Universal Network Cable

[rootbear75]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/c890_universal_network_cable.jpg

 

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/c890/zoom/

 

The only patch cable you will ever need

 

Just rotate the center to the cable you need

 

If you're a member of the IT crowd, it's sometimes hard to explain to your management why you need things. Especially if they're the type of people who think the internet is a black box with a red LED on top or people who believe that if you type "Google" into Google you'll break the internet. Try explaining to them that every time you need a patch cable that you have to dig through the giant box of everything cable-shaped for an eternity before finding the right one. To them, all cables are the same.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/other/c890_universal_network_cable_inuse_embed.jpg

 

So here's what you're going to say... ready? "Hey, last time I had to find a patch cable, it cost you $50 worth of my time. Buy me one of these and I'll never have to waste that time again." They don't need to know that the Universal Network Cable adapter allows you to change wiring standard with just a click. They won't care about going from straight through to crossover. Their eyes will glaze over when you mention Cisco or T1 or DDS. Just tell them that the Universal Network Cable is THE essential tool for the IT crowd, and that you'll save them tons of wasted man/grrl hours a year. (Don't tell them that you'll spend those newly-found hours playing World of Warcraft. Bad idea.)

 

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/other/c890_universal_network_cable_center_embed.jpg

• Provides 5 cable types in one connector
  
• Just rotate the center to the cable you need
  
• Cable options:
  
  • ROLLED: Connect a host to a Cisco router or switch
    
  • CROSSOVER: Communicate directly between computers without a hub or switch
    
  • STRAIGHT-THROUGH: Use as a standard RJ45 patch cable
    
  • ATM/LOOPBACK: Test if a network card is working by checking for link lights with no need for a hub or switch
    
  • T1: Connect to DDS lines / T1 trunk lines
    

 

 

*Source: ThinkGeek (above post text written by ThinkGeek)

[BDwinsAlt]

OMG it's amazing! j/k

I know so many people who would actually buy that.

[Kameloh]

Making specific network cables can be a pain the arse

 

But I like how the company was thinking.. might be useful for networks that you have to constantly test

[Dr Brain]

With modern switches and routers doing auto-detection of the cross-over/straight-through, I've found that I almost never have to make a cross-over cable. This would have been great 10 years ago, though.

[PoLiX]

true that.