USB 3.0 in the flesh

Get ready, speed freaks. USB 3.0, the oft-rumored, much-discussed, rarely seen new standard heading our way has been spotted, sliced, chopped, and diced at CES 2008. Actually, we just got a chance to check the connectors and compare with the old 2.0 standard (which the reps tell us is backward compatible, of course). With speeds of 4.8 Gbit/s (600 MB/s), and a powering system which intelligently cuts the juice when you're not using a device, we have a feeling you'll want. Too bad we all have to wait till 2010... the year we make contact... with USB 3.0.

USB 3.0 in the flesh

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 19th 2008 12:13PM]

Real help in plugging USB 2.0 connectors:
Close your eyes and let your fingers do the work. The logo on most plugs in larger or only on the "top" or "front" - once you get one right on a given hub, PC, or laptop, the rest will be the same.
Lining them up straight with the jack is another issue I cannot help with, since we often find ourselves reaching around to plug in from the back under a customer's desk with a PC on it's side.

Dell monitor manufacturers take note: the worst thing you ever did was make all yours backwards in relation to the rest of the world. If you get that right on newer monitor models that will be the new worst thing ever when only some Dell monitors are backwards. Please leave them all wrong so we can learn it.

USB 3.0 backwards compatability and "keyed" connectors. hmmmm, How can we make the old plugs still fit while the new ones more obviously one way at the same time? Maybe that's the only thing they estimate will take till 2010 to figure out.

On Brute speed and firewire 3.2Gb vs USB 4.8Gb: eSATA 3Gb ("They" prefer 300 MB as more accurate name, blah, blah) is already on the shelves with a "real upgrade path" to 6Gb (600MB).

My best guess is your 2009 laptop will have all three standards, some in pre- or betaversion, and the version 3.8.63.2010 spec pre-N draft wireless built in as well.

The gadget king-bus is dead, long live the gadget king-bus.

[Jamescb Posted Jan 10th 2008 9:15AM]

One day we'll have the technology to develop connectors which don't have a right side up.

Why can't someone make a connector that fits no matter which way you stick it in? I know, to be backwards compatible USB 3 needs to be bass-ackwards as well. But COME ON.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 10th 2008 10:46AM]

Magsafe

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 10th 2008 11:48AM]

Banana plugs.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 10th 2008 11:56AM]

So this might be a stupid question but the diagrams show A and B versions of USB3 plugs but they are physically the exact same height and width, they just have a slightly different shape. From the looks of it, a B plug would still fit in an A port but not the other way around. Is there any reason to do this? I'm hoping there is a good reason to create two versions that are so close together yet not completely compatible. Can anyone tell me why?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 10th 2008 5:42PM]

The future... is blue.

God, this is exactly what Eiffel 65 meant in "Blue (Da Ba Dee)".

[NotAnotherSN Posted Jan 10th 2008 5:42PM]

The future... is blue.

God, this is exactly what Eiffel 65 meant in "Blue (Da Ba Dee)".

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2008 12:58AM]

I would like to see magnetic connectors that plug themselves in. So you could, in theory, throw a cord in the general direction of the port and it just attaches to one of the ports.
If they don't make this a reality I will design a whole race of attack kittens and launch them onto the developers.