No More Cable Confusion
Here's a rundown of the different connectors your PC may use.Click here for more of Stan Miastkowski's Step-by-Step columns.
Are you confused by the proliferation of jacks and connectors on the fronts and backs of today's PCs? Not so long ago, figuring out where to plug in the keyboard, mouse, printer, and external dial-up modem was relatively simple. But now we have USB, FireWire, and network jacks, not to mention a whole raft of audio and video connections--some of which look alike but are used to handle vastly different types of signals. Let's clear up the confusion. Click on the thumbnail below to see the full-size illustration.
The Top Down
Vendors: Belkin, CableGear, Cables To Go, PC Cables