Will You Standardize the @#$%! Chargers Please

Okay, no big deal, right? Just waltz into any wireless phone store and pick one up. 20 bucks, 3rd party accessory purchase, ka-ching, problem solved. Right? WRONG.

Sure, the Blackberry and many other devices use the same micro-USB charger connector, so it wasn't a tragedy to pull one of my old Motorola Razr chargers out and get my cell back in business. But then I looked at my Aliph Jawbone -- which is probably the best Bluetooth headset in the biz right now -- and remembered that it uses a non-standard, proprietary connector. AT&T Wireless, my cellular provider, doesn't even sell the replacement charger in stores. You need to order it from the Aliph web site.

Look, the whole charger thing is out of control. How many of these damn things do we need to bring with us when we go on trips? Cell Charger, Headset Charger, Camera Battery Charger, iPod charger, Laptop Charger, portable game device Charger. Portable GPS Charger. Chargers, Chargers, Chargers, Chargers. All these freaking chargers. =red="">STOP THE INSANITY! Can we just get it down to needing one or two, and being able to split off multiple connectors to a single charger source using a standardized connector? How many damn outlets do I need to use up?

I'm not going to single out Aliph and the Jawbone on the whole non-standard charger thing. Plenty of other devices are equal offenders. It's truly ridiculous and the entire situation has become close to untenable. There has to be a way to get the whole portable consumer device industry in line. Micro-USB seems to be a pretty darn good standard. So can we stick with it, pretty please?

Stop the charger insanity!