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USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed to be reversible (www.pcgamer.com)

submitted 11 months ago by ooli@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 42 points 11 months ago (3 children)

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.

[–] lloram239@feddit.de 4 points 11 months ago

What the USB A connector did do which was new at the time

Gameboy Link cable did that earlier and subsequently inspired the Firewire connector (and also happens to look a little like Type-C with the contacts in the middle).

[–] PupBiru@kbin.social 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

okay but the clip on rj connectors is a locking mechanism which usb just lacks… break off the clip and they’re relatively equvelent no?

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago

No. USB uses friction retention, whereas a clip-retention cable sans clip has real risk of simply falling out.

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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 11 months ago

My first computer. Bless you.