[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Multiple Ports on Your PC: What Do They Do For You? here

[KLanD]

After reading this article, it dawned on me that video connectors have changed dramatically (port, not quality in some cases) since the 80s but the audio connections have pretty much remained the same.

Can you believe Toslink was released ~83?

[Mike921]

I actually 'updated' a USB driver which effective locked me out of my PC (kybd/mouse/fingerprint rdr. inop). PS/2 access made it a 5 min. fix....

[Noah83sz]

USB 3.0 is the latest version of USB, and is also known as SuperSpeed USB. It increases maximum throughput to 5 gigabits per second (625MB per second.)
What the heck does that mean???

[breygon]

Noah83sz, on 24 February 2012 - 12:11 PM, said:

USB 3.0 is the latest version of USB, and is also known as SuperSpeed USB. It increases maximum throughput to 5 gigabits per second (625MB per second.)
What the heck does that mean???

Five Gigabits/sec works out to be 625 MegaBytes/sec. (5000Mbs/8 = 625MBs)

[ClaudeD]

It means its faster or once the drivers are standardized and fixed, it will be a bunch faster than... I guess I am not sure faster than what..

[artimaticus]

The funny thing you fail to mention is that many in IT still use the 9-pin serial connection. Just ask any networking person, every Cisco router and switch used in enterprise comes with a Cisco serial cable that plugs into a 9-pin connector.

[Charlesn2qb]

Good article. I wish people designing these ports would give more attention to the physical connector design. Many are becoming too similar and hard to differentiate in dark and hard-to-get-to places, and difficult to even determine the orientation of the plug.

[Captmcnet]

PCWorld. Is there a "Printer Friendly" link on your articles which I am not finding? This would be a helpful alternative to the Reader having to click Next, Next, Next, etc. Also, it would allow the capture of the entire article.
Thank You

[drmsucks]

@ClaudeD & @Noah83sz - Faster than USB 2.0 which has a max data bandwidth of 480 Mbits/s (60 MB/s); and faster than USB 1.0 or 1.1 which were limited to 12 Mbits/s (1.5 MB/s).

"Data bandwidth" simply refers to how much data ("information") can be transferred per unit of time. More bandwidth is better because it translates into less time to transfer a given amount of data; for example, a 2 gigabyte (2GB) video from your internal hard drive to a USB flash drive. You can do the math to see that USB 3.0 will transfer that file in 3.2 sec; USB 2.0 in 33.3 sec; USB 1.0/1.1 in 1333.3 sec.

This post has been edited by drmsucks: 27 February 2012 - 09:28 AM

[drmsucks]

Disregard - was able to edit my original post...

drmsucks, on 27 February 2012 - 09:23 AM, said:

USB 2.9

Let's make that USB 2.0...

This post has been edited by drmsucks: 27 February 2012 - 09:30 AM

[KennyReevesdd2v]

the expansion port 3 on HP laptops is kind of odd, about the size of a parallel printer port, and only works with devices from HP such as a 20 USB connector dock.
picture- http://www.google.co...Q9QEwAA&dur=485

[kansel]

@Captmcnet

Above the article title where it shows the recommend/sharing links there is a Printer friendly link that does put all content into one page view.

[gmnelson2009]

how about an RJ-11 telephone connector on a laptop for a built-in fax-modem. although the user manual only says it's there and it appears in device manager, nowhere does it say how to configure it and does not appear as an option in the printer list.

[mjd420nova]

Most of the older connectin schemes are interface standards. RJ11 being one of the oldest for the beginning of electronics in the home. FAX machines were set for 9600 (9.6K) baud, slower than a 56K dial up speed. There are progressing standards that use different input/output interface from different generations and loads of interface adapters/converters for both video and audio media sources. USB lends itself to so many peripherals that home units often require powered hubs to avoid overloading motherboards.

[DennisRLevesque]

Two things concern the the most about the future. First is the support for "legacy" devices; it will always be that current tech will be tommorow's legacy tech, and therefore "legacy" support will always be required. The limited space for ports on laptops will always be a problem with this. However, since laptops never have a minimun battery life for an 8-hour workday, that legacy support will almost always fall on the desktop machine, especially for buisnesses. The cost of progress always will be able to be mininmized with proper legacy support. And that alone can improve the quality of "progress", whatever that might turn out to be.
And speaking of progress, It would be very helpful to have an article similar to this one about internal ports. Cover issues like the PCI, PCI-e (versions), AGP, USB pins, Audio pins, CD/DVD audio connector formats, lack of pin info for the owner's manual, backward/compatability for xpansion slots (can you put a PCI-e card in a PCI slot or a PCI-e 6x in a PCI-e 2x slot with the proper drivers and how to identify all those slots/pins). There needs to be a way to get this info without having to get a new Bachelor's Degree every 5 years. This kind of "progress" has gotten out of control. Or is this the new "Highway Robbery"? What are we to xpect in this area? Thanks. DennisRLevesque@GMail.com

[ErikSnow]

I believe you forgot to mention the 56k baud Dial-up modem connection I still have kickin' it on the back of my Parent's Dell. Much more reliable than this new Cable or Fiber internet we have.

[Iceman7]

Looking foward to a new PC featuring HDMI 1.4 and/or display port, USB 3, and thunderbolt.

[zahid]

"Primer on ports" only discussed USB ports; whyn't others. I am interested in FireWire and DVI ports which exists on almost all PCs but I hardly used them ever.

[Andrew2pmz]

Parallel printer port
WRONG!
Serial RS232 port.