# Why was the rational behind the laptop power adapter design? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374 "2014-04-18T00:10:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/41 "2014-04-21T13:17:02Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Unfortunately, Apple has a patent on magnetic laptop charge connectors, even though the idea has been around for decades on deep fryers and the like. I just bought a “Fry-Daddy” deep fryer with a magnetic plug. First time I’ve ever seen one. Good idea though, for a deep fryer. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/42 "2014-04-21T13:26:45Z")
I thought the advantage to the tip/sleeve type power connector was the sleeve (ground) makes contact first, discharging any possible static build up. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/43 "2014-04-21T13:30:19Z")
I thought this was going to be about the giant brick (transformer) in the middle of the cord. Why does my “portable” device require an adaptor that takes up nearly as much space in my backpack? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/44 "2014-04-21T13:49:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > To better appreciate a properly designed jack. here is the [female receptacle](http://angela.com/images/products/detail/PremiumGuitarJacks.jpg) of a guitar amp jack. Although used for guitar cords for a long time, the 1/4" phone plug originated as a plug for old telephone switchboard cables. It was adapted to musical instruments probably to avoid reinventing the wheel, not necessarily because it is the best possible solution. > [@Superhal](#): > > They did the same thing with iPhone batteries: the number of cycles is hit after 2 years. This was a famous complaint about iPods when consumers discovered that at the end of the service life of the battery, it was impossible (or at least very difficult) to replace it. Someone made a video rant about this some years ago to try to shame Apple into changing the design or offering battery replacement service. In contrast, my Galaxy S3 has an easily replaceable battery. I never understood why Apple insists on an integrated battery that is not consumer serviceable. > [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > What number of cycles? An iPhone battery will still hold 80% of its charge after 400 cycles. So, it’s hardly used up, and that kind of battery capacity loss over time is just a limitation of the technology. It’s not like there’s a magic battery that they could use that wouldn’t run out of capacity and they choose not to use it. The complaint isn’t about the battery per se but that it’s not designed to be replaceable. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I thought this was going to be about the giant brick (transformer) in the middle of the cord. Why does my “portable” device require an adaptor that takes up nearly as much space in my backpack? You have to convert the power, no way around it, unless you carry a battery that’s even bigger than the adapter. The “brick” in a desktop is inside the case. Would you rather have the brick built into your laptop? And these things have batteries–people often use them without lugging the adapter around everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/45 "2014-04-21T14:10:14Z")
There was supposed to be a questionmark in (transformer) in that post because I don’t know what you actually call them. What I mean is, “why does it have to be so large?” My microwave uses DC power and doesn’t require a whacking great brick to convert power. So do my TV and all sorts of other gadgets. The only other devices I have with mid-cord converters are my computer speakers and my Wii. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/46 "2014-04-21T14:15:12Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I realize that it’s hard for other manufacturers to use a magnetic design and not infringe on Apple’s patent (because holy fuck Patent law is so BS nowadays,) but why, for the love of God, can’t they at least all switch to a right angle plug? > > … > > Why isn’t this done? Please don’t tell me that Apple has a patent on 90 degree bend in a laptop power cable. I mean…they patented a “square with rounded corners” as a phone design, so I wouldn’t put it past them/the US Patent Office… A design patent has to be non-functional. And for some reason the latest Apple power cords are the stick out straight kind. The right angle cord had been phased out. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/47 "2014-04-21T14:19:00Z")
I have an old Gateway laptop that has a 90 degree bend in the male connector of the cord. I think it was made in about 2003. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/48 "2014-04-21T14:42:59Z")
> [@](#): > > What I mean is, “why does it have to be so large?” My microwave uses DC power and doesn’t require a whacking great brick to convert power. So do my TV and all sorts of other gadgets. What makes you think they don’t need a great big brick? Microwaves and TVs do indeed have big transformers. The question is not whether you’re going to have a big brick transformer; it’s whether you’re going to make the brick easily removable. Laptops are often used unplugged, so they made the bricks removable for them. Microwaves are not, so they didn’t bother. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/49 "2014-04-21T14:59:58Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > And for some reason the latest Apple power cords are the stick out straight kind. The right angle cord had been phased out. The right angle cord had a lot of torsional stress, which caused a lot of them to sort of unwrap the cable at the connector end. I had two of them die that way, and Apple replaced both of them immediately, which tells you how common that was (if you know Apple’s policies on warranty replacements!). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/50 "2014-04-21T15:09:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What makes you think they don’t need a great big brick? Microwaves and TVs do indeed have big transformers. The question is not whether you’re going to have a big brick transformer; it’s whether you’re going to make the brick easily removable. Laptops are often used unplugged, so they made the bricks removable for them. Microwaves are not, so they didn’t bother. I suppose that makes sense - but why does my Wii (and every other game system I’ve owned) have a brick? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/51 "2014-04-21T16:21:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Rock N Roll guys like Keith Richards can run around the stage and never worry about their guitar unplugging in the middle of a concert. Why can’t I move my laptop 6 inches without it unplugging? Does KR actually use a cord? I thought wireless was the norm. ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/52 "2014-04-21T18:56:15Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I suppose that makes sense - but why does my Wii (and every other game system I’ve owned) have a brick? For the Wii, it’s to give the console the appearance of being smaller than it actually is. For some reason, Nintendo loves to make its consoles as tiny as possible. The power brick on my Nintendo GameCube was only slightly smaller than the GameCube itself. For a big honker like the Xbox One, it’s probably to prevent the console from being any huger than it already is. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/53 "2014-04-21T20:26:37Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > The complaint isn’t about the battery per se but that it’s not designed to be replaceable. It takes about 5 minutes to replace an iPhone battery. You can buy the screwdriver for $6 on the internet, and a battery for $25 or so. I’m _happy_ to take a few extra minutes and pay a few extra dollars once every few years in exchange for not having a bulky door on my phone. And most people won’t ever need to switch it out. It’s all about design tradeoffs. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/54 "2014-04-21T22:04:17Z")
I don’t know about Keith Specifically. I know some professional musicians prefer cords. [Heres a discussion on that.](http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/archive/index.php?t-1174287.html) [Companding](http://www.techopedia.com/definition/24121/companding) is an interesting topic. Heck, vintage tube amps are still very highly prized. > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Does KR actually use a cord? I thought wireless was the norm. > [@](#): > > The current wireless debate is about sound quality, specifically the negative effects that most wireless systems have on it. > > Since audio signal through a quality cable is essentially as pure of a transmission as possible from guitar to amp (or FX), it’s the gold standard. > > The problem with wirelesss systems is NOT that it’s “digitized”! > > The sound quality issues arise from a process called companding or compansion > > This compresses the signal on it’s way from the guitar to the receiver, then “expands” it to it’s original (or close enough) signal strength. > > This increases range and signal to noise ratio. > > It also decreases the dynamic range of the signal, causing lifeless, dull, or flat tone. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374/55 "2014-04-22T09:27:23Z")
A lot of the electric water kettles out here in Japan also have a magnetic plug, as another bit of anecdata. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-rational-behind-the-laptop-power-adapter-design/686374.md?page=2)