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Yeah you bring up a good point. I can't imagine assembling iPods is the most engaging activity ever, and most Americans would probably scoff at the kind of labor they seem to think is below them.

Kind of similar to when they raise an uproar about illegal immigrants taking all the jobs away, when they wouldn't be caught dead doing the kind of work some immigrants do.

At 10% unemployment, I don't know many people who would scoff at a job these days.

And, it isn't that illegal immigrants do jobs that people "wouldn't be caught dead doing" -- it's that they do jobs that people wouldn't be caught dead doing for below minimum wage. There are plenty of Americans who would pick fruit or clean buildings for a fair wage -- they just don't get the opportunity because an immigrant will do the job for cash at poverty wages.
 
Wirelessly posted (iPod touch 16GB: Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Number 41 said:
There is nothing wrong with companies using resources abroad. It's called specialization. Why produce something for more money and less efficiently when it can be done better and cheaper elsewhere?

Because it's rapidly becoming the case that EVERYTHING can be produced more cheaply in places like China and India -- even things that were previously thought to be "safe" industries (medical X-Rays are read in India / China, legal documents are authored overseas and sent back to the US to be signed) because they required and educated or advanced workforce.

So, I turn the question back to you -- how will you afford to buy an iPod when you are asked to take a substantial (50% or more) pay cut because an individual in India or China can do YOUR job more cheaply.

Globalization is a race to the bottom, and nobody seems to understand that while the 3rd world rises up, the 1st world inevitably must slide down.

So, so true.
 
Not much good in hyping up new products if many of your core components are unobtainable.
Don't know if this is a blanket statement or if you're talking about Apple specifically. "Hyping" is an odd word and very negative. If you're talking about Apple marketing and advertising a product, that's hardly fair. Why? For one, it's their product so they need to advertise it. Secondly, they hardly advertise. I see from time to time a commercial on TV and from time to time, an ad. Hardly "hyping". They get most of their best advertisement from happy customers and those predicting Apple news. They're one company who doesn't really have to remind people that they are around. When they want free publicity, they just hold a press conference and the message gets out.

The Japanese are resilient, but it will take years for them to fully recover.
For some, yes. But for those that are dynamic to the economies of other big companies/countries, they will get the support they need to get back into production of all the things that the world needs.
 
You guys got me there, don't really have an answer for that one. I wasn't aware that other countries looked down on products manufactured here, that's a shame.
:(

Well hopefully the companies that manufacture products here step their game up in the near future!

Yeah sorry, the two previous and my opinion were a bit harsh and all back to backs!
 
At 10% unemployment, I don't know many people who would scoff at a job these days.

And, it isn't that illegal immigrants do jobs that people "wouldn't be caught dead doing" -- it's that they do jobs that people wouldn't be caught dead doing for below minimum wage. There are plenty of Americans who would pick fruit or clean buildings for a fair wage -- they just don't get the opportunity because an immigrant will do the job for cash at poverty wages.

Yeah, that's true.

What's the solution though? Living in Arizona I hear about this issue ALL THE TIME on the news, and it seems like there are many different pros and cons to any potential solution they come up with.
 
Yeah you bring up a good point. I can't imagine assembling iPods is the most engaging activity ever, and most Americans would probably scoff at the kind of labor they seem to think is below them.

Kind of similar to when they raise an uproar about illegal immigrants taking all the jobs away, when they wouldn't be caught dead doing the kind of work some immigrants do.

Hammer, meet nail head. I'm an American, and unfortunately I must agree with iliketyla's assessment. There is this incredible sense of entitlement that has pervaded American culture. So many people want at least $20 per hour, but [insert deity or lack of one here] forbid they should lift more than two pounds.

Enter the illegal immigrants, who find the pay good enough to live on, not to mention the location, location, location. Hmm... $5 an hour harvesting lettuce heads for hours on end, or dodging drug-cartel bullets in Ciudad Juarez day and night. Not too tough a decision for me, and IMHO one worth the risk of getting caught by US border police.
 
I'd pay a premium for products manufactured in the US.

Products might be more expensive, but there would be more Americans employed. As much are there is a downside to producing here, there is also an upside.

Up to another 50% on what they already cost?
 
Up to another 50% on what they already cost?

Well even though my argument was already refuted by the citizens of other continents on here, in a perfect world the products would cost more yes, but we'd also be making more money with employment here in the U.S.

Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world, and the U.S. makes products that other countries have no interest in buying due to poor quality.
 
Did anybody else notice that this "fourth generation iPod touch image" has the camera in the middle top of the body???
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)



Nanobots in the bloodstream!

I suppose we'll have to sync via IV drip? :D However, it would be rather neat to have the nanobots vibrate the eardrums and cilia directly. That would get rid of those annoying headphone cables once and for all.

But we digress...
 
