During the dot-com, the Herman Miller Aeron chair (approx. $1000 to $1500) was the status symbol (or the symbol of excess and unnecessary spending). Today, Herman Miller is trying to make its mark again with the ultimate desk that comes with magnetic technology which charges anything (PDAs, cell phones, etc.) that come into contact with it. No doubt you’ll have to pay the ultimate price for the ultimate desk but, hey, being on the bleeding-edge is an expensive proposition.
The idea that you could easily recharge electronic devices without a power chord raises a major bone I have to pick with the computer/electronics industry. Why aren’t there standards in place for power cords so that one power cord will work with most, if not, all devices. I’ve got a drawer full of power cords for devices that have been lost, broken or retired. Of course, when I go looking for a cord to power a particular device, none of the cords I have work or fit. You figure if the USB industry has been able to get its act together, the power cord world can do the same. In any event, if anyone’s a collector of power cords or simply can never have enough power cords lying around the house, drop me a line.
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The question you ask is a great one, and it unfortunately comes down to a lack of guidance – who should make such a standard? There’s nobody really there to govern it.
The problem is worse than you imagine, by the way – one main reason for the lack of standards is because when you are manufacturing a device, you are really looking to save any extra penny you can. So not only would there have to be a standard that was acceptable from a tech perspective, you’d ALSO have to ensure cost savings.
While building products, I’ve been in discussions that debated the additional $0.20 it would cost to bundle a single extra RCA cable!
Sow how did USB become a standard given there were so many groups and companies involved with in the technology?
Exactly.
It looks like the mini-USB port that has become a standard in the digitial camera field is gaining traction in the cell phone world. The pile of useless power cords in my basement, matched with devices for which the cord is lost or broken, is a testament to the waste in the electronics gadget business.
People complain about iPods being disposable items, but where’s the outcry about the widespread cord/dongle/cable stupidity that exists across companies and continents?
I found this solution while at CES in Las Vegas. Works great for hiding up to six power cords while charging up to six devices.