Video connectors (was: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

3 Feb 1998

...
 Agreed, "with care."  But too much care for
the average user.  Even I, who
like to think I know what I'm doing, repeat the mantra "Never jam in a VGA
connector no matter what" whenever I have the D-shell in my hand, just to
slow myself down properly. Actually, I've jammed the $^\&* things a few
times myself.  The solution
(that I've come up with) is get a screw driver, (flathead) and then push it
up and straighten it out.  I've done the same thing with IDE connectors.  I
used the same solution, but instead of trial and error for getting them
strait, I would get it straiter, then put an IDE cable into ONLY the damaged
area, straiten it out a bit, see if it works, then try again.
...
 But it's not a simple ENOUGH solution because, when
I'm in the field and
detaching a monitor from its computer, 50% of the connectors I look at have
one pin bent in an L and jammed against the inner wall of the shell.  The
design isn't adequate to real-world use, is my point -- whereas a DB9, for
example, certainly is.  I'm not saying we don't need 15 pins; I say we need
15 THICKER pins, and since this connector is typically the only connector
on the back of a VGA adapter, there's plenty of room. Why not move away from
this type of pins all together?  Sure, it would cause
major monitor incompatibility, but VGA type connectors are aging rapidly,
and with new LCD monitors, the SVGA interface is reaching it's limits.
    Maybe something like a ethernet-type connector, or, as you said THICKER
pins.  Maybe switch the male-female part of this, with female-connector
monitors.  And, re-align the pins so that you can use a correctly configured
(with the M-F type connectors, etc.) EGA, or CGA monitor.
...
 Coming Spring '98:  The Windows 98 Bible by Kip
Crosby and Fred Davis!                                               ^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                Keep me updated.  Of course,
MS wouldn't talk to me about reviewing it's products for my web site. :-(