Why didn't they make USB 3.0 reversible in the 1st place (instead of version C)?! PIC

[Red Squirrel]

Uhh, it does come with signaling for much more amperage. If you read about it, they intend for you to charge your laptop through it, same as your tablet. Think of it as USB Forum's version of MagSafe.

Was talking about the older USB, but it's good to know that the newer one will have this.

 

[Gunbuster]

Why was it not reversible to begin with? I would guess that the original intent to make it cheap as hell did not line up with the logic you would need at both ends to auto-sense and configure correctly.

Unlike USB at least Gigabit Ethernet got auto crossover back in the day...

 

[WelshBloke]

You guys really have this much trouble plugging a cable in?

 

[Phanuel]

You guys really have this much trouble plugging a cable in?

How can you not? I sense a liar here chaps.

 

[Fritzo]

Why was it not reversible to begin with? I would guess that the original intent to make it cheap as hell did not line up with the logic you would need at both ends to auto-sense and configure correctly.

Unlike USB at least Gigabit Ethernet got auto crossover back in the day...

If memory serves, the original USB ports were very defined- there was a staggered enclosure and it was nearly impossible to plug a USB cord in upside down.

Over time, the housing around the plugs became more and more round.

 

[Ichinisan]

If memory serves, the original USB ports were very defined- there was a staggered enclosure and it was nearly impossible to plug a USB cord in upside down.

Over time, the housing around the plugs became more and more round.

I don't know what you mean by this. I've seen Win95C systems that came with (useless) USB 1.0 ports. I don't recall them looking any different physically.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Except there you usually just do it occasionally. That's unlike many USB cables.

I actually liked the screw in attachments of VGA because once screwed in, they never fell out. But no I wasn't attaching 100 at a time.

It sucks. Imagine a system that's been sitting there for 5 years, wires untouched. You're coming in to replace it and you have to unconnect everything. Being that it's been there for 5 years, crazy amounts of dust has built up around the computer. Now you're trying to unscrew the VGA cable, which is usually in an awkward angle and the stupid thing is stuck. You try to use a screwdriver but you can barely get behind the damn thing. Now multiply it by 4 since there are 4 screws, computer and monitor. Now imagine doing that for 100 dirty ass systems because stupid people can't bother to dust their desks.

Ugh.

 

[SparkyJJO]

You guys really have this much trouble plugging a cable in?

Yeah I'm trying to figure this one out. There are typically only two times I get the cable backwards. When the case is made stupid with the ports mounted upside down, or I'm tired and not paying attention

 

[Red Squirrel]

The worse is those Dell cases that have it at a weird angle and if the case is set upright, you actually can't really get it in. (that's what she said) Thankfully I don't see too many of those Dells anymore.

It's funny though, how the "3 turns" issue is so common that there are meme images of it. I honestly thought it was just me that had that problem.

I can't make sense of their image, so maybe that's actually what they did, but what I think they should have done from the get go is the part of the plug where the pins are should have been in the centre of the rectangle, and have pins on the other side in reverse order. Then make the female port the same but in reverse. Like this:

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yeah you can always pay for ~$50 Thunderbolt cables that 99.99% of PCs and devices could never use instead of crappy USB3. But, but, USB3 can't daisy chain monitors! *sarcasm*

The daisy-chaining is actually a Displayport feature.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Why was it not reversible to begin with? I would guess that the original intent to make it cheap as hell did not line up with the logic you would need at both ends to auto-sense and configure correctly.

Unlike USB at least Gigabit Ethernet got auto crossover back in the day...

Auto MDI-X is a separate feature, and was common in later-model 100Mb ("Fast") Ethernet NICs and switches. I've never seen GbE equipment without it, but I'm not 100% sure it's part of the standard.

I was sooooo happy when I didn't have to splice those damn things anymore.

At my last job, we still had some 100Mb switches floating around that needed crossover cables or which had a toggle switch to turn a specific port into an uplink.

 

[Rakehellion]

Apparently, it's already happened. http://gizmodo.com/apples-new-lightning-cables-could-be-reversible-on-both-1622882598

 

[Rakehellion]

You are ignoring the patent mentioned in the article and Apple's past history of violating USB IF standards.

Examples:
-USB logo on the wrong side of microUSB B to Lightning adapter.
-deliberately gimping Mac USB power output to sell more Firewire IEEE1394 "iSight" cameras (couldn't power most webcams even within 500mA USB spec)
-ignoring USB charging specifications and making a proprietary signaling standard for high-drain iDevices to charge off of USB host ports (iPad), then never adopting the official signalling standard.

Also, there are MANY violations made by big manufacturers, like sheath-less USB "keys" and folding SD cards that fit directly into the USB slot.

Yes, it's centered, but it's obviously flexible and under tension in order to work. It probably uses flexible circuitry tech developed for the slap-bracelet style iWatch.

And back when Apple had USB keyboards, the mouse cable had a notch at the end so you couldn't connect a non-Apple mouse into the keyboard. Call the USB police.

