As you can see, Ford did not skimp when it came to giving the Explorer plenty of connectivity. A couple USB ports, a 12V plug, some RCAs and even an SD card reader. Pretty sure that's the highest concentration of inputs I've seen in a converted ashtray for some time.
As nice as it is to have all those options, I'd be curious to know how many owners actually use more than one of the inputs provided. The two USB ports seem like the most obvious candidates since they're useful for both charging and connectivity. The RCAs? Eh, even if you have a game system, plugging it into the dashboard seems a little inconvenient. The SD card might be nice to load a pic or two for the home screen, but apart from that most owners would probably just leave the navigation card in there out of fear of losing it.
Seems like Ford would have been better off separating some of these inputs to make them more accessible instead of creating a "media hub" as it's called.
Ed Hellwig, Editor, Inside Line
ptcdawg says:
06:12 PM, 01/18/12
Let's see, you guys make posts about the lack of inputs and you make posts about too many inputs in the wrong places. It seems you can't be pleased.
Me, I'm more interested in how it drives, handles, performs in the rain, cold, heat.
ohdriver1 says:
06:31 PM, 01/18/12
Honest to God, you guys are picking on every freakin thing about this car. I understand comments on driving, etc., but to seriously complain about the media hub? Most people are going to plug in something and leave it. I don't want things sticking out and about constantly getting in the way.
evodad says:
07:56 PM, 01/18/12
I don't think this post is a complaint at all. It just is pointing out features that seem excessive and that will likely not be used by most people, even those that love using tech gadgets. We've had usb and other inputs in my wifes last two vehicles and I can count on one hand the times we've used them. Maybe if we didn't subscribe to the satellite radio we would use them more often but as it is they don't get much use.
barresa62 says:
12:59 AM, 01/19/12
Sorry....can't help but sway towards agreeing w/ptcdawg & ohdriver1. So many folks have been ragging on what's is actually a great CUV that little comments like this blog entry tend to feel like more criticisms about the Explorer. Thank goodness it appears the Explorer is brawny enough to shake off all the BS.
A little cold and cranky in Seattle,
Stephen
revn says:
06:14 AM, 01/19/12
I dunno, I do think that's probably more inputs than someone's going to need. If you can load pictures to the nav screen via USB, then the SD slot's almost never gonna get used. 2 USBs isn't bad, but I have 2 in my car and only ever use one. The RCA jacks are definitely... odd.
Still, the more options the better, in the off chance you'll need it. It's not like them being there make the car worse, so why not have them.
throwback says:
06:48 AM, 01/19/12
I see nothing wrong with having choices in media inputs.
fordson1 says:
08:28 AM, 01/19/12
Let's see...the SD card socket probably supports cards up to 32GB, that's about 250 CD's worth of music at 320 kbit/sec...and it leaves the USB sockets free for charging phones and such. Why is it never going to get used?
For something I'm gonna plug in and leave there, like a music collection, I would rather use SD than a USB thumb drive, because it doesn't stick out as far and positively locks in, as opposed to a USB stick that can get knocked around by the other stuff you're going to put in and take out of that cubby.
I would doubt the nav system needs the Ford nav data SD card in there for the nav to WORK - it's probably just the most recent map data. You load it into the nav system and then you're done and the SD slot is free.
greenpony says:
10:36 AM, 01/19/12
It's starting to look like the back of a computer or TV. Where are my three HDMI inputs for the 1080p screen?