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.

