# What the hell is with USB cables? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 15, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997 "2011-05-15T16:01:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/61 "2011-05-18T03:38:35Z")
> [@Robert\_Reid](#): > > You got the url right :rolleyes: > > The Mini Copper Rub 'N Scrubber is a proposed =tool= > > which may be useful :dubious: for cleaning waffle irons > > and also for polishing the shells of USB connectors of all sizes. > It is just an idea, floated. Do not smoke me for it? :smack: > > [http://freewrights.freeforums.org/post10093.html#p10093](http://freewrights.freeforums.org/post10093.html#p10093) > The Mini Copper Rub 'N Scrubber USB shell and waffle iron > and canary cage cleaning tool (parody) > > Pardon me. I don’t like crack pipe sales in Miami. > The connectivity issues are problematic 😃 Since we’re in the pit let me be the first to say that I don’t know what the fuck you are talking about? Are you fucked up? ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/62 "2011-05-18T04:01:10Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > As a veteran and proud [mongbiscuit,](http://en.khootka.com/index.aspx?siteid=81&pageid=199&proid=267) I accept your apology. And a creamy fuckin’ one at that. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/63 "2011-05-18T10:53:35Z")
> [@Sierra\_Indigo](#): > > Frankly I don’t give two fucks whether apple use proprietary plugs or not, given their products all come with chargers, so whatevs. > > I was responding to silenus who thought it somehow prudent to mention that the EU was trying to force Apple to play nice, and pointing out the fact that that means precisely jack shit to the rest of the world. Rubbish. The EU is a huge market and if Apple have to conform there then they will conform rather than lose that business. Now, as Apple does not like having multiple versions of their products, those changes will trickle down to all regions. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/64 "2011-05-18T15:59:43Z")
> [@buckgully](#): > > … > Though the thing that pisses me off the most is devices that use USB cables to charge their batteries but will only charge off of proprietary transformers. Apple started it, and they’re pigfuckers for simply coming up with the idea, but now Logitech and others are getting into that stupidity too. It makes me stabby. > … In fairness… this is not correct (about Apple). My iPod charges just fine, albeit slowly, when plugged into my laptop USB port. This is why they aren’t even sold with the transformers. Yeah, the separate plug design is an annoyance but it does charge from the computer or even a third-party USB plug gadget. My father-in-law’s new Nook, on the other hand, does NOT charge when connected to the computer. It requires the separate plug. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/65 "2011-05-18T16:33:45Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > In fairness… this is not correct (about Apple). My iPod charges just fine, albeit slowly, when plugged into my laptop USB port. This is why they aren’t even sold with the transformers. Yeah, the separate plug design is an annoyance but it does charge from the computer or even a third-party USB plug gadget. > > My father-in-law’s new Nook, on the other hand, does NOT charge when connected to the computer. It requires the separate plug. The i_Pad_ will not charge from a USB port. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/66 "2011-05-18T16:47:31Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > The i_Pad_ will not charge from a USB port. Ah - yes, I’d heard that recently and had forgotten it. Maybe it’s got to do with the amount of power the device requires to charge, as I think someone else mentioned. Annoying as hell, though. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/67 "2011-05-19T01:24:14Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > In fairness… this is not correct (about Apple). My iPod charges just fine, albeit slowly, when plugged into my laptop USB port… I think the problem is that you can connect it only with an Apple cable. My generic MP3 player cable won’t work to connect an iPod. it’s missing some kind of special lead. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/68 "2011-05-19T01:33:23Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Ah - yes, I’d heard that recently and had forgotten it. > > Maybe it’s got to do with the amount of power the device requires to charge, as I think someone else mentioned. Annoying as hell, though. Yep. The iPad has a (relatively) huge battery. Connect it to a computer and it’ll sync, but also up by the battery meter it’ll helpfully say “Not Charging.” ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/69 "2011-05-19T02:39:52Z")
My printer has a USB-A slot, just like the one on my computer, so it requires a simple USB-A male to USB-A male cable to connect it. I misplaced the one I used when I initially set it up (it’s a wireless network printer), so I went to find a new one. I looked in about six different stores, which had hundreds of USB-A to USB-B cables but no A-A. I finally asked the guy at Best Buy, and he looked at me like I had just asked him for a preserved giraffe penis. “All printers have USB-B ports now. It’s been _years_ since they sold one with an A port.” Except for the one I had bought about a year and a half before. At Best Buy. At _that_ Best Buy. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/70 "2011-05-19T02:49:14Z")
