USB Connections for Phones, Laptops, etc.

[Ron J. Moore]

We recently went on a trip to the FL Panhandle and when I went to use my laptop to check e-mail, I realized the USB Wire that has the standard USB on one end and a mini-USB on the other was still at home. I went into a Radio Shack and they had exactly what I needed, originally sold for $39.95, but it was being discontinued in its original packaging. Wow, I got it for $21.95, and left the store happy - knowing that that evening I would be on the net. Today, my wife and I were in a Dollar Store and what did I see, yeah, the same set-up, but this one only cost a dollar; and right beside it was a package with a whole assortment of connections utilizing USB connections to other sized USB cables, it cost $6.00. No, I didn't buy any, I already have two....but one is permanently in the RT. So if your looking for these type connections, check the cheap places first! Safe travels.

[Y IZ IT]

A word of caution when buying those cheaper adapters. I have read in magazines and on the net, that some of them can cause a problem with your equipment. Some have been known to cause fire or melt the item it was attached too. Same goes for the "cheap" adapters that sell on Ebay.

[markopolo]

At the dollar stores around here brand names are showing up like Philips. I've bought cables and adapters from dollars stores. Not electrical mind you, just video to s-video etc. I needed a cable not long ago - I can't even remember what for! Anyway, Walmart was the most expensive followed by Radio Shack and then Staples. The dollar store didn't have one. It was like $21, $19, $13 all three brands were unknown to me and all were made in China. I think it was a mini usb cable. All four stores were within walking distance of each other too.

[Mike]

Back when I was trying to install my standalone ATSC tuner for US TV in 2008,
I found several coax cables in a nearby Dollar Store. The nice part was they weren't
typical 3/8 " thick coax between the end connectors, the cable was like vermicelli
noodles, very thin so as to be concealable easily behind stuff and under carpets without the
tell tale cable "bump".
Nice for a buck!