Which is the most satisfying IO connector system, in your opinion? - eviltoast

Do you like a tactile click? Are you a sucker for screws? Or something you can put in any direction? Maybe it’s yours or another country’s power plugs?

This is sounding more sexual than I intended I think

  • AlternateRoute@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Most RJ-45 connectors (without a boot on them)… The connector only fits one way, the orientation is clear on both ends while holding, looking or even by feel if you have to do it blind and it locks into place easily. Only issue is how fragile the clocking part is, which boots are supposed to help protect but make more difficult to use.

    I like reversible connectors like lighting and USB-C but I find them too small and fragile in general and they are not very satisfying to connect.

    I have a special hate for connectors that are HARD to blind connect or even tell at a distance like USB-A, HDMI and Displayport which are ether rectangles or slightly not rectangles that are close enough that is hard to tell in the dark behind a device.

    I have a strong dislike for connectors with thumb screws, but like locking connectors like Centronics or as noted RJ11 or RJ45.

    • bluemellophone@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Terminating RJ-45 takes about 2 minutes if you damage the connector, and takes novice techies about an hour to get it down quick. You can’t say that about USB-C.

      • funnyletter@lemmy.one
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        1 year ago

        I love USB-C in a lot of ways but I also have two different projects that are sitting and waiting for me to solder in the USB C connectors, because JESUS H CHRIST. Those things were not built to be attached by human hands.

    • Chahk@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      This guy plugs!

      Seriously though. Those damn boots on RJ-45 cables are the bane of my homelab. Sure they protect the needlessly fragile prong on the connector, but have you tried unplugging a single cable from a full switch? I have to leave a pair of pliers next to mine for that. To hell with that! I’ll take SFP over RJ45 any day!

      Special “Fuck You” to whoever invented micro-HDMI. Difficult to plug in, super easy to destroy. And for what? It’s not that much smaller that full-size HDMI. I had to send in one (out of warranty) mirrorless camera for service because on that, and it was super expensive.