The JerkStopper keeps your power cord in place, does little else
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted January 20th 2008 11:12PM
posted January 20th 2008 11:12PM
posted January 20th 2008 11:12PM
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Umm... that's what they're called. USB and FireWire do network connections too, and though you'd never see them in a laptop, fiber optic and BNC cable connections are often used in networking too, so calling something a "network plug" is really non-specific... Most people would probably know what you meant, but we're all nerds here, and you should know nerds like to be very specific.
-Taylor
RJ11 and RJ45 are terms that are used in areas other than computing as well... such as telecommunications. The telephone was here using the RJ11 connection long before the modem.
CES' solution to Gizmodo problem
1800-JerkStoppers, your call will be anonymous.
Maybe I'm missing something, but...what prevents the JerkStopper™ from pulling out of the USB port? I don't find it too difficult to remove my flash drive from there...why would this be any more secure?
Oh, and the Uncle Sam "Stop Jerking" image on their website is really disconcerting. I'LL STOP WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT, DAMMIT! You're not the boss of me, Uncle Sam!
i mean, at least the modem thing clips in.... i guess if that were made of tempered steel that would go in pretty solidly...
Oh yeah? Well I had sex with your wife!
God, that doesn't make quite as much since out of thread order. But if you see above, it's quite funny.
His wife is in a coma.
Does anyone else think that "Jerkstopper" sounds like another name for "chastity belt"?
Only half the people on this thread, but thanks for contributing to meaningful discussion.
Thanks a lot. I had to look that up, and it ruined my 3 week pr0n free.
This must come with one hell of a disclaimer to avoid suits from disgruntled users.
"May result in damage if inserted or removed from USB, RJ11, RJ45 or human orifices. May damage cables, computers, children and small animals. May or may not contain remnants of fruits, nuts, fish, PCBs and anything else Green peace would not like. Packaging is not a toy, though product may (or may not) be. Never to be JERKED."
Actually, I'll be buying this. Apple did a shitty job designing the power cord for the G4 minis, and it's not hard for it to get pulled out. In fact it's down right easy. This in the modem port will hopefully hold it in, instead of it unexpectedly falling out.
If everyone just used a mac....
"JerkStopper" insinuates that the person who disconnected the cord did it purposefully. That's like saying plastic bottles are "jerkproof". Accidents *do* happen.
And seriously, if the power cord is removed, you just go back to battery power. Who's actually lost work on a laptop due to a power cord being removed? If anything, as others have said, with this applied a laptop may get pulled to the floor, or have the USB/ethernet/etc. jack damaged.
Why would you want to tether your laptop SECURELY?
If you're using a laptop, having the power plug yanked out wouldn't make a huge difference, it just switches to battery power.
I prefer the power cord flying away, thank-you.
Their site is good for some laughs:
"*The power LED and/or battery charge LED flicker when you wiggle the power cord and/or the AC adapter tip on the back or your laptop.
*Laptop suffers from spontaneous and/or instantaneous power-downs for no apparent reason.
*Laptop only runs when you keep the power cord and plug in a certain direction.. Movement of the AC power adapter plug causes power "glitches" or outages.
*Strange “clicking" noises coming from the area near the power plug.
*Laptop switches from AC power to battery power intermittently.
*Laptop refuses to start or charge a properly inserted battery.
*Laptop appears to be “dead” when you plug AC adapter.
*Laptop suddenly shuts off without any warning.
*Sparks come out of the back of your laptop.
*Laptop will not charge the battery and/or Laptop only runs on battery power."
File this along with the solar powered flashlight.
buy a mac . . .
So instead of breaking a power socket you break a USB socket instead? Yeah, that'll help.
Not trying to sound like a mac fanboy, but I do think the magsafe type connectors should be implemented into other consumer electronics.
I've often wondered why they gave laptops batteries, I mean, Its not as if it can't work without mains power or anything..
It's a thing they call "portability".
Wonder more deeply next time, not just often.
Broke TWO adaptor leads on my old Mac laptop by tripping over the lead (fortunately the socket on the Mac stayed in tact,) Tripped over the lead MANY times on my new Macbook and every time the Magsafe just pops off beautifully! (Yes I AM a clumsy bastard!!!) This device looks like a shite alternative!
Great... instead of some bystander tripping on my power cord and yanking it from the laptop, they're now going to trip on my power cord and yank my laptop... That sounds so much safer.
Terrible idea... the chosen USB or RJ port is gone if anybody ever tripped over the cord. Not to mention likely the laptop would also be pulled to it's demise.
This should have been made to lock into the lock adapter on the laptop. At least if that breaks off it's not such a big deal
Man, I'll never get these TPS reports filed if these jerks keep tripping over my power cord. If only there was a device to keep it from being accidentally detached.
Erm... Wasn't this problem solved already... "MagSafe"
but does it stop jerks? i hate jerks...
also will it blend?
"Enter the JerkStopper: a tough, tempered steel device that cannot be cut or broken..."
Probably not, but you never know. That guy has got one hell of a blender
apple, bad, microsoft, vista, money, os, fanboy, air, mac, better, staying on topic? When will it end?
With a name like that I'd think it comes with a dirty website blocker marketed to parents with teens
Thanks for the plug guys.....PS, it's made out of plastic and their is a "tiny" market out there: Google (laptop power plug problems)
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Maybe, JUST maybe now.... It's a good idea to have cables detach themselves when too much force is applied to them.
Kinda like the emergency pressure relief valves on some pieces of industrial equipment. It keeps them from going BOOM.
Too much force on the cable, and various parts of the cable can actually break, PRECISELY since it has to absorb all that force.
Of course, there is also the fact that if the cord does not break, the person will absolutely trip on the cable. So somebody falls down AND the laptop comes crashing to the floor. Priceless.