Pins

Every wonder why your new computer only has USB? What happened to those serial or parallel ports? What about those nice round PS/2 connections for the mouse and keyboard? Ever try putting in your mouse connection wrong and bend a pin?

There is a simple answer: breakable pins. Yes, it is true that USB transfers at a higher data rate than the old serial and parallel connections; but USB has no breakable pins (well, unless you force it in). In fact, with the growth of LCD screens, you will notice that VGA connections are disappearing and being replaced by DVI. While DVI provides a better signal than VGA, the biggest benefit is that the pins are near indestructible.

If you venture inside the computer you'll find the same lack of pins. Serial ATA cables are replacing IDE cables; IDE consist of 80 pins tightly placed together. Bend one of those and good luck using the cable for anything productive. Even some newer processors are pin free and use contact points to connect to the motherboard.

As technology advances, and components become faster, smarter, and better, we see them becoming more user friendly. With the extinction of breakable pins and other various moving parts, it is inevitable to see computers that are built to last. Or at least less likely to break.