> [@](#): > > My printer has a USB-A slot, just like the one on my computer, so it requires a simple USB-A male to USB-A male cable to connect it. that’s totally contrary to the USB specification. Whatever gang of idiots designed your printer should be dragged out into the street and shot. For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen a peripheral device with a USB A port which was intended to connect to a USB A host. The entire point of the “B” connector was that it should be on the peripheral end. USB A to USB A cables aren’t supposed to exist. the printers I have seen with USB A ports have that port so they can accept USB WiFi or Bluetooth adapters. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/71 "2011-05-19T11:20:55Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > My printer has a USB-A slot, just like the one on my computer, so it requires a simple USB-A male to USB-A male cable to connect it. I misplaced the one I used when I initially set it up (it’s a wireless network printer), so I went to find a new one. > > I looked in about six different stores, which had hundreds of USB-A to USB-B cables but no A-A… Next time go to [http://monoprice.com](http://monoprice.com). They have 'em, as well as gender-changers to adapt other configurations. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/72 "2011-05-19T18:24:27Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Rubbish. The EU is a huge market and if Apple have to conform there then they will conform rather than lose that business. Now, as Apple does not like having multiple versions of their products, those changes will trickle down to all regions. Yeah - one big economic area requiring standardisation will make it more likely for companies to weight up their costs and do the same in other areas. And there are a lot of European Dopers anyway. Does anyone know why almost all cables are black? That’s what gets me most of the time. I’ve tried attached tags, but a whole coloured cable would be better. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/73 "2011-05-19T19:12:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Does anyone know why almost all cables are black? That’s what gets me most of the time. I’ve tried attached tags, but a whole coloured cable would be better. black and “natural” (grayish) usually are “stock” colors for the raw plastic materials used for the cable jackets and to mold the connectors. Any other colors are likely to be more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/74 "2011-05-19T23:44:00Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > black and “natural” (grayish) usually are “stock” colors for the raw plastic materials used for the cable jackets and to mold the connectors. Any other colors are likely to be more expensive. I’ve noticed that some suppliers seem to color-code Ethernet cables by length, at least the ones I get. Yellow, blue, green, black, grey, silver, white… ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/75 "2011-05-20T00:24:02Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > that’s totally contrary to the USB specification. Whatever gang of idiots designed your printer should be dragged out into the street and shot. For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen a peripheral device with a USB A port which was intended to connect to a USB A host. The entire point of the “B” connector was that it should be on the peripheral end.\*\* USB A to USB A cables aren’t supposed to exist.\*\* the printers I have seen with USB A ports have that port so they can accept USB WiFi or Bluetooth adapters. (my bolding) Why? Many PCs have back-facing USB A ports and a USB A to A is what I use. ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/76 "2011-05-20T06:45:53Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > In fairness… this is not correct (about Apple). My iPod charges just fine, albeit slowly, when plugged into my laptop USB port. This is why they aren’t even sold with the transformers. Yeah, the separate plug design is an annoyance but it does charge from the computer or even a third-party USB plug gadget. > > My father-in-law’s new Nook, on the other hand, does NOT charge when connected to the computer. It requires the separate plug. I’m not talking about USB ports on a computer, I’m talking about USB based wall-wart chargers, car cigarette adapters, external battery packs that output to a USB plug, etc. (this actually includes many USB hubs, as well). Apple iDevices will not charge off of a third party USB power supply that isn’t specifically marked as being compatible with said Apple device (and thus considerably more expensive than other products with the same specs). The device decides if it’s going to let you charge it or not based on what it senses on the data lines, even though you’re just connecting to a dumb charger that should, in a sane world, only cost a few bucks. I could go into this in considerably more depth, but fortunately for everyone, Limor at Adafruit Industries has done it for me: [The mysteries of Apple device charging](http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/icharge.html). My issue with this isn’t that they’re being dicks - if I only bought products from people that weren’t dicks I’d probably have a lot more money in the bank - it’s that, absent any kind of standards, everyone is doing the same sort of thing but in their own unique and beautiful snowflake way, and as a result I have to keep track of a whole bunch of of wall wart and car adapters that all output the same 5v @ ~1A but only charge 1 device in my inventory. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/77 "2011-05-20T14:48:29Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > (my bolding) > Why? > Many PCs have back-facing USB A ports and a USB A to A is what I use. I think you’re talking about a USB A Male to USB A Female cable (i.e. a USB extension cord). **jz78817** is referring to a USB A Male to USB A Male cable, which is not supposed to exist. It would be like having a power extension cord with male plugs on both ends. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997/78 "2011-05-20T21:44:50Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I think you’re talking about a USB A Male to USB A Female cable (i.e. a USB extension cord). **jz78817** is referring to a USB A Male to USB A Male cable, which is not supposed to exist. It would be like having a power extension cord with male plugs on both ends. Now I see the problem (aside from my own reading ones). Off with their heads! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-with-usb-cables/581997.md?page=3)