USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed to be reversible
Someday we'll look back and laugh (or cry) at our early USB struggles.
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I get why it's not reversible. But why the hell is it not keyed so that is obvious which orientation is correct? A small, cheap, notch would have worked wonders.
Almost all connectors in use on computers at the time USB was introduced were already keyed, and a fat lot of good it did us. Ask anyone who tried fumbling around behind a three ton CRT monitor or computer case -- even with the keyed connectors, feeling for which side was up, getting anything plugged in without eyes on it was already nigh on impossible.
What the USB A connector did do which was new at the time was introduce a connector that did not have any protruding pins on either the male or female end, and thus theoretically at least could not be damaged by fucking up the insertion. Unlike any of the then-common D-Sub connectors (VGA, serial, parallel) or DIN (PS/2 mouse and keyboard, Apple serial, S-Video, etc.). USB didn't even have the little clip to breal off like an RJ-45 Ethernet or RJ-11 phone line connector.
What the USB A connector did do which was new at the time was introduce a connector that did not have any protruding pins on either the male or female end, and thus theoretically at least could not be damaged by fucking up the insertion.
This is not true.
Some 80s computers had cassette player interfaces that practically looked like big USB connectors.
https://www.rarecomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/back-picture-c64.jpg
My first computer. Bless you.
It kinda is keyed. Seam goes down.
Until they created upside down Jacks
But does it go right or left, back or forward in other rotations?
Seam goes down, as oriented to the motherboard. If the slots are vertical, usually to the right? If you have a rare, weird machine, just remember which way it goes. FFS, there are 2 choices.
EDIT: Having said all that, not sure I've seen a machine that orients the seam to the left. ?
That's true - I mean to make the keying more obvious. As it stands it's all internal and difficult to see.
Some USB sticks have the logo on one side, some have it on the other...
![[HN] USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed to be reversible](https://lemmings.world/pictrs/image/e03a7728-511b-4d79-84b5-c63277fbbb9c.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=196)
