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It's very weird that USB-C solved the problem of "we can't tell which way to insert the plug" by mandating that both orientations should work, as opposed to jus

It's very weird that USB-C solved the problem of "we can't tell which way to insert the plug" by mandating that both orientations should work, as opposed to just making the exterior of the plug as asymmetrical as the interior.

asplake 10mo ago
Less weird as they get smaller. Call it an accessibility thing if you like, but I think it's better for everyone and congrats to them. Isn't this what technology is supposed to do, make things easier?
dxdm 10mo ago
I don't find it weird. Not even having to work out a correct orientation is a great convenience. The micro-USB connection (or is it "min"?), which I need to fiddle with to charge some older gadgets, is a testament to how annoying an "asymetric exterior" plug can still be.
- lostlogin 10mo ago
  With micro USB you end up with damaged plugs and ports in my experience.
  - rounce 10mo ago
    Yes, micro USB is far too flimsy for a lot of things it’s used for from what I’ve observed. The connector seems to have a lot of leverage for ripping its tracks off, but often not a great mechanical connection to the board.
iainmerrick 10mo ago
You mean something like HDMI? If you’ve ever tried to plug one of those into the back of a TV, you’ll know it’s still pretty difficult to get it the right way up.
- thaumasiotes 10mo ago
  > If you’ve ever tried to plug one of those into the back of a TV, you’ll know it’s still pretty difficult to get it the right way up. That's true, but the difficulty in that case comes from being unable to see the hole or fit into the space between the television and the wall. For example, plugging an HDMI cable into the back of a monitor involves none of the difficulty of plugging an HDMI cable into the back of a TV, even though the connector and the port are the same in both cases.
  - bdbdbdb 10mo ago
    I bought a cheap USB hub so I don't have to reach behind the TV to plug things in
  - briansm 10mo ago
    At least HDMI is a 'low frequency' connector, often only ever plugged in once, as opposed to USB (or refueling a car)
haritha-j 10mo ago
sometimes you're plugging in things at the back of something nearly flush against a wall and you can't really see, its quite useful for the connector to be reversible.
estimator7292 10mo ago
Have you ever tried to use a D-sub connector? Very asymmetric, impossible to plug in backwards, only one possible orientation. Still absolutely fucking awful. Same for HDMI, displayport. The RJ series are the only asymmetric connectors I've use that you can easily get in blind.

asplake 10mo ago

Less weird as they get smaller. Call it an accessibility thing if you like, but I think it's better for everyone and congrats to them. Isn't this what technology is supposed to do, make things easier?

dxdm 10mo ago

I don't find it weird. Not even having to work out a correct orientation is a great convenience. The micro-USB connection (or is it "min"?), which I need to fiddle with to charge some older gadgets, is a testament to how annoying an "asymetric exterior" plug can still be.

lostlogin 10mo ago
With micro USB you end up with damaged plugs and ports in my experience.
- rounce 10mo ago
  Yes, micro USB is far too flimsy for a lot of things it’s used for from what I’ve observed. The connector seems to have a lot of leverage for ripping its tracks off, but often not a great mechanical connection to the board.

iainmerrick 10mo ago

You mean something like HDMI? If you’ve ever tried to plug one of those into the back of a TV, you’ll know it’s still pretty difficult to get it the right way up.

thaumasiotes 10mo ago
> If you’ve ever tried to plug one of those into the back of a TV, you’ll know it’s still pretty difficult to get it the right way up. That's true, but the difficulty in that case comes from being unable to see the hole or fit into the space between the television and the wall. For example, plugging an HDMI cable into the back of a monitor involves none of the difficulty of plugging an HDMI cable into the back of a TV, even though the connector and the port are the same in both cases.
- bdbdbdb 10mo ago
  I bought a cheap USB hub so I don't have to reach behind the TV to plug things in
- briansm 10mo ago
  At least HDMI is a 'low frequency' connector, often only ever plugged in once, as opposed to USB (or refueling a car)

haritha-j 10mo ago

sometimes you're plugging in things at the back of something nearly flush against a wall and you can't really see, its quite useful for the connector to be reversible.

estimator7292 10mo ago

Have you ever tried to use a D-sub connector? Very asymmetric, impossible to plug in backwards, only one possible orientation. Still absolutely fucking awful. Same for HDMI, displayport. The RJ series are the only asymmetric connectors I've use that you can easily get in blind.