Why the %^&* are most USB ports in the back of most computers? I mean really? Sure, one needs a few in the rear, and for notebooks it makes much more sense to put things like USB ports in the rear (at least given the way we use ’em most here at twc central), but what do you need USB ports in the rear of your computer for apart from for a printer and maybe keyboard/mouse? And for a keyboard/mouse, well heck, you really need only one USB port to install a wireless adapter, right? 🙂 OK, the TV remote’s USB red-eye dongle doesn’t have to move a lot, so I’ll give you that one, too.
With almost eveything else, from thumb drives to cameras to even external drives, it’s a real PITA to plug the things into the back.
Oh, well. I just string on USB extension cables galore, since the two built-in front USB ports on this hawg are ALWAYS populated. But still. Seriously, why doesn’t my case have a built-in set of six or eight ports in front that I can attach to a mobo header or add-in card? And why do most add-in hubs only have four ports? *sigh*
Oh. Well. I’ll be adding a USB 3.0 card to this hawg as soon as the standard settles a bit and peripherals become available, anyway. Maybe by then add-on hubs with more ports will be available.
(And yeh, yeh, I know I can always add an external hub. BTDT. Just more desktop clutter. Not that it’d be noticeable. *heh*)
*gets mind OUT of gutter and rereads*
Don’t remind me of the MiniFamily’s computer and the maze of wires that I would have to deal with if something came unplugged.
I second the more USB ports in front idea.
A computer cabling management idea from the tightwad’s corner: I had leftover plastic foam insulation tubes for use in insulating water pipes. Used some as cable management devices. They work well and are darned cheap. Do NOT use twist ties or zip ties as they can easily be bound too tightly around cables, negating mush of the anti-crosstalk capabilities built into the things (in fact, such a note is a part of the standard installation guidelines/standards for much computer cabling).
For corralling cables not attached to devices, I either use a variation of a “grip’s wrap” as used by roadies for audio cabling, or I just use cardboard toilet paper and paper towel rolls. Cheap, effective and unlikely to cause crimping of the cables.
I also sometimes label ports and specific USB cables for specific devices with corresponding “white out” dots. Helps folks whose bifocals (or trifocals) wouldn’t find printed labels in awkward places to be helpful and helps Windows machines to not lose their freakin’ minds when peripherals jump around all over the place. Don’t tell me it hasn’t happened to a Windows machine you know…
🙂
Thanks for taking it outa the gutter. Taking it in the… no, not going there.