 

[Ichinisan]

And back when Apple had USB keyboards, the mouse cable had a notch at the end so you couldn't connect a non-Apple mouse into the keyboard. Call the USB police.

I thought the notched USB port was only on the included extension cord (which was only meant to be used with the keyboard). Maybe I'm wrong about that...

 

[Eug]

If memory serves, the original USB ports were very defined- there was a staggered enclosure and it was nearly impossible to plug a USB cord in upside down.

Not true. Plus USB 1 and USB 2 cables are exactly the same. In spec USB 1 cables should work properly for USB 2 (and of course, vice versa). (The problem though is that many cheap USB 1 cables were not fully in-spec, so some didn't work properly for USB 2.)

And back when Apple had USB keyboards, the mouse cable had a notch at the end so you couldn't connect a non-Apple mouse into the keyboard. Call the USB police.

Also not true. Non-Apple mice work with old PowerPC Mac keyboards just fine. I have a few.

In fact, I used to use a Dell mouse with an old G4 Power Mac Apple Pro Keyboard for the longest time because I had a glass desk and needed to use a two-button ball mouse. Laser mice from that era didn't work on glass.

 

[Ichinisan]

Not true. Plus USB 1 and USB 2 cables are exactly the same. In spec USB 1 cables should work properly for USB 2 (and of course, vice versa). (The problem though is that many cheap USB 1 cables were not fully in-spec, so some didn't work properly for USB 2.)


Also not true. Non-Apple mice work with old PowerPC Mac keyboards just fine. I have a few.

In fact, I used to use a Dell mouse with an old G4 Power Mac Apple Pro Keyboard for the longest time because I had a glass desk and needed to use a two-button ball mouse. Laser mice from that era didn't work on glass.

I have definitely seen this notch he describes, but I think it was only meant to make sure you didn't use the extension cable with anything else.

 

[Eug]

I have definitely seen this notch he describes, but I think it was only meant to make sure you didn't use the extension cable with anything else.

That would make sense, since such an extension cord would probably make an attached USB cord no longer within spec. It would still be fine for a mouse, but not for say a hard drive.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

That would make sense, since such an extension cord would probably make an attached USB cord no longer within spec. It would still be fine for a mouse, but not for say a hard drive.

15' is the max. Most cables are 6'; you'd be fine.

 

[CZroe]

The Apple mouse was particularly short because it was only intended to be long enough to connect to the keyboard.

 

[bearxor]

Yes, the extensions had the notch on them so that only the Apple peripherals would work.

I busted the casing on quite a few of them, bent the notch out of place and used them as extensions for numerous things, including hard drives. Never had a problem.

I think they probably did it more for a "let's make this easy for someone to set up" kind of thing as opposed to "we're evil and want people to buy our own things". This was back when USB was a relatively new thing and most PC's weren't using USB for much at all.

In other links:
http://biz.tigerdirect.com/p/cables...n-micro-usb-type-b-m-1-usb-hi-speed-usb-black

 

[evident]

This is just as stupid and redundant as display port coming out when hdmi is the standard

 

[Eug]

Yes, the extensions had the notch on them so that only the Apple peripherals would work.

I busted the casing on quite a few of them, bent the notch out of place and used them as extensions for numerous things, including hard drives. Never had a problem.

I think they probably did it more for a "let's make this easy for someone to set up" kind of thing as opposed to "we're evil and want people to buy our own things". This was back when USB was a relatively new thing and most PC's weren't using USB for much at all.

In other links:
http://biz.tigerdirect.com/p/cables...n-micro-usb-type-b-m-1-usb-hi-speed-usb-black

Just because something works doesn't mean it's in spec.

 

[Rakehellion]

Just because something works doesn't mean it's in spec.

Who cares about the spec as long as it works?

 

[VVV]

I just want to say something to people who comment on people having so much trouble on connecting the cable. It's not having so much trouble but having a little to furious trouble every time you need to use it is already a clearly bad design. The fact that a lot of people's having the same problem of turning upside down a couple of time if not lucky on the first shot is bad design. A connector should be as obvious as possible and not a chance on two to get it right.

If you have to look at the logo on the connector (black on black) to figure out which way is up or down, left or right (I never remembered this) to connect a squarish connector is stupid. You don't even know for sure if the manufacture respect that convention.

In the dark or in confine space (behind TV on wall), it becomes a frustrating experience. It's crazy to say but long time ago, those PC serial and parallel ports were easier to connect blind because you can't figure them out with touch.

When connect usb blind and your connector is a little bit damage or not aligned perfectly with the receptor, you become insane (Einstein definition of insanity)

As pointed out, Apple got them right with the new connector. Maybe the technology wasn't there but it's here now, get it done.

 

[Ichinisan]

15' is the max. Most cables are 6'; you'd be fine.

The extension connection adds more resistance / impedence, so without special materials and build quality, it would actually have problems with many devices even at less than 15' when an extension is involved.

Low power devices (like most keyboards) probably tolerate it fine. I've used a high-quality, shielded, not-very-long extension and had problems charging an iPhone (connected to a quality Apple iPad charger, not to a host PC).