PRS-650 - risk of damage from micro USB connector

chris_tribble · 10-31-2010, 07:03 AM

Just thought I'd bring this to the attention of those using new Sony readers with Micro USB connectors. These have small, quite sharp hooks on them. As the Sony PRS-650 USB socket require you to insert the connector with the USB symbol facing down (not logical) I had a problem getting mine in the first time and snagged the plastic that surrounds the socket. Result, the plastic strip got pulled away from the surround of Reader and snapped. I've been able to super-glue it back so that it barely notices - but I was a bit p****d off to have cosmetically damaged the reader on Day One.

Seriously - I'm not Mr Clumsy + I've been been using USB connectors for years with never any damage - it's the little hooks on the new Micro version that you really have to look out for.

pikelet · 10-31-2010, 07:24 AM

Ouch. Good to hear it was only cosmetic damage and that you were able to repair it

Richey79 · 10-31-2010, 07:59 AM

The little hooks on micro-usb leads are standard to all devices, not just Sony's.

I also find their orientation rather counter-intuitive. To be blunt, I'm always klutzing the lead in the wrong way round. I shall endeavour to be more gentle in my probing in future, thanks to your post!

lord_blackfang · 10-31-2010, 08:16 AM

Regarding the orientation of the plug, I believe the point is to have the reader face down while charging so you don't get dust on the screen.

Jason Green · 10-31-2010, 11:44 AM

I agree the micro usb ports on the PRS readers are annoying. Why they couldn't use the normal micro usb lead is beyond me (although I suspect it is so we buy their products).

They do have to be inserted with more care than usual.

elcreative · 10-31-2010, 12:20 PM

"normal micro usb lead..." All my micro USB connectors are the same whether from Sony, blackberry PSU or multi-cable connector... it's a standard (see Richey79's comment above) although, like all micro connectors, it does feel very fragile...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

I agree the micro usb ports on the PRS readers are annoying. Why they couldn't use the normal micro usb lead is beyond me (although I suspect it is so we buy their products).

They do have to be inserted with more care than usual.

Jason Green · 10-31-2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

"normal micro usb lead..." All my micro USB connectors are the same whether from Sony, blackberry PSU or multi-cable connector... it's a standard (see Richey79's comment above) although, like all micro connectors, it does feel very fragile...

I've seen 3 different mini USB connectors.

The Sony one is more curved, the normal PC one is squarer, and the LG one is more pointed at the edges.

This is a square one in comparison to the sony one.

http://www.cable-trader.co.uk/images...20Canon%29.jpg

I might be confusing micro ports with mini ports.

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/imag...o_usb_male.jpg

I didn't realise they weren't the same.

chris_tribble · 10-31-2010, 01:48 PM

The reason for Micro USB seems to make a lot of sense (standardising on charging / data transfer for all mobile devices) - just one charger / cable for phones, readers, cameras etc will be great. In the meantime, I suppose we have to unlearn manual gestures which worked with the older technologies. Who'd have thought I'd have to learn to unplug a cable

...

elcreative · 10-31-2010, 02:57 PM

Yes, you are... the first one you show is of a mini (with an A) and the second on is squarer than any of mine plus it has an additional 2 connections so although described as micro in the jpg title, it's nothing like any of my micro USBs (which all look similar to each other as well as being interconnectible) and probably wouldn't fit any of my micro sockets... ah well, the joy of "standards"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

I've seen 3 different mini USB connectors.

The Sony one is more curved, the normal PC one is squarer, and the LG one is more pointed at the edges.

This is a square one in comparison to the sony one.

http://www.cable-trader.co.uk/images...20Canon%29.jpg

I might be confusing micro ports with mini ports.

