Insert Tab A in Slot 2...
Sep. 14th, 2010 11:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jim_pI'm quite pissed...
I have a HTC Eris Android-based smartphone from Verizon. The charging/USB cable that came with it has a connector shape I've never seen before... it's roughly rectangular with one rounded corner.
Because this phone charges over USB, I figured it would be handy to have extra charging cables so I could top-up in the car (12V->USB charger), or at the shop, or the office, or anywhere I can plug into USB. So I ordered four allegedly-compatible cables from an online cellphone shop.
When they arrived, I noticed that instead of being the Speshul Connector Shape, they were standard mini-USBs. Annoyed, I made a mental note to notify the vendor of their mistake, but I haven't gotten around to that yet.
My need for a cable became more urgent recently when my battery died and I lost the charging cable with the Speshul Connector, so I went in search of same. Couldn't find anything at the usual retail suspects (Staples, Best Buy, Radio Shack...), so I ended up at the Verizon store. Surely THEY would have the proper cable, overpriced though it may be. I showed them the phone, told them "I need a charger for this". The salesperson went out back and got me an allegedly-compatible charger.
I get out to the car, open up the charger to plug it in, and find.... it's a mini-USB.
I'm really pissed now, so I go BACK to the Verizon store and buttonhole the salesperson... "This is USELESS!". She said, "No, no, it's the right charger, see?" and she plugs the mini-USB into the Speshul Connector Socket.
Now I've been around the block and around equipment enough to know that just because you CAN jam one connector shape into another socket shape, doesn't mean it's a good idea to do so. Equipment does not always survive such a forced mating. She said, "No, it works, I promise!". To which I said "Humor me... let's plug this in right now". So she plugs it in, it starts charging, and none of the magic smoke escapes.
So now the object of my fury has shifted to HTC. NOBODY mentioned anywhere that a mini-USB connector was compatible with their Speshully Shaped Socket.... in fact, if they're so compatible then WHY O WHY DID THEY BOTHER WITH THE SPESHUL SHAPE IN THE FIRST PLACE??!!
I swear the Universe is messing with my head at times...
I have a HTC Eris Android-based smartphone from Verizon. The charging/USB cable that came with it has a connector shape I've never seen before... it's roughly rectangular with one rounded corner.
Because this phone charges over USB, I figured it would be handy to have extra charging cables so I could top-up in the car (12V->USB charger), or at the shop, or the office, or anywhere I can plug into USB. So I ordered four allegedly-compatible cables from an online cellphone shop.
When they arrived, I noticed that instead of being the Speshul Connector Shape, they were standard mini-USBs. Annoyed, I made a mental note to notify the vendor of their mistake, but I haven't gotten around to that yet.
My need for a cable became more urgent recently when my battery died and I lost the charging cable with the Speshul Connector, so I went in search of same. Couldn't find anything at the usual retail suspects (Staples, Best Buy, Radio Shack...), so I ended up at the Verizon store. Surely THEY would have the proper cable, overpriced though it may be. I showed them the phone, told them "I need a charger for this". The salesperson went out back and got me an allegedly-compatible charger.
I get out to the car, open up the charger to plug it in, and find.... it's a mini-USB.
I'm really pissed now, so I go BACK to the Verizon store and buttonhole the salesperson... "This is USELESS!". She said, "No, no, it's the right charger, see?" and she plugs the mini-USB into the Speshul Connector Socket.
Now I've been around the block and around equipment enough to know that just because you CAN jam one connector shape into another socket shape, doesn't mean it's a good idea to do so. Equipment does not always survive such a forced mating. She said, "No, it works, I promise!". To which I said "Humor me... let's plug this in right now". So she plugs it in, it starts charging, and none of the magic smoke escapes.
So now the object of my fury has shifted to HTC. NOBODY mentioned anywhere that a mini-USB connector was compatible with their Speshully Shaped Socket.... in fact, if they're so compatible then WHY O WHY DID THEY BOTHER WITH THE SPESHUL SHAPE IN THE FIRST PLACE??!!
I swear the Universe is messing with my head at times...
