The cable scam

alan8253

A friend was staying with me the other day. She took some great pictures on her nokia phone of my cat and I wanted to put them on my computer. Problem is she didn't have the appropriate cable with her. No problem, looked at the socket and thought "I've got a cable like that" (USB one end, small connector the other) , dug it out and tried it. Nope, connector was ever so similar but ever so slightly different. Nokia had ignored the industry standard and come up with their own design (which did exactly the same job and was virtually the same size but made damn sure you had to go to them for a cable).

JJ_Egan

Nokia had ignored the industry standard and come up with their own design

What industry standard its yet to be ratified and only just agreed .


jje

alan8253

JJ_Egan wrote: »

What industry standard its yet to be ratified and only just agreed .


jje

Fair enough, didn't know that BUT there is a pretty standard camera/printer to USB connector I use on more than one manufacturers equipment. Why doesn't everyone use that?
p.s.
AND if someone could come up with a USB connecter that stays on (like the old ribbon cable, printer cables of years ago that used to clip on) I'd be eternally grateful... I push my mouse connector in about a dozen times a day!

Mrs_Arcanum

alan8253 wrote: »

Fair enough, didn't know that BUT there is a pretty standard camera/printer to USB connector I use on more than one manufacturers equipment. Why doesn't everyone use that?

This is like the I-Pod docking stations that are useless with any other MP3/4 player

john1

Help is at hand

---

eventually !!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_8124000/8124293.stm

kutsu119

23n1th wrote: »

Apple are the biggest offender here.

The cable was probably an older mini USB whilst the phone had the newer mini connector, sometimes things aren't backwards compatible.

!!!!!! - I've just been reading your posts in the iMac thread, and having looked at your post history, almost every single post you make involved Apple. Are you employed by Microsoft or something? I've never seen somebody so obsessed with them - creepy.

OP - I know your pain; the worst I'd seen was an old Canon camera of mine - similar to a micro-usb cable with a propriety shaped connector. Lost the cable and the model had been discontinued so that was that! At least the practice is starting to come to an end.

lucylucky

Can anyone explain in what way this could be considered a scam?

lucylucky

23n1th wrote: »

Apple are the biggest offender here.

The cable was probably an older mini USB whilst the phone had the newer mini connector, sometimes things aren't backwards compatible.

Apple use a proprietary connector.

The issue of mini or micro USB is irrelevant to Apple.

birkee

alan8253 wrote: »

AND if someone could come up with a USB connecter that stays on (like the old ribbon cable, printer cables of years ago that used to clip on) I'd be eternally grateful... I push my mouse connector in about a dozen times a day!

Then deal with it! None of my USB connectors fall out.
What's got worn out, the plug or socket?

My guess is, you have a laptop that you plug / unplug from frequently. Why does you mouse connector put a strain on it, there's usually about a meter of cable on a mouse?
Get a new socket fitted to the laptop, or, fit a USB extension between the laptop and the mouse, which makes HALF of each connector 'not worn out'.

Don't expect ANYONE, to redesign connectors to accommodate 'worn out' kit.

kutsu119

birkee wrote: »

Then deal with it! None of my USB connectors fall out.
What's got worn out, the plug or socket?

My guess is, you have a laptop that you plug / unplug from frequently. Why does you mouse connector put a strain on it, there's usually about a meter of cable on a mouse?
Get a new socket fitted to the laptop, or, fit a USB extension between the laptop and the mouse, which makes HALF of each connector 'not worn out'.

Don't expect ANYONE, to redesign connectors to accommodate 'worn out' kit.

I'd agree with this, a loose socket is worn out - you have to be careful when you've something protruding from the port; keep knocking it or bending it and you end up with too much give and, essentially, a useless port.

I'd be surprised if there aren't more USB ports, they're a dime a dozen on most motherboards, so think about changing which port you use; possibly getting a splitter to get the most use out of it.

toastydave

Not really a scam as such, there are loads of mini usb connectors, the one for the nokia is standard, just a different one to the one you already own!

see here