5 ms·

Does anyone actually care that their plugs are elegant? In any case, your Type J is missing the fact that in the UK, the cables point down towards the floor rat

Does anyone actually care that their plugs are elegant? In any case, your Type J is missing the fact that in the UK, the cables point down towards the floor rather than sticking out, keeping them flush with the wall and often allowing you to hide the plugs behind things.

swombat 12y ago
Swiss person here. The total length of the "plug" part of a swiss plug is actually roundabout the same as the width of a british plug. They fit just fine behind couches, shelves, etc.
- vjvj 12y ago
  And as seen here (http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/j/ http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/j...) the socket is indented into the wall so less of the cable protrudes beyond the flat surface of the wall.
  - swombat 12y ago
    That's not always the case - but it frequently is, and yes, does make the direction of the cable even less of an issue!
MrBuddyCasino 12y ago
> Does anyone actually care that their plugs are elegant? Some people do, I think its an expression of culture. Its hard not to notice that the swiss and the nordic countries (especially Sweden and Norway) value a certain aesthetics. This expresses itself in many things, ranging from architecture to product design, art and the design of public spaces. There is a reason swiss typography was big, and why nordic design is appreciated all over the world. It could only emerge from these cultural surroundings, its a mindset. That plug is an expression of british engineering values. Its certainly a very well designed plug, but I also believe the reason why swiss and nordic products are more popular than british ones is that they are made with a different approach. Probably those same values are also the reason why british music is so great, and why swiss music is... oh well, have you ever listened to mundart-rock? So I'm not saying X is better than Y, there are trade-offs involved.
- fnordfnordfnord 12y ago
  Relevant example from Iceland http://www.choishine.com/port_projects/landsnet/iceland.html http://www.choishine.com/port_projects/landsnet/iceland.html
  - dmd 12y ago
    You're aware that's not real, right?
    - fnordfnordfnord 12y ago
      Uh, of course I am... now. I wasn't.
- mturmon 12y ago
  "why swiss music is... oh well..." Reminds me of a favorite recording of Dizzy Gillespie playing with his band at Montreux. It's a pretty reserved audience, and Dizzy, who was renowned for having a lively interchange with his audiences, said while introducing vibe player Milt Jackson: "So far, you are a typical Swiss audience. Of course, a Swiss audience might not be the greatest audience in the world. But they will do until the real thing comes along." The last was said mirthfully, pausing to emphasize each word, and the audience chuckles good-naturedly, knowing their limitations.
gggjgkjlkjgj 12y ago
of course. Did you miss the article yesterday about Macbook going with USB-C? Apple has made bank on just getting people to buy better plugs and cables (USB, Magsafe, Lightning connector, etc.). People also spend tons of money to hide cables when mounting TV screens.
- vertex-four 12y ago
  Better is a different thing from elegant, though.

swombat 12y ago

Swiss person here. The total length of the "plug" part of a swiss plug is actually roundabout the same as the width of a british plug. They fit just fine behind couches, shelves, etc.

vjvj 12y ago
And as seen here (http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/j/ http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/j...) the socket is indented into the wall so less of the cable protrudes beyond the flat surface of the wall.
- swombat 12y ago
  That's not always the case - but it frequently is, and yes, does make the direction of the cable even less of an issue!

MrBuddyCasino 12y ago

> Does anyone actually care that their plugs are elegant? Some people do, I think its an expression of culture. Its hard not to notice that the swiss and the nordic countries (especially Sweden and Norway) value a certain aesthetics. This expresses itself in many things, ranging from architecture to product design, art and the design of public spaces. There is a reason swiss typography was big, and why nordic design is appreciated all over the world. It could only emerge from these cultural surroundings, its a mindset. That plug is an expression of british engineering values. Its certainly a very well designed plug, but I also believe the reason why swiss and nordic products are more popular than british ones is that they are made with a different approach. Probably those same values are also the reason why british music is so great, and why swiss music is... oh well, have you ever listened to mundart-rock? So I'm not saying X is better than Y, there are trade-offs involved.

fnordfnordfnord 12y ago
Relevant example from Iceland http://www.choishine.com/port_projects/landsnet/iceland.html http://www.choishine.com/port_projects/landsnet/iceland.html
- dmd 12y ago
  You're aware that's not real, right?
  - fnordfnordfnord 12y ago
    Uh, of course I am... now. I wasn't.
mturmon 12y ago
"why swiss music is... oh well..." Reminds me of a favorite recording of Dizzy Gillespie playing with his band at Montreux. It's a pretty reserved audience, and Dizzy, who was renowned for having a lively interchange with his audiences, said while introducing vibe player Milt Jackson: "So far, you are a typical Swiss audience. Of course, a Swiss audience might not be the greatest audience in the world. But they will do until the real thing comes along." The last was said mirthfully, pausing to emphasize each word, and the audience chuckles good-naturedly, knowing their limitations.

gggjgkjlkjgj 12y ago

of course. Did you miss the article yesterday about Macbook going with USB-C? Apple has made bank on just getting people to buy better plugs and cables (USB, Magsafe, Lightning connector, etc.). People also spend tons of money to hide cables when mounting TV screens.

vertex-four 12y ago
Better is a different thing from elegant, though.