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Reversible always comes up when asked what makes it better. Always reversible. Sometimes there's some other thing, but you can count on reversible. How hard it

Reversible always comes up when asked what makes it better. Always reversible. Sometimes there's some other thing, but you can count on reversible. How hard it is to feel which way you're holding the USB cable? They are often asymmetrically designed, you know? I can do it half asleep in pitch dark. If someone can't plug in a cable in the right way, I seriously doubt they should be using a smart phone in the first place... or any technology more sophisticated than a pointy stick.

Osmium 13y ago
> If someone can't plug in a cable in the right way, I seriously doubt they should be using a smart phone in the first place... or any technology more sophisticated than a pointy stick. Sure, I'll take that bait. There are innumerable disabilities which might mean people have trouble manipulating small objects. That seems like an obvious reason for making it reversible for one. But congratulations for managing to do it half asleep in the dark (anecdotes don't make a convincing argument: I could share several contrary anecdotes myself). But as for other benefits? There have been USB standards that have been deprecated because they were so fragile (I forget which–Mini?). The Lightning connector is solid, not hollow, and so seems more robust. The Lightning connector is also designed to support much higher power ratings than USB, so can charge devices faster.
- vikaveri 13y ago
  I doubt Lightning is that much bigger than USB that it helps handling it. And I didn't say anything about whether Lightning is better or worse than USB, or more versatile or what ever. Just that can we please stop with the "But it's reversible" thing? It just sounds like something to say when people can't come up with better reasons.
  - frou_dh 13y ago
    Not everything has to be grand. Iterating away small annoyances is a worthy part of design and is often noticeable.
- wlesieutre 13y ago
  @vikaveri: Since plugging in the cable is my only interaction with my phone charger, I don't think it's unreasonable to say that improving that makes it better. It is literally the one thing the cable does. Whether it's worth the cost is another issue, but even ignoring the other advantages Osmium brings up, it's a better connector.
dasil003 13y ago
To the contrary, pointy sticks can be quite dangerous.

Osmium 13y ago

> If someone can't plug in a cable in the right way, I seriously doubt they should be using a smart phone in the first place... or any technology more sophisticated than a pointy stick. Sure, I'll take that bait. There are innumerable disabilities which might mean people have trouble manipulating small objects. That seems like an obvious reason for making it reversible for one. But congratulations for managing to do it half asleep in the dark (anecdotes don't make a convincing argument: I could share several contrary anecdotes myself). But as for other benefits? There have been USB standards that have been deprecated because they were so fragile (I forget which–Mini?). The Lightning connector is solid, not hollow, and so seems more robust. The Lightning connector is also designed to support much higher power ratings than USB, so can charge devices faster.

vikaveri 13y ago
I doubt Lightning is that much bigger than USB that it helps handling it. And I didn't say anything about whether Lightning is better or worse than USB, or more versatile or what ever. Just that can we please stop with the "But it's reversible" thing? It just sounds like something to say when people can't come up with better reasons.
- frou_dh 13y ago
  Not everything has to be grand. Iterating away small annoyances is a worthy part of design and is often noticeable.
wlesieutre 13y ago
@vikaveri: Since plugging in the cable is my only interaction with my phone charger, I don't think it's unreasonable to say that improving that makes it better. It is literally the one thing the cable does. Whether it's worth the cost is another issue, but even ignoring the other advantages Osmium brings up, it's a better connector.

dasil003 13y ago

To the contrary, pointy sticks can be quite dangerous.