Meshio.com

I’ve always been wondering why modern devices’ power cable and adapters comes in so many different shapes and sizes?

Is there a reason why they cannot conform to one standard format? You know, like how they did it with the digital content distribution. When the content consortium decided on one format, everyone must comply with it without exception. However, such is not the case with power adapters and cables.

If you travel quite a bit, I’m sure you would have experienced battery compatibility issues while you are on the road. Your friend uses a Sony Ericsson mobile phone while you are are die-hard Nokia supporter. As your battery low-power alert beeps itself to its own death, you realized that you’ve left your phone charger at home. And you start cursing your friend for not worshiping Nokia.

Same goes to laptops, the Thinkpad’s power adapter would never fit into a Vaio’s.

Why can’t they use the Kettle Plug’s logic? Every kettle in Malaysia uses the same plugs, regardless of their “ethnicity”. Hey, I can even use the kettle’s plug on my old CRT Monitor. I’m not asking all electrical equipments to use one single “format”, but at least every devices in their own category should have a standard format.

Beside making life miserable for consumers, I think there’s really no upside on how having multiple standards of battery adapters.

I’m no electrical engineer. I just thought if this is possible at all. You’ve got any clues?

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