PCs.
Junk "then", junk "now". When the IBM PC came out in 1981, all the "serious" computer folk laughed at it as the toy that it was - as it combined the worst features of the TRS-80 Model 1 and the Apple ][+ with the best features of neither. To this day, PCs have non-polarized, non latching tin-plated connectors in many locations. At least they eventually figured out RAM modules should have gold contacts - only took them 20 years to get there though. I had to disassemble a cheap-ass "Hecho En China" tin plated connector in my new PC to squeeze the contacts down so the stupid thing would work - and it was brand new. Since its non-latching, I had to secure the thing as best I could with tye-wraps. I hate cheap-ass amateur hour connectors, always have - they've wasted far more time over my career than I care to remember. And don't get me started on cheap-ass screw terminals. I once pointed out to a instrument vendor that the screw terminals they were using were junk, and showed the rep what a good quality screw terminal looked like and why it was better. Much to their credit and my mild surprise, they got the point and switched over to the suggested type!
Junk "then", junk "now". When the IBM PC came out in 1981, all the "serious" computer folk laughed at it as the toy that it was - as it combined the worst features of the TRS-80 Model 1 and the Apple ][+ with the best features of neither. To this day, PCs have non-polarized, non latching tin-plated connectors in many locations. At least they eventually figured out RAM modules should have gold contacts - only took them 20 years to get there though. I had to disassemble a cheap-ass "Hecho En China" tin plated connector in my new PC to squeeze the contacts down so the stupid thing would work - and it was brand new. Since its non-latching, I had to secure the thing as best I could with tye-wraps. I hate cheap-ass amateur hour connectors, always have - they've wasted far more time over my career than I care to remember. And don't get me started on cheap-ass screw terminals. I once pointed out to a instrument vendor that the screw terminals they were using were junk, and showed the rep what a good quality screw terminal looked like and why it was better. Much to their credit and my mild surprise, they got the point and switched over to the suggested type!
