Sunday, February 1, 2009

USB: the right direction

USB plugs are annoying, because it's hard to see how to plug them in, and you have only a 50% chance of getting it right on the first try. But I recently noticed what seems to be a little-known feature that increases your odds. There is a little USB logo on one side of nearly all plugs. It seems that manufacturers mount their ports in such a way that the logo should face upwards.

I haven't figured out the case of side-facing ports yet, but maybe there is a pattern there as well. If your computer has such ports, let me know in the comments which way the logo should face on those!

3 comments:

Marten said...

The biggest problem ofcourse isn't the case where you can easily reach and see both the plug and the port together. The problem is most apparent when trying to plug something in at the back of the computer, where you're fumbling to find the port as it is, let alone find the correct orientation.

m-m said...

I can't be the only one who's regularly inserted USB-plugs into RJ45-sockets in the back of computers...

The annoying thing is that it actually fits so you crawl back from under the desk, notice it isn't working and then have to go and try again.

Unknown said...

And I thought I was slow for not noticing the logo the first couple of times :P

My upright USB port takes plugs with the logo facing to the right. It's a Dell BTW.