It is absolutely not gimmicky.
Comment on Audio dongles and the ghost of USB 1
EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 3 days ago
Not really relevant to the subject, but I think the word “dongle” is absolutely gimmicky.
pastermil@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 3 days ago
I dunno, sounds gimmicky to me.
cardfire@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
Perhaps it is an ESL thing? We were using it in the States in the 90’s to describe a hardware authenticator key on parallel port that allowed CAD software to run, in a drafting class.
Later i(00’s) i heard it used for all manner of peripheral USB accessories.
I’m trying to imagine what the gimmick would be.
EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 2 days ago
The word “dongle” itself. The actual hardware is serious business.
Venator@lemmy.nz 2 days ago
It’s basically just a synonym for any adapter cable, but usually more specifically, ones that have a short cable so they dangle from the port if they don’t have anything plugged in.
rabidhamster@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 days ago
I remember it as far back as the 90’s. Usually referred to things like SCSI dongles that authorized the use of expensive software like Maya (which was ~$50k at the time), because online DRM activation wasn’t really a thing yet. Probably goes back further than that.
Brewchin@lemmy.world 3 days ago
The 80s, I think, thanks to AutoDesk. AutoCAD required their DB9 serial dongle (in-line with the mouse) for the software to function.
As you say, well before DRM was the default for everything. I thought they were an awful company for it, but little did I know how things would pan out due to the DMCA… 😒
rabidhamster@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 days ago
Lol, tell me about it.
And the serial dongle sounds much more sensible than requiring what amounted to a SCSI terminator, of which you could typically only have one. Need to use other software with a SCSI dongle? Shut down your machine, swap them out, and start it up again, 'cause SCSI don’t like that hot swapping.
Brewchin@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I’d forgotten about that. How dumb. 🤦🏻♂️