connector conspiracy

connector conspiracy
 n.

   [probably came into prominence with the appearance of the KL-10 (one
   model of the {PDP-10}), none of whose connectors matched anything
   else] The tendency of manufacturers (or, by extension, programmers or
   purveyors of anything) to come up with new products that don't fit
   together with the old stuff, thereby making you buy either all new
   stuff or expensive interface devices.

   (A closely related phenomenon, with a slightly different intent, is
   the habit manufacturers have of inventing new screw heads so that only
   Designated Persons, possessing the magic screwdrivers, can remove
   covers and make repairs or install options. A good 1990s example is
   the use of Torx screws for cable-TV set-top boxes. Older Apple
   Macintoshes took this one step further, requiring not only a long Torx
   screwdriver but a specialized case-cracking tool to open the box.)

   In these latter days of open-systems computing this term has fallen
   somewhat into disuse, to be replaced by the observation that
   "Standards are great! There are so many of them to choose from!"
   Compare {backward combatability}.
    

connector conspiracy

   [probably came into prominence with the appearance of the
   KL-10 (one model of the {PDP-10}), none of whose connectors
   matched anything else].  The tendency of manufacturers (or, by
   extension, programmers or purveyors of anything) to come up
   with new products that don't fit together with the old stuff,
   thereby making you buy either all new stuff or expensive
   interface devices.  The KL-10 Massbus connector was actually
   *patented* by {DEC}, which reputedly refused to licence the
   design and thus effectively locked third parties out of
   competition for the lucrative Massbus peripherals market.
   This policy is a source of never-ending frustration for the
   diehards who maintain older PDP-10 or VAX systems.  Their
   {CPUs} work fine, but they are stuck with dying, obsolescent
   disk and tape drives with low capacity and high power
   requirements.

   A closely related phenomenon, with a slightly different
   intent, is the habit manufacturers have of inventing new screw
   heads so that only Designated Persons, possessing the magic
   screwdrivers, can remove covers and make repairs or install
   options.  Older Apple {Macintosh}es took this one step
   further, requiring not only a hex wrench but a specialised
   case-cracking tool to open the box.

   In these latter days of open-systems computing this term has
   fallen somewhat into disuse, to be replaced by the observation
   that "Standards are great!  There are so *many* of them to
   choose from!"  Compare {backward combatability}.

   [{Jargon File}]