From: Michael G Schwern Date: 00:35 on 24 Oct 2003 Subject: Symmetrical connectors Its not software but damnit if I can never figure out which way my USB cable is supposed to go in! If you're going to design a connector that has to go in a certain way, make sure its damn obvious which way it should go! USB, Serial, ADB, IDE, most SCSI, polarized US power cords (thank god those disappeared right quick) all require they go in a certain way yet they're symmetrical across one or more axis. ADB was the worst offender being nearly round with nothing but a notch to orient on. Many a time I played the little twisty game trying to get an ADB connector to slide into an unseen jack. OTOH, firewire, phone and ethernet jacks, three prong US power and to a limited extent, VGA and mini-VGA seem to have gotten it right.
From: peter (Peter da Silva) Date: 02:38 on 24 Oct 2003 Subject: Re: Symmetrical connectors > OTOH, firewire, phone and ethernet jacks, three prong US power and to a > limited extent, VGA and mini-VGA seem to have gotten it right. Trust me, you can easily get VGA in backwards. And straightening the pins with a pair of needle-nosed pliers afterwards is no fun at all.
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