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submitted 1 year ago by ooli@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[-] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 69 points 1 year ago

I get why it's not reversible. But why the hell is it not keyed so that is obvious which orientation is correct? A small, cheap, notch would have worked wonders.

[-] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 47 points 1 year ago

Almost all connectors in use on computers at the time USB was introduced were already keyed, and a fat lot of good it did us. Ask anyone who tried fumbling around behind a three ton CRT monitor or computer case -- even with the keyed connectors, feeling for which side was up, getting anything plugged in without eyes on it was already nigh on impossible.

What the USB A connector did do which was new at the time was introduce a connector that did not have any protruding pins on either the male or female end, and thus theoretically at least could not be damaged by fucking up the insertion. Unlike any of the then-common D-Sub connectors (VGA, serial, parallel) or DIN (PS/2 mouse and keyboard, Apple serial, S-Video, etc.). USB didn't even have the little clip to breal off like an RJ-45 Ethernet or RJ-11 phone line connector.

[-] elbarto777@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

What the USB A connector did do which was new at the time was introduce a connector that did not have any protruding pins on either the male or female end, and thus theoretically at least could not be damaged by fucking up the insertion.

This is not true.

Some 80s computers had cassette player interfaces that practically looked like big USB connectors.

https://www.rarecomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/back-picture-c64.jpg

[-] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

My first computer. Bless you.

[-] shalafi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

It kinda is keyed. Seam goes down.

[-] MisterD@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

Until they created upside down Jacks

[-] Amunium@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

But does it go right or left, back or forward in other rotations?

[-] shalafi@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Seam goes down, as oriented to the motherboard. If the slots are vertical, usually to the right? If you have a rare, weird machine, just remember which way it goes. FFS, there are 2 choices.

EDIT: Having said all that, not sure I've seen a machine that orients the seam to the left. ?

[-] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

That's true - I mean to make the keying more obvious. As it stands it's all internal and difficult to see.

[-] TWeaK@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Some USB sticks have the logo on one side, some have it on the other...

this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2023
555 points (98.1% liked)

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