The USB paradox is one of the most familiar experiences of the digital age. Every time you try to plug in a USB cord, it seems like you always get it wrong on the first try. It doesn't matter how much attention you pay to the plug or the cord or the icons on the cord. It's always wrong.
And there's a good reason for that! In an interview published Thursday by DesignNews, Intel's Ajay Bhatt spoke at length about why the ubiquitous technology has been so infuriating for so long. Bhatt was a member of the team that developed USB technology. Even at the start of development, they knew that making the connector flippable would be a better user experience in the long run. But doing so would require twice the wiring and more circuitry, which would increase costs.
"If you have a lot of cost up front for an unproven technology it might not take off. So that was our fear. You have to be really cost conscious when you start out," Bhatt said.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 03 2017, @12:27PM (2 children)
I'd have been happy if they hadn't made the plug fit so nicely into Ethernet jacks. Many a user problem fixed by plugging the USB cable into the actual USB port.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 03 2017, @03:58PM (1 child)
That's for Facebook over USB. I find that Facebook over USB gives the best possible experience of Facebook.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday December 03 2017, @10:24PM
IF you use the Monster cables, that is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford