All of the outsourcing to China has made part and product quality lower. Manufacturers are trying to make their product appealling to customers by using white plastic, blue LEDs, etc. while using nonstandard ways to hold the unit together such as OEM-specific screws, etc. to prevent people from seeing what's inside. Most electronics made today are basically "throw-away", meaning that they break down easily, and it is impossible to open it to try to even see what the problem is, not mentioning repairing it. Then the customer is intended to just throw away the device in a landfill, which contaminates the environment with lead, etc. that the parts, pcb's, etc. use-remember, they utilize PC boards nowadays, instead of predrilled prototyping circuit boards. The assembly of this requires the use of CFC's. Of couse, I don't mind having cheap products that I buy for cheap, throwing it away after a few months and getting an updated version. I just don't think all products should be like this. Sometimes, I want better quality. For example, I once was working on a computer when it just restarted. Turns out the caps on the motherboard failed, because they were made in China, and had to throw it away since it is impossible to unsolder a 6-layer mobo. I had multiple instances of psu's failing just because the manufacturer saved a few cents on a lower-grade cooling fan, resistor, cap, etc. Higher integration among modern products may actually be a bad thing. If a nuclear or EMP bomb detonated in the US, it could affect all products that use semiconductor technology. Imagine all computers, cellphones, TVs, cars, etc. in the whole continent just mysteriously breaking down, and vacuum tube technology working. Sounds like an oxymoron, but it's true. I am not saying that we should use tube radios, etc. because its just unrealistic. We have no other option except using lower-integration semiconductor parts such as bipolar npn\pnp transistors, IC's etc. which will only lower the risk. I don't know about you, but I'm saving my old electronics. My old LW\MW\SW\FM\VHF radio works for 30 years now, receives hundreds of stations around the world (including military, ship, aeronautical conversations, etc.) and works better than my satellite radio receiver that I have to pay each month for the subscription. Probably one of the reasons they stopped selling shortwave receivers in the US is due to politics, etc., not to mention eavesdropping on government services. Modern electronics such as cellphones, etc. are traceable and less secure than other forms of conversation. And I just hate it when the battery is low and it turns off. I mean, there is still 3.2V of power!!! Why turn the whole phone off? Are they afraid the decorative blue LED lighting a shade darker? Just some things to think about...
These computers look like they are for kindergarteners. What they need to do is reuse REAL computers that are obsolete in the US. Yes, you have to install the OS and all the software, BUT have you ever heard of a program called "Norton Ghost" that makes whole entire copies of hd's off a cd drive?
PS3 is following in 360's footsteps
Nov 19th 2006 3:52PM (Joystiq)OLPC $100 laptop shown in final form?
Mar 4th 2006 6:49PM (Engadget)