Ever had a USB cable sticking out of your laptop bag? I’ve done it many time while I’ve been traveling. James built a simple right angle USB cable so he could keep things tucked away and damage free. He epoxied a connector to some proto board, then soldered things back together.
a hack is a hack… not everyone can be as hardcore as you…
Posted at 5:44 pm on Sep 20th, 2007 by twistedsymphony
twistedsymphony is right, hacks are hacks. This probably costs way less than buying those swivel adapters like this one http://www.lindy.com/uk/productfolder/07/70339/index.php
and an extension cable.
Posted at 6:27 pm on Sep 20th, 2007 by Matt
unfortunately this won’t work when the usb ports are a bit recessed.
so… why the pcb? if you glue the cable end to the plug properly (hot glue or epoxy), it even withstands some serious pulling.
the real practical part of his mod is the usb hub in the lappy bag.
Posted at 7:29 pm on Sep 20th, 2007 by kikkoman
I can see the use but sorry its not much of a hack and given yesterdays headphone socket hack 2. Whats next – howto strip and twist wires for solderless hacking ?
Posted at 1:08 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by mem
if i didnt have to be up in 4 hours i would make a instructables on that and submit it…
Posted at 5:09 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by Frogz
Guess I missed something. In times when pluto was a planet hacks used to be like turn a toaster into a lawnmower or something and not soldering a dull cable on a dull plate, thats what im doing every second day. I’m sorry to tell u, this is -atomic- fail… if u cant find hax better than this… learn to internet?
Posted at 5:31 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by jamram
Stop beeing so negative! If you think you can do so much better, then stop bitching, start your own website and find 7 _MINDBLOWING_ hacks every week!
I do agree that the word “hack” does no longer mean what it did in the 80′es, but small stuff like this and yesterdays posts still might give the ol’ brain a little kickstart. Not to mention people who could never, ever even consider building an XBox 360 laptop no matter how impressive it is to read about online! =P
Go hackaday, my favourite site online! =D
Posted at 5:57 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by Kim Helberg aka PlastBox
the readers of a webpage based on reader submissions are the ones complaining that the submissions are showing a trend to sub-quality… personally if its useful for someone than its noteworthy and i enjoy reading them.
Posted at 9:44 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by kolwon
I don’t think this is an XOR situation… no need to choose between the über-impossible and the simple but useful… just post two hacks at once.
Surely google+user submissions is enough material to have two hacks posted occasionally?
Posted at 10:18 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by Smith Wesson
I agree that this is not the most difficult hack. However, it is smart and cheap and made the authors life easier. Since it has now been posted here where more people will see it, and it is so cheap and easy, it will probably make more peoples lives easier. I have no idea how hard it is to find good hacks on the web. But maybe we could dedicate one day a week to “mini-hacks.” Say every Sunday we could get a 6 pack of these.
Posted at 10:48 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by Doug
To paraphrase Scoop Nisker, “if you don’t like the hacks, go out and make some of your own.”
Posted at 11:13 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by Stephen
why make an extremely complicated solution to everyday problem when the simplest solution is the best
Posted at 11:54 am on Sep 21st, 2007 by TTmodder
So i think this is an awsome hack. actually, idont. however the concept is great. I kinda wanna buy new ends for most anything i own that plugs in, cut off the xisting ones, and solder in the wires directly, hot glue the be-jesus out of it, and call it the indestructible connecter. if the laptop is at wierd angles on you lap, you can put stress on the little nubs that could break the connector or worse, the port somewehre inside the computer. with this, there is so much less to catch or tweek and torque. imho, this hack is a 8 out of ten, just for the concept.
its easy to make something complicated, but goddamn impossible to make simple.
Posted at 5:09 pm on Sep 21st, 2007 by the way, shut up
nice hack. i would like to see a more… scavenger way of doing this but its a good hack.
i think i might just have to make one of these.
Posted at 12:08 pm on Sep 22nd, 2007 by mrbob1000
http://www.ntcdistributing.com/images/UH2-AAR04-04large.jpg better as it doesnt obscure other usb-ports etc
Posted at 12:15 pm on Sep 22nd, 2007 by zokie
(sigh)
far too much bitching going on on this site anymore
It’s a cool mod and is useful for it’s creator.
this is hacking, kids. we ain’t saving lives here so quit being retards and fraking roll with it!
Posted at 7:45 am on Sep 23rd, 2007 by strider_mt2k
^
He made a right angle cable because straight cables would bend when he shut the bag. Simple.
Posted at 3:52 pm on Sep 23rd, 2007 by Vladsinger
lol cool
Posted at 4:31 pm on Sep 24th, 2007 by hackarmy
it stops your usb socket or plug from getting damaged. by making it not stick out.
having a usb stick out the side of a laptop makes it very easy to damage it
Posted at 11:56 pm on Sep 25th, 2007 by woop
I don’t know why everyone has to be so negative about this mod it’s a great hack.
Pros: protects port from damage,protects devices from damage, allows you to keep devices plugged in during transport of laptop, saves time (don’t need to stop the device and remove it, can be redesigned to fit your laptop and your needs, very low profile.
Cons: prototype, design shown can cover open ports.
Any improvement (function,design,style,look,use)on someone’s creation is a mod/hack.
For those who said positive things thank you for those negative people 1)have you ever mod/hacked anything 2)you have modded/hacked something and are just conceited or jealous cause you didn’t think of it first.
Posted at 8:50 pm on Dec 31st, 2008 by Cyberscann54
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What passes for hacks these days sure is weak
Posted at 5:04 pm on Sep 20th, 2007 by Adam