The United States and computers

[ConLog]

I'm from the UK and always associated computers with the United States (although Britain done its bit with the Sinclair Spectrum). As a schoolkid 20 odd years ago I remember my first school computer being an AppleII.
I can visit any bookstore these days and 95% of computer books are still printed and published in the United States.

The question is, how many computer components these days are actually US designed and built?

Looking inside my PC, the only US company products I see are Maxtor, AMD and nVidia?

Strange how the country who gave the world PC's seem to be losing to the "Made in Taiwan" people.

[Propain]

Its all aboot money. Its cost pennies to make products in thoses countries. Also as you may notice theres abig "Made In Malaysia" stamp on AMD processors.

[not important]

I don't know about AMD or Nvidia but i just bought a new Maxtor HD. The tag on the wrapper says "Made In Singapore".

[ConLog]

Is there ANY American motherboard designers/manufactures anymore?

I used to think companies like AOpen, AUSTek and ABit were American until I read the small print - designed and built in Taiwan.

Sure it saves money paying people peanuts to produce a product and I might be wrong here but Japan, Taiwan and South Korea are not poor countries.

[ConLog]

Originally posted by not important I don't know about AMD or Nvidia but i just bought a new Maxtor HD. The tag on the wrapper says "Made In Singapore".

Yes but these products are by US companies (yeh they might be made in other countries but they are still American).

What I'm saying is, there are a lot of computer components produced nowadays that are not American in any shape or form.

I worked for electronics giant Unisys over here 10 years ago. Whilst they manufactured and designed here they were still an American company.

[Blakhart]

My dual cpu mobo was designed here in the US but built in Taiwan. I suppose that a lot of the design is done here, and then made overseas, just like my Tyan tiger...

[Propain]

Maybe thoses countries arent poor but lotsa of the people there are, and they work for peanuts.

[Force Flow]

Most hardware comes from oriental countries nowadays. That's half the reason why you see a lot of orientals in the computer business. It also helps that they have a metal capacity for that sort of thing.

Course, the real reason is economics. It's cheaper to produce hardware in places such as Taiwan, than it is in the UK or US.

On the programming side, a majority of the programmers are Indian (from India, not North America).

[sleepypost]

Originally posted by ConLog Japan, Taiwan and South Korea are not poor countries.

South Korea is VERY poor. Not third world necessarily but very very poor. I lived there for a month and even Seoul, the capital and "flagship" city, is in shambles. I would say it is somewhere between second world (if it exists) and third world...

[Boone]

Hey sleepy, how long ago were you there? I don't see how South Korea could be considered poor nowadays. They have some pretty major companies there like LG, Daewoo and Hyundai. They do have a different lifestyle and maybe the streets aren't as clean. But shambles? I've never been there myself but I have a South Korean co-worker that has shown me a lot of things that show how much the country has grown and improved.

[yellohut]

Originally Posted By force_flow2002 Most hardware comes from oriental countries nowadays. That's half the reason why you see a lot of orientals in the computer business. It also helps that they have a metal capacity for that sort of thing.

Not to be totally Politically Correct, but oriental refers to the rug..
I'm not sure what the correct terminology is, but probably east Asian or something.

[ConLog]

Originally posted by sleepypost South Korea is VERY poor. Not third world necessarily but very very poor. I lived there for a month and even Seoul, the capital and "flagship" city, is in shambles. I would say it is somewhere between second world (if it exists) and third world...

I stand corrected, I just checked on Encarta and South Korea is indeed relatively poor. Average income is only $8,000.

[David_Jones]

I've never heard anyone object to oriental (or, by implication, occidental) before.

Orient just means 'East' as far as I know?

I would have no objection to being referred to as being from either (or both!)

Please correct me if I am wrong.

David.

[i3OSS]

South Korea is VERY poor. Not third world necessarily but very very poor. I lived there for a month and even Seoul, the capital and "flagship" city, is in shambles. I would say it is somewhere between second world (if it exists) and third world...

WHAT?!?! are you guys kidding me?
http://ling.ucsd.edu/ling19/ling19la...an%20seoul.jpg (this is seoul)
they are kicking ass in cell phones too, things i see there come out here in the US 6 months LATER. and 8,000 per year? thats soo much BS you are probably getting mixed up with NORTH KOREA not South Korea.
and their airport, WOW~ i come back here to LAX and i think this place is crap, seriously.

[i3OSS]

"Korea, South As one of the Four Tigers of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. Three decades ago GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is roughly 20 times North Korea's and equal to the lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-99 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. Growth plunged by 6.6% in 1998, then strongly recovered to 10.8% in 1999 and 9.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and the perception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms have stalled. Led by industry and construction, growth in 2002 was an impressive 5.8%, despited anemic global growth. "

maybe it was like that like 50 years ago, but now its change drastically from what you guys are saying

[ConLog]

Originally posted by i3OSS 8,000 per year? thats soo much BS you are probably getting mixed up with NORTH KOREA not South Korea.

Seriously, that's what it says in Encarta RL 2002!

[RayH]

Intel and AMD may be the only firms manufacturing products in their own plants, even though overseas (from USA). Other companies may have goods manufactured FOR THEM under contract by other manufacutrers.

This means, other countries have acquired the technology. It may be sooner than what we believe that the US will have to pay the piper for having all its manufacturing facilities overseas.

Now, the tech companies are sending out their code work overseas. The only thing left in America is research and jobs in which people have to make acutal contact...like waiters!

[doctorgonzo]

I've looked at many sites; some say South Korea's per capita GDP is around $8,000, some put it as high as $15,000. Because the exchange rate fluctuates it is hard to pin down an exact number. Nevertheless, it is probably safe to say what one web site said, that South Korea's per capita GDP is on par with many Eastern European countries like Poland or the Czech Republic.

I don't know if the U.S. really will pay the piper for its free trade. India and China together have more than 2 billion people, and that's one heckuva large middle class when their economies become more advanced. Everyone will be better off, although it is certainly true that some industries will never be the same.

[Colonel Sanders]

Originally posted by force_flow2002 On the programming side, a majority of the programmers are Indian (from India, not North America).

From what I've heard, the programmers there might be cheaper, but you get more bugs...

Interesting bit on WD - apparently thier testing is a bit different than usual - it's not a matter of pass or fail, it's test it untill they can find a combination that makes it work.

L J

[RayH]

Dr Gonzo I don't know about India, but RIGHT NOW China has a larager middle class than the US. A friend of mine used to work for the State of California to facilitate trade between California and China.. He's the one that told me that.

I believe that China and India will make a play in the Data Base market, now run by Oracle, PeopleSoft, etc. Don't laugh, a lot of our US data services are being SERVICED oustide the United States. It's only a small step before they are also CONTROLLED oustide the US.