On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 2:30 PM, Dale <rdalek1...@gmail.com> wrote: > Volker Armin Hemmann wrote: >> Am Dienstag, 18. September 2012, 04:50:30 schrieb Dale: >> >>> One would think that modern stuff would have some sort of protection. >>> Odd. >>> >> indeed. The modern stuff with protection is called 'usb'. >> >> > > Well, I meant for the serial/parallel chips tho. Surely it can't be > hard to at least keep them from blowing their fuse.
If it's TTL, no problem. If it's CMOS, it requires extra work (and cost) in an environment where every penny off of a component is important. Point is, RS-232 and IEEE-1284 weren't designed for hotplug, and plug/unplug events are very, very rare. Manufacturers are under no obligation to extend support beyond spec, and it doesn't make sense for them to, given that USB is available where it's necessary. USB, on the other hand, was explicitly designed to handle hotplug. It even shows in comparison to the connectors it replaces; DB-25, DB-9 and Centronix connectors typiclaly have explicit mechanisms to retain devices and prevent them from accidentally unplugging. DB-25 and DB-9 connectors didn't originally even come with thumbscrews; I've still got some cables laying around that require the use of a small screwdriver. No such manual step with USB, as it's an expected event. -- :wq
