RANT - just how many USB plugs are there?

[Exterous]

These are the only ones I can think of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USB_types_2.jpg

There aren't *that* many out there. I have an adapter to convert to micro (on far left side of that image) from mini (second from left in that image), and that covers me on almost every new device. I have a few standard B-type connectors (center in image) laying around somewhere, but I can't remember the last time I actually needed one.

There's a couple of different phone ones too. It's gotten crazy how proprietary cable the world has gotten. Heaven forbid you get to use one cable for more than one type/brand

And yet a curious thing has happened to me. We have three different phones: Blackberry (work), Samsung and Palm Pre and they all use the same freaking cable for charging/data!!!!!

I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Its so nice not to have to dig around and swear all the time as I find 4 cables that would work with a Samsung and not the Palm that I currently need a cable for

 

[Blackjack200]

What does the "U" in USB stand for again? I forgot...

 

[alfa147x]

There's a couple of different phone ones too. It's gotten crazy how proprietary cable the world has gotten. Heaven forbid you get to use one cable for more than one type/brand

And yet a curious thing has happened to me. We have three different phones: Blackberry (work), Samsung and Palm Pre and they all use the same freaking cable for charging/data!!!!!

I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Its so nice not to have to dig around and swear all the time as I find 4 cables that would work with a Samsung and not the Palm that I currently need a cable for

What's stupid is that the BB Bold 9000 and BB Bold 9700 use different usb ports :\

 

[alfa147x]

What does the "U" in USB stand for again? I forgot...

The Users ass!

 

[lxskllr]

What irritates me, is the USB port on my phone won't charge with a USB cable. I have to use a charger that's had the pins dicked with. I have a bunch of USB cables, but still need a "special" one for my phone :^S

 

[sswingle]

I have a couple card readers with a B connector, so its not just printers that use that. Oh, and a scanner that uses B.

Other than that, I have a bunch of Mini devices. Maybe I'm lucky that I don't have anything else?

 

[Tsavo]

what does the "u" in usb stand for again? I forgot...

Unicorn.

eokt.

 

[JEDI]

thx for sig material

 

[pontifex]

the proprietary cables annoy the piss out of me.

it bothers me to no end that I have to keep a cable around just to hook up to my sony camera.

hehe, yeah. my samsung convoy uses a proprietary usb cable.

my mom's sony digital camera uses another one.

i don't understand the need for all of them either. just seems like greed to me, just to make people buy your specific cables.

 

[CZroe]

I have a couple Jabra headsets that use a tiny connector I have only see on LG phones, though that same phone's cable caused my Jabra BT8010 to overheat when I attempted to charge off it. The 8010 also uses it for connecting the second stereo headpiece and functioning as a USB audio device (undocumented feature). The other one is the headset that was included with Warhawk on PS3. It had the same earhook also, which came in handy because I already salvaged the one from my second channel earpiece after the main one broke and it broke too.

I want the connector so I can wire up a cable to maintain the second channel in USB Audio Device mode and to make a lanyard for Caller ID (I see miniUSB lanyards for other CID earpieces, but not this one).

Even worse are Western Digital passport external hard drives. They flake out unless you use THEIR supplied cable!

Seagate's Free Agent Go drives OTOH, have none of these issues. You can steal the cable off a Blackberry and it fires right up!

Lots of bus-powered devices do. My LG GS500 (IIRC about the model) does it. My Sony SIXAXIS and DualShock 3 pads often refuse to work with others too. I guess some cables have more impedance and resistance, poor connectors, etc.

 

[QueBert]

I had somebody I know order an external HD case, it uses a fucking A to A USB cable, I know they make these so it's not like they're hard to find. But WHAT THE FUCK? This was the first device I've actually seen that uses one. Of course the POS didn't come with it, that would have been too easy.

 

[Rifter]

Even worse are Western Digital passport external hard drives. They flake out unless you use THEIR supplied cable!

Seagate's Free Agent Go drives OTOH, have none of these issues. You can steal the cable off a Blackberry and it fires right up!

I have a 500GB WD passport and have used it with at least 5 differnt USB cables, have had no issues. I have mini USB cables connected to all my computers so i dont need to take the cable with me from comp to comp.

 

[Rubycon]

I have a 500GB WD passport and have used it with at least 5 differnt USB cables, have had no issues. I have mini USB cables connected to all my computers so i dont need to take the cable with me from comp to comp.

The new ones may be different. I had lots of the older ones from 80GB through 250GB. 320GB elite was also picky. Tried a Seagate and never went back as it works on any cable.

 

[foghorn67]

lol i was thinking the same thing today. Went from HTC Hero mini-usb to micro-usb. Quite annoying.

Mini USB is slated to die. Micro USB has a better retiontion, and doesn't build a loose play after repeated use. Mini USB's tend to get really loose.
I welcome changing over to Micro.