Do you EVER remember which way USB cable goes in?

[M A V I C]

I have yet to run into an instance where the logo wasn't to go up. Not saying that isn't the case, just in everything I've tried...

As far as the vertical examples, my gut tells me it goes to the right. So if you're facing the front of the machine and trying to plug something into the back, the logo goes to the right.

Now let me check and see if that's correct... nope. It goes the othe rway. On my KVM, it would go the other way if I put it on its side (it has feet on two sides.) So it looks like there's no "standard" for vertical ports. Oh well, the logo facing up should work on the majority of horizontal ports.

[onthedownlow]

Amazing, isn't it?

50% chance of getting it right the first time...but I swear I hit around a 20% click correctly. lol

[blooz]

I always have to look. Nice to know I'm not alone in the world.

[davester]

Amazing that someone designed such a ridiculous connector. Another example of bad interface design. It would have been so easy to do something like the firewire port, with one end rounded.

[Mac1337]

My original question remains. Why can't they be ambidextrous (oops, wrong board!)

[endymion]

I think 6-pin and 4-pin firewire ports are even worse - depending on the fit you find yourself jamming them in the *right* way. Goodness forbid if you screw that up and jam them in the WRONG way you fry something (if you're really lucky, your logic board).

At least it's a lot HARDER to plug USB in wrong. g=

[BigGuynRusty]

From the USB Wiki.:
"It is difficult to incorrectly attach a USB connector. Connectors cannot be plugged-in upside down, and it is clear from the appearance and kinesthetic sensation of making a connection when the plug and socket are correctly mated. However, it is not obvious at a glance to the inexperienced user (or to a user without sight of the installation) which way round a connector goes, so it is often necessary to try both ways."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usb#USB_connectors

BGnR

[Drew]

My success rate is also about 20%. No wonder I never win the lottery!

Another pet peeve is dark colored component ports labeled with 2 point type in the same color. Either the designers never use their own stuff, or they have a warped sense of humor.

[OWC Jamie]

I've seen someone successfully plug a 9 pin serial plug into a HD VGA port.
Edit: Backwards (same as USB alignment)



-----------------------------------------------------------------
on that note:

An American businessman is visiting Japan.
The first night there, he's getting bored, so he hires a local hooker and they go at it all night. She keeps screaming "Fugifoo! Fugifoo!" and he takes this to mean he's doing something right.
The next day, he's out golfing with his Japanese clients and shoots a hole in one! He can't believe it, and, trying to impress his clients with his knowledge of Japanese, he shouts triumphantly, "Fugifoo!"


The Japanese guys stop and look at him, confused. "What are you talking about?" they ask. "That's the right hole."

[jimbrady]

Whatever system you come up with, it's the opposite (bass-ackwards) for Windows machines.