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Comment by tygorius | Hacker News Reader

Oh, it's not so bad once you take advertising sub-clause of the spec into account. That's the hidden clause that states the USB logo will be on the top of a properly-oriented plug unless you're Microsoft or Logitech, in which case your corporate name is allowed top-billing, so to speak.

Of course, if the slots are oriented vertically...

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Yes, I have a couple on the side of the monitor I'm typing this on and they always seem wrong to me once I get something plugged in (after one or two failed attempts, of course).

Also doesn't help when the lighting's not so good and you have a USB logo embossed in black plastic on a black plug with the manufacturer's logo embossed in the same way on the other side. Trial-and-error probably isn't as bad as squinting at it trying to figure out which side is "up"...

Microsoft USB plugs all have a little nub on the "top" side, if memory serves.

Interesting. The only Microsoft USB plug I have these days is one of the wireless stubs, where the logo is the only clue. I have noticed that some Logitech products have a concave top, presumably for the same tactile feedback approach.

Of course, you can always just look at the end of the plug and orient it so the white plastic key is on the bottom, but where's the fun in that?

The mini USB end on my Droid cable has a bit of shiny foil on the side that goes up. I can plug it in while in the dark. Then, I usually have to turn the phone on to plug in the actual USB side.

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