Laptop Ide Cable

The Best $3.95 You Can Spend on Your Laptop

Remember the good old days, when laptops had USB ports at the rear? Now, most models have them on either side, which is a little more convenient for plugging and unplugging devices but an aesthetic nightmare.

Indeed, my laptop has taken on a decidedly Borg-like appearance, what with cables poking out of each side and running off in various directions. And when I plug in my USB aircard, it sticks straight out, just waiting for an accidental mouse-hand bump to knock it loose--and possibly break it.

Fortunately, there's a simple accessory that can help. I call it a USB elbow adapter, a small double-jointed plug that lets you angle USB cords and devices however you please. Just pop one into your USB port, plug in your accessory, and turn or rotate the adapter as needed.

If, for example, you want a cord to stay as out of sight as possible, you can point the adapter straight back and run the cord along the edge of the laptop. Or you could point an aircard up to keep it out of harm's way.

I've shopped high and low for these little gizmos, and the best deal I've found is from PC Cables, which sells the IDE DIST FL001 USB Flex via Amazon for $3.95 , plus $4.95 for shipping (I know: ugh). If you know of a better/cheaper source, be sure to share a link in the comments.

Even at $9 out the door, this is a terrific little accessory for anyone looking to reduce USB cable clutter.

Contributing Editor Rick Broida writes about business and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com , or try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the PC World Community Forums .