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| Thread ID: 113909 | 2010-11-09 07:45:00 | USB cable | pcuser42 (130) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1151602 | 2010-11-09 07:45:00 | I recently purchased a hard drive enclosure, but instead of the usual USB B port, it has a USB A port instead (as found on the computer). An A-A cable was provided and the enclosure works fine, however what I'd like to know is why use an A port instead of a B port? The enclosure is very simple: only one USB port and power. | pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 1151603 | 2010-11-09 18:05:00 | B ports, being so tiny are more susceptible to damage and mis-allignment problems. Personally I'd be a lot happier with the larger A port on everything. Smaller ain't always better. I have an enclosure that I suspect of causing mobo damage, and the silly little port is one of the suspect bits. |
Paul.Cov (425) | ||
| 1151604 | 2010-11-09 18:07:00 | B ports, being so tiny are more susceptible to damage and mis-allignment problems. Personally I'd be a lot happier with the larger A port on everything. Smaller ain't always better. I'm talking about this type (www.msprojectstart.org) of port? |
pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 1151605 | 2010-11-09 18:56:00 | As paul mentioned, the smaller ports are susceptible to damage. Having the larger port on the USB drive is actually a good thing. Those small ones always feel to me a problem waiting to occur. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1151606 | 2010-11-09 19:31:00 | B ports, being so tiny are more susceptible to damage and mis-allignment problems Seems to be some confusion about size and shape here. Type A is rectangular and original type B is almost square. Newer type B are trapezoid shape or square or round (there are at least 14 variations on type B, including several camera-brand-specific ones). I reckon that there's little difference in durability between the two originals. It is useful to have different shape at each end of the cable - makes it easier for older eyes to figure out which end goes where. Original type B as used on many external drive boxes and printers is probably the sturdiest of them all with very little risk of damage or misalignment. pcuwv - probably the manufacturer had an over-stock of the rectangular sockets this year! |
coldot (6847) | ||
| 1151607 | 2010-11-09 21:51:00 | A/A cables are much more common than A/B and a lot of people already have one. | mzee (3324) | ||
| 1151608 | 2010-11-09 23:10:00 | Mini-B and Micro-B are more delicate. Normal sized B would be OK. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1151609 | 2010-11-10 01:13:00 | Seems to be some confusion about size and shape here. Hence why I provided a picture of what I was expecting. |
pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 1151610 | 2010-11-10 03:21:00 | I think the real question is why not use an "A" type connection on an external hard drive... I have a couple of 2.5" hard drive enclosures from China both with A to A type connections (its actually very common, pretty much the standard in China) and I have found these enclosures to be extremely robust, I have never had a problem with connectivity, but have had a few people come over with the mini USB "B" type and it being broken in some way (through carelessness or whatever). Replacement cables are not hard to find either, I was browsing through PBtech the other day looking for a micro usb for my new phone and stumbled on a shelf full... |
Deimos (5715) | ||
| 1151611 | 2010-11-10 06:29:00 | Yeah, I was cunfusing it with the mini type, which I despise. The one you've pictured is typical of a lot of peripherals, especially printers. I don't know of any good reason for them swapping it for the flat spade type connection. Maybe they just want to prevent people from using the cables as extenders... chaining a bunch of cables together. The USB system does have a limited cable lenght in order to ensure speeds are not compromised. |
Paul.Cov (425) | ||
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