4 ms·

Can we have a roundup of worst-ever computer connectors? I'll open with the stupefyingly bad SCSI VHDCI connector, which was a teensy little thing with a couple

Can we have a roundup of worst-ever computer connectors? I'll open with the stupefyingly bad SCSI VHDCI connector, which was a teensy little thing with a couple of tiny screws usually attached to a gigantic cable that weighed at least a kilogram. These things never worked right without extra mechanical supports.

martyvis 7y ago
My new HP laptop has an RJ45 Ethernet socket where the key side is spring and hinged. It's basically to allow the laptop to be slimmer. I'm a network engineer so often have a need to connect to random patch cables. Half of the plugs don't readily come out when depressing their tongue and i have had to coax them out with a improvised tool.
- eemil 7y ago
  To a degree, I can forgive the use of slim ethernet ports. Now that dual-band wifi and widely compatible (USB-C) docking stations are common, it's not essential to have one at all, for the majority of users
- tyingq 7y ago
  "had to coax them out" I see what you did there...
tyingq 7y ago
Ethernet "thicknet" AUI has to be the worst. Aside from being difficult to insert, it had a shit flimsy metal slider to hold it in place. I fixed a countless number of tickets of disconnected AUI connections in my career. 10BASE2/thinnet and coax/BNC was a godsend when it arrived. Mercifully followed by the current RG45 cables. It's at least encouraging that the powers-that-be improved it over time. Somewhat off, though, because the more complicated VGA connections, at the time, had almost zero issues. So we knew and understood the problem space, and just ignored the right solution.
- shereadsthenews 7y ago
  The clip was bad, but some equipment came with screws instead. I wonder what the deal was with the clip. It certainly wasn't the only connector with clips. There was some SCSI generations with spring clips and the later, smaller VESA DFP had them.
  - tyingq 7y ago
    I remember that as well. Whoever the clip proponent was should have served some appropriate penance :) Also, "vampire taps", WTF????[1] That was a hot mess. [1] Sad memories of coiling AUI cables and inserting properly spaced AUI vampire taps because MGMT wouldn't splurge for a proper ethernet switch.
    - kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
      The micro SCSI clips worked well.
sleavey 7y ago
Or the best connectors? Shout out to LEMO 0B. Love those things. They recently launched connectors with cool LED halos as well [1] - totally useless mechanically, but looks awesome. [1] https://www.lemo.com/en/products/new-connectors/halo-led-connector https://www.lemo.com/en/products/new-connectors/halo-led-con...

martyvis 7y ago

My new HP laptop has an RJ45 Ethernet socket where the key side is spring and hinged. It's basically to allow the laptop to be slimmer. I'm a network engineer so often have a need to connect to random patch cables. Half of the plugs don't readily come out when depressing their tongue and i have had to coax them out with a improvised tool.

eemil 7y ago
To a degree, I can forgive the use of slim ethernet ports. Now that dual-band wifi and widely compatible (USB-C) docking stations are common, it's not essential to have one at all, for the majority of users
tyingq 7y ago
"had to coax them out" I see what you did there...

tyingq 7y ago

Ethernet "thicknet" AUI has to be the worst. Aside from being difficult to insert, it had a shit flimsy metal slider to hold it in place. I fixed a countless number of tickets of disconnected AUI connections in my career. 10BASE2/thinnet and coax/BNC was a godsend when it arrived. Mercifully followed by the current RG45 cables. It's at least encouraging that the powers-that-be improved it over time. Somewhat off, though, because the more complicated VGA connections, at the time, had almost zero issues. So we knew and understood the problem space, and just ignored the right solution.

shereadsthenews 7y ago
The clip was bad, but some equipment came with screws instead. I wonder what the deal was with the clip. It certainly wasn't the only connector with clips. There was some SCSI generations with spring clips and the later, smaller VESA DFP had them.
- tyingq 7y ago
  I remember that as well. Whoever the clip proponent was should have served some appropriate penance :) Also, "vampire taps", WTF????[1] That was a hot mess. [1] Sad memories of coiling AUI cables and inserting properly spaced AUI vampire taps because MGMT wouldn't splurge for a proper ethernet switch.
  - kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
    The micro SCSI clips worked well.

sleavey 7y ago

Or the best connectors? Shout out to LEMO 0B. Love those things. They recently launched connectors with cool LED halos as well [1] - totally useless mechanically, but looks awesome. [1] https://www.lemo.com/en/products/new-connectors/halo-led-connector https://www.lemo.com/en/products/new-connectors/halo-led-con...