http://www.piclist.com/piclist/2009/07/22/161955a.txt?
Herbert Graf  says:
> The only area I'd steer clear is anything mechanical. Things 
> like DB9 connectors and such should still be through hole. 
> While SMT alternatives exist for many off board connectors 
> the extra strength through hole gives you is worth it IMHO.

I generally agree, however, if you don't mind working with double sided
boards, DB connectors with soldertail pins can be edge mounted on a PCB (the
PCB is wedged between the pin rows) with excellent mechanical strength. If
you look hard enough, there are a few other connectors that can be mounted
in the same way. 

For "one off" and homebuilt stuff, With a bit of bending, the DIL IDE
connectors can be mounted that way as well. Most RA type pinouts can be
"closed up" on either side of a PCB. Also trim pots. Full sized pots can be
bent with one pin down and the other two up. And so on.

I wish I could find a cheap terminal block that would mount that way...

Of course, then you still have to connect the two sides of the PCB...

---
James Newton

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