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The Reason You Always Plug in USBs the Wrong Way, Revealed

posted by Fnord666 on Sunday December 03 2017, @08:06AM   Printer-friendly
from the stand-on-your-head dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

So that's why:

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.

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  • (Score: 2, Touché) by Farmer Tim on Sunday December 03 2017, @03:11PM (1 child)

    by Farmer Tim (6490) on Sunday December 03 2017, @03:11PM (#604673)

    Would it kill them to make a case that actually REFLECTS light so people can SEE it? I'd pay good money for that, but that's not being a good little consumeroid buying what I am told to buy.

    Apple. Black print on aluminium. And yes, you will pay good money for that.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 03 2017, @06:36PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 03 2017, @06:36PM (#604746)

    Also solves that annoying problem of the one-sided USB ports by simply eliminating them. Still have the gay light-up Apple logo gimmick though.