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USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed to be reversible (www.pcgamer.com)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 71 points 3 years ago (18 children)

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.

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  • [–] 51 points 3 years ago (5 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.

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  • [–] 14 points 3 years ago*

    There were the early USB plugs that were sort of weird notched trapezoids about 8 mm square (predecessor of mini and micro, USB-B). I always thought those were fine.

    Actually looking at this I'm surprised how many other styles there were.

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  • [–] 9 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    I honestly think that FireWire 400 had a better physical design for the connector. It was keyed more dramatically than some of the other connectors people are citing as being both keyed and easy to orient incorrectly. I personally never had issues plugging in FireWire 400 blind.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 years ago*

    The problem for me was never the plug, but the socket. It was obvious to me which side had the connectors, it's the sockets on devices that would be random rotations most of the time. I never really understood the extreme hatred, while it wasn't perfect, it worked well. I inserted successfully a lot more times than not, USB-A served us well in all honesty, but glad we have moved on to reversible.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Keying does no good, have you tried fumbling with a serial port connection before? Same difference, and it's keyed too.

    What'd have helped is clear markings and plug heads, like how some DIN connectors are done: The orientation simply cannot be missed.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (4 children)

    It kinda is keyed. Seam goes down.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago (1 child)

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

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  • [–] -1 points 3 years 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. ?

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