Standards

I'm amazed at what can be done in terms of standardisation, when there's real motivation. I know nothing of the personal computer industry. In putting together the bits for one, I've realised just how much standardisation there is. Equally it's not hard to realise just how hard those people must work to keep to standards. Examples.

Motherboard layout, mounting holes to fasten to the case. Those little stand-offs? On pcb's as packed as a motherboard, the inter-component gap is nearing microns, never mind millimetres. Who sets the standard? The case makers must talk to the board makers?

Motherboard general layout? So that my power cables will reach in a mini tower, full tower or destop model. So that the IO ports are aligned with the hole in the case. So that the port height off the board matches. So that the earthing springs work. So that there won't be too much cabling over the board to really screw airflow. So that the graphics card (monster that they are) won't foul other components, the case, disk cage etc.

Motherboard cabling/connectors. Power cables that mate cleanly and for the right standard of power distribution. The 6 amps needed for your graphics card? Make sure the psu designers are keeping pace with the power hungry graphics card designers. Changing from AGP to PcIE? Who needs to know? Lining up the change from PATA to SATA? Who've we got to talk to?

All this makes me think of meetings round the world, with clear goals. With risk, yes, but clear goals. If I want my X to mate with new versions of Y, then I need to work with you. If I judge the new Z to be too risky, how quickly can I catch up? Is it worth being at the talks just to make sure I understand it. Those standards must be defined in months rather than years. Yes, some will fail. Bluetooth is a good example. It took a lot of working out. Others are just silently accepted, largely ignored by end users - hands up who knows what the most recent ATx power connector standard is?

I only wish these guys would show the data heads and doc heads how to do it.