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/imag...o_usb_male.jpg

I didn't realise they weren't the same.

k_gm · 10-31-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

like all micro connectors, it does feel very fragile...

yes, the seems fragile, but wikipedia says:

"Durability:
The newer Micro-USB receptacles are designed to allow up to 10,000 cycles of insertion and removal between the receptacle and plug, compared to 1500 for the standard USB and 5000 for the Mini-USB receptacle.
This is accomplished by adding a locking device and by moving the leaf-spring connector from the jack to the plug, so that the most-stressed part is on the cable side of the connection. "

Hope they are right....

elemenoP · 11-01-2010, 02:06 PM

My husband's phone uses Micro USB. So I can use his phone charger to charge my 650? I haven't bought a charger for it, I just have the USB cable that came with it.

chris_tribble · 11-01-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

My husband's phone uses Micro USB. So I can use his phone charger to charge my 650? I haven't bought a charger for it, I just have the USB cable that came with it.

There's a discussion elsewhere on the forum re chargers for the 650. It looks like Blackberry Rim chargers work fine - some others too. Worth checking.

Best

Bilbo1967 · 11-01-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_tribble

There's a discussion elsewhere on the forum re chargers for the 650. It looks like Blackberry Rim chargers work fine - some others too. Worth checking.

Best

I can confirm that a Blackberry micro-USB charger seems to work just fine.

dordale · 11-01-2010, 05:30 PM

I use my Droidx and my nook charger to charge my 650--both work perfectly. Have also used my Droidx auto charger to charge the reader.

dordale

10-31-2010, 07:03 AM	#1
chris_tribble Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 20 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Sony PRS-650	PRS-650 - risk of damage from micro USB connector Just thought I'd bring this to the attention of those using new Sony readers with Micro USB connectors. These have small, quite sharp hooks on them. As the Sony PRS-650 USB socket require you to insert the connector with the USB symbol facing down (not logical) I had a problem getting mine in the first time and snagged the plastic that surrounds the socket. Result, the plastic strip got pulled away from the surround of Reader and snapped. I've been able to super-glue it back so that it barely notices - but I was a bit p****d off to have cosmetically damaged the reader on Day One. Seriously - I'm not Mr Clumsy + I've been been using USB connectors for years with never any damage - it's the little hooks on the new Micro version that you really have to look out for. Attached Thumbnails

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10-31-2010, 07:24 AM	#2
pikelet girl from oz Posts: 67 Karma: 834 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: iPad, Sony PRS-650, Sony PRS-300, Cybook Gen3	Ouch. Good to hear it was only cosmetic damage and that you were able to repair it

10-31-2010, 07:59 AM	#3
Richey79 mrkrgnao Posts: 241 Karma: 237248 Join Date: May 2010 Device: PRS650, K3 Wireless, Galaxy S3, iPad 3.	The little hooks on micro-usb leads are standard to all devices, not just Sony's. I also find their orientation rather counter-intuitive. To be blunt, I'm always klutzing the lead in the wrong way round. I shall endeavour to be more gentle in my probing in future, thanks to your post!

10-31-2010, 08:16 AM	#4
lord_blackfang Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 80 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: PRS-600	Regarding the orientation of the plug, I believe the point is to have the reader face down while charging so you don't get dust on the screen.

10-31-2010, 11:44 AM	#5
Jason Green Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	I agree the micro usb ports on the PRS readers are annoying. Why they couldn't use the normal micro usb lead is beyond me (although I suspect it is so we buy their products). They do have to be inserted with more care than usual.

10-31-2010, 01:48 PM	#8
chris_tribble Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 20 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Sony PRS-650	The reason for Micro USB seems to make a lot of sense (standardising on charging / data transfer for all mobile devices) - just one charger / cable for phones, readers, cameras etc will be great. In the meantime, I suppose we have to unlearn manual gestures which worked with the older technologies. Who'd have thought I'd have to learn to unplug a cable ...

11-01-2010, 02:06 PM	#11
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	My husband's phone uses Micro USB. So I can use his phone charger to charge my 650? I haven't bought a charger for it, I just have the USB cable that came with it.

11-01-2010, 05:30 PM	#14
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	I use my Droidx and my nook charger to charge my 650--both work perfectly. Have also used my Droidx auto charger to charge the reader. dordale

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