Replies

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  khmkhm@hj.9fs.net

  Apr 21, 2026, 4:44 PM

  I have a bunch of these USB-C and USB-A flash drives I use from time to time, and they've never broken a computer. That could be because I don't use them often.
  
  But I also have an LG monitor I loved fail because the USB-C connector broke off the mainboard inside the housing, and more than one Dell Precision laptop that has fallen to broken-usb-c-port problems over the years.
  
  I don't think the form factor matters much; usb just sucks.
  
  CC: @burger@social.burgeronthe.net @masklayer@slime.global
  
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  LisPilispi314@udongein.xyz

  Apr 21, 2026, 4:47 PM

  @khm @dalias @burger @masklayer If you don't use them in public or on haphazard surfaces where they're likely to protrude in inconvenient ways, that greatly reduces the risk of breaking things with them.
  
  Proper locking connectors and the ports being made to handle an adequate amount of torque would also work just fine to prevent the issue.
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  khmkhm@hj.9fs.net

  Apr 21, 2026, 4:59 PM

  I get what you're saying but "building the computer stuff to not break makes the computer stuff less likely to break" is both true and not really relevant to the fact that most of this stuff is manufactured of "metal" four atoms thick and anchored to the case with peanut butter
  
  what really annoys me is the LG, where it was on a monitor stand, with the factory cable retention, using the mfg-provided cable, and simply using the monitor (including rotating it a couple times a week) eventually destroyed the connector
  
  CC: @dalias@hachyderm.io @masklayer@slime.global @burger@social.burgeronthe.net
  
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  Cassandrichdalias@hachyderm.io

  Apr 21, 2026, 4:56 PM

  @khm @burger @masklayer I'm talking about if you actually move your laptop, operate it on your lap around pets or children or careless adults, etc.

  I'm sure there are some badly manufactured devices where the USB C port breaks off the board, but the intended design is that the cord, not the device, break under stress. And it worked fine with my laptop falling directly on the power cord and taking no damage. Unfortunately the power cord was built into the brick, not detachable, so the whole brick is now trash unless I feel like soldering or splicing USB C...

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  LisPilispi314@udongein.xyz

  Apr 21, 2026, 4:44 PM

  @dalias @burger @masklayer Generally one should always use such cables if it's an option, for exactly that reason.
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  Cassandrichdalias@hachyderm.io

  Apr 21, 2026, 4:58 PM

  @lispi314 @masklayer @burger For USB A, I highly prefer 90° cables that badely stick out of the port and have the strain relief to the side parallel to the wall of the device they're plugged into.

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  LisPilispi314@udongein.xyz

  Apr 21, 2026, 5:00 PM

  @dalias @masklayer @burger The main issue with those is that if one is using them from a laptop it can be a bit awkward in bending the cable up from the resting surface.
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  Khleedrilkhleedril@cyberplace.social

  Apr 22, 2026, 9:14 AM

  @dalias @burger @masklayer I don't disagree with you, but then I don't care about this non-issue. If I could get USB-C memory sticks I would.

  I would also note that all the cables I have have 'sticks' at each end which protrude rigidly from the laptop.

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  Cassandrichdalias@hachyderm.io

  Apr 22, 2026, 11:30 AM

  @khleedril @burger @masklayer What I was trying to get at is that I think flash drives that break when you bump them would be a customer-angering, high-returns, low-review-score product because of this. And this is probably why they're not more common.

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