the port at a sharp angle, such as when you're looking behind your computer.

 

[zinfamous]

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

Well, at least Apple doesn't have to focus group their "standards," because they already know what is best for you, and that you will like it, and that you can't possibly demand anything else b/c it's already flawless...

It's this axiom that allows them to "upgrade" their "standards" every 0.5 years, requiring a new, much smaller mini, micro, nano, pico, femto display port, or adapter. No worries, though, b/c the adapter or new cable can be purchased for a mere $50 a pop--2x per year! :awe:


...but I do agree that the USB format blows chunks and that firewire makes more sense. IEEE1394 sucks in performance comparison.

hey, at least USB isn't HDMI, though.