[<<Previous Entry]
[^^Up^^]
[Next Entry>>]
[Menu]
[About The Guide]
CONNECTORS AND THEIR SEX
Since Ma Bell was female, and since Bell Telephone were the
early suppliers of modems, modems traditionally present female
connectors. Because Bell employees were predominantly
heterosexual they arranged that Terminals should present
complementary male connectors. The modem and terminal were
joined in holy matrimony by a cable with one male and one female
end.
The other reason Bell chose female connectors for their modems
is that male connectors are more fragile -- the tiny protruding
pins are likely to break off. The male connectors belonged to
the customers, the robust female ones to the phone company.
I say this tongue in cheek as a memory aid.
25 Pin D-shaped connectors are used, but some companies, notably
Apple and now IBM (in the AT), sometimes use non-standard nine pin
connectors. I suspect wicked motives such as cost cutting and
attempting to lock you into buying their own brands of peripheral
equipment.
See Also:
pins
This page created by ng2html v1.05, the Norton guide to HTML conversion utility.
Written by Dave Pearson