Are you serious? who cares about ipods & battery shortages when there is a crysis =/..
 
Did anybody else notice that this "fourth generation iPod touch image" has the camera in the middle top of the body???

Maybe because the fourth generation iPod touch has a camera in the middle top of the body?

Are you serious? who cares about ipods & battery shortages when there is a crysis =/..

You are so right - because a terrible thing has occurred in Japan we shouldn't even mention them for a couple of years. Never mind that this is a website devoted to "Apple Mac Rumours and News You Care About". The next time something tragic happens here in America the entire website should shut down for a year or two, because Apple is an American company.
 
Can I just say I am amazed at some of the responses on this thread. Typical American and often I must admit British protectionism coming straight out like a bad smell. Without these so called "3rd world" workers Apple would be a lowly player. Firstly Japan is not "3rd world". It is one of the most developed countries in the world, and has some of the most adept and intelligent people on this planet. Secondly, the term "3rd world" and "1st world" is offensive. The proper term is developing and developed world. Thirdly, I am sure that we will all be fine if we dont get a few iPod batteries or glue. People have died over there and continue to die because of this tragedy. This is surely more important than a load of old microchips. Sorry. Rant over.

:cool::apple::(
 
Can I just say I am amazed at some of the responses on this thread. Typical American and often I must admit British protectionism coming straight out like a bad smell. Without these so called "3rd world" workers Apple would be a lowly player. Firstly Japan is not "3rd world". It is one of the most developed countries in the world, and has some of the most adept and intelligent people on this planet. Secondly, the term "3rd world" and "1st world" is offensive. The proper term is developing and developed world. Thirdly, I am sure that we will all be fine if we dont get a few iPod batteries or glue. People have died over there and continue to die because of this tragedy. This is surely more important than a load of old microchips. Sorry. Rant over.

:cool::apple::(

Did I miss a post somewhere in which someone referred to Japan as a third world country? (Honest question, no troll)
 
Microsoft is smarter than Apple here

In 5-10 years the iPod will become extinct. By then the touch will be hanging on a thin wire.

Note that MS is dropping the standalone Zune hardware, and moving the Zune interface into Windows Phone 7.

If your phone can do it all, why make standalone music players?
 
Can I just say I am amazed at some of the responses on this thread. Typical American and often I must admit British protectionism coming straight out like a bad smell. Without these so called "3rd world" workers Apple would be a lowly player. Firstly Japan is not "3rd world". It is one of the most developed countries in the world, and has some of the most adept and intelligent people on this planet. Secondly, the term "3rd world" and "1st world" is offensive. The proper term is developing and developed world. Thirdly, I am sure that we will all be fine if we dont get a few iPod batteries or glue. People have died over there and continue to die because of this tragedy. This is surely more important than a load of old microchips. Sorry. Rant over.

:cool::apple::(

I agree that we will "all be fine" if the world faces iPod touch shortages. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't be upset about it - can I not care about the people who lost their lives or had their lives turned upside down AND a company that will face problems? The two are not mutually exclusive.
 
Expensive to make in Japan

Why use Japanese companies over American Companies. If they are made in China by a Japanese company why would that be cheaper than an American company being made in China? Also if the plants are in Japan they are just as expensive or more to produce in Japan as it is in the U.S. Have you seen any cameras or t.v's made in Japan for the U.S? Japanese people will not buy a t.v or camera etc if it's made outside of Japan, that why they pay much more for products made in Japan. If they are not going to make them in their U.S. make them in China for the lowest cost.
 
I agree that we will "all be fine" if the world faces iPod touch shortages. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't be upset about it - can I not care about the people who lost their lives or had their lives turned upside down AND a company that will face problems? The two are not mutually exclusive.

I wasnt getting at anyone considering the position apple was in I was just a bit miffed that people considered Japan to be somehow a hindrance overall to apples business model. After all we are in a global market place and may it continue, only through collaboration will we get better and better electronics and consumer goods. No offence intended. :)
 
Note that MS is dropping the standalone Zune hardware, and moving the Zune interface into Windows Phone 7.

If your phone can do it all, why make standalone music players?
I am stuck in a limbo where I want the phone for everything that it does except the phone part...
 
I'd pay a premium for products manufactured in the US.

Products might be more expensive, but there would be more Americans employed. As much are there is a downside to producing here, there is also an upside.

Apple's only business is not the US and as things stand right now, people say that a 499 iPad is too expensive. Imagine what it would cost if they didn't manufacture these devices overseas.
 
Note that MS is dropping the standalone Zune hardware, and moving the Zune interface into Windows Phone 7.

The Zune was a market flop though, and MS need to focus their efforts if only tp stop the shareholders from getting antsy.

If your phone can do it all, why make standalone music players?

Because there will always be cases where for whatever reason one might not want or need a phone.
 
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