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Comment by Dylan16807 | Hacker News Reader

What ports are you thinking of? PS/2, parallel, serial, VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, USB since 2001... they can all vary in capability. DVI might not? But you have to look really closely to make sure you have the right kind of DVI.

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DVI is a pain! Is it analog only? Digital only? Dual link capable?

So glad that HDMI superceded that one.

Hmm? All DVI is digital (except for the analog vsync line).

DVI-A is an analog-only signal that runs over a DVI connector. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface#/medi...

Yeah, about HDMI... why did DisplayPort get invented?

higher performance, simpler, can be used internally and royalty free

Yeah but with those you still vaguely know what the port is used for. I have devices with a type c and a micro USB port that only use the micro port for charging. I have devices with a type c port and a separate power connector that can charge over the type c port but only at 500mA. I have devices that can output video through their type c port but only when using a Display Link adapter which on paper needs USB 3 but the device only supports USB 2 data throughput.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that most of those devices are awkward eBay crapware?

Nope. The first is an Asus laptop, the second is an HP tablet, and the third is my Oneplus 6.

> I have devices with a type c port and a separate power connector that can charge over the type c port but only at 500mA.

What a weird design, especially for not even being 900.

> I have devices that can output video through their type c port but only when using a Display Link adapter which on paper needs USB 3 but the device only supports USB 2 data throughput.

They did nonstandard video output on all kinds of previous phone ports too.

But what part says you need to support USB 3 to support an alternate mode with video?

Serial ports (RS-232) were one of the most variable ports ever used. Each device that you wanted to connect to a computer required a differently wired cable. Wires mapped to different pins, pins soldered together. It was a nightmare.

DVI had the plug-of-death syndrome. the cross-of-metal was mechanically about the worst design choice they could have made. (the wierd connector Sun used, which had three vaguely analog coax connectors was maybe worse)

ok. truthfully, the sliding latch on the Ethernet AUI cut my fingers more. I hated that.

Ha. I hated that damn AUI connector latch. I remember giving David Boggs grief over that c. 2000? He said he thought it was a terrible mistake as well and I think the reason given was it was something they found/was the easy quick choice.

DB13W3? All the old Unix workstations had that video connector, my silicon graphics boxes need a sync on green compatible monitor, so just adapting that connector isn't enough.

Yep. thats the one. love that cable (not)

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