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Input Devices Hardware

The Ins and Outs of USB 15

Posted by timothy from the should-be-the-As-and-Bs dept.
karvind writes "The USB specification may be an example of that hybrid de jure or de facto standard, one that clearly earned wide acceptance through its technical merit. Peter Seebach has posted an interesting article in Power Architecture Technology Newsletter on the ins and outs of USB. Article tells history of the USB standard and some of its benefits to users and vendors, as well as where it missed the boat"
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The Ins and Outs of USB More

The Ins and Outs of USB

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  • From TFA:


    However, the A port design itself is not friendly from a usability perspective. It's too easy to plug things in upside down.


    I've been using USB devices for a while...and I've never been able to plug one in upside-down...it seems fairly impossible, given the design of the connector. Has anyone else been able to plug in a USB device upside-down?

    • Well i havn't been able to sucessfully plug one in upside down, but i think what they are saying is that its too hard to determine which way is the right way up, like with a scsi cable or firewire its not symetrical, so you can easily tell at first glance which way is up or down.
      • Usually the top has the USB logo, but if I go to plug it in and it doesn't go in, I turn it upside down. This all happens in a matter of 5 seconds or less. Not too complicated.

      • Hmm...here's the technique I've always used:


        1.) Locate USB port (either by sight or by touch).
        2.) Attempt to insert USB plug.
        3.) If USB plug doesn't slide in right off, flip it around and repeat step 2.


        It's not that difficult...it's certainly a lot easier than trying to line up a PS/2 plug, and about as easy as a FireWire plug.
        • No, its not that difficult...but it could be easier, which I think is all he was saying. With my monitor or power plugs I don't even have to play the flip around game, I always know without even looking which way the plug will go in.
    • Never.

      I think the author just means that, upon visual inspection, one can not immediately determine which is "up" and which is "down." He's definitely right when he says that labeling is not consistent. Personally, I never saw that as a problem. I'd just try to plug it in and, if it didn't fit, I'd flip it over.

      I mean, when your only choices are A and B and A doesn't work, well, problem solved, right?

      All in all, I agree with his overall approval of the USB standard. Sure, I remember being in sc
    • Personally, I don't understand why connectors aren't more asymmetrical.
      • We know the trapezoid works well (video and serial ports).
      • Coaxial is easy to use.
      • Power cables are easy to determine the correct orientation.
      • L-shaped connectors would be nice.

      But USB (& PS/2, et al.) you have to look INSIDE the end of the connector (or rely on poorly designed plastic labelling) to determine the correct orientation on the first try.

      No way to do it by feel, except trial & error.

  • "The ins and outs of usb"
  • "de jure?"

    You mean "du jour," I'm sure!

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