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The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

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181–190 of 741 posts

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#181
So, even though Intel has been incredibly profitable for many years, they Gelsinger is asking for US and EU government support because... uh, uncertain times? That it?

How much did they ask Isreal for this 600 million investment? [0]

[0] https://www.israel21c.org/intel-announces-600-million-boost-...

The EU should invest in AMD and build fabs without Intel if we are to be "independent"

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#182
post #4

Why is there a shortage rather than a price hike, similar to what would happen with fuel? Long term contracts?

I think the assumption there is that these are running as efficient markets, but the reality likely is that these are negotiated contracts that have not caught up with supply and demand.

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#183

Regarding cars: "Some carmakers are now leaving out high-end features as a result of the chip shortage, according to a Bloomberg report on Thursday. Nissan is reportedly leaving navigation systems out of cars that would normally have them, while Ram Trucks has stopped equipping its 1500 pickups with a standard “intelligent” rearview mirror that monitors for blind spots" I have an unpopular opinion, especially when we…

Yeah, the size of these trucks has completely put me off ever wanting one. I miss the small ones from a few decades ago... great for surfing, hauling the ver occasional bit of stuff, just as useful as the ugly beasts of today but far cheaper and more maneuverable and safer.

I think we need to start requiring commercial drivers licenses on some of these beasts.

They are intentionally designed to be difficult to see out of, difficult to see around. And the high point of contact on a human body means that they are deadly. Definitely should not be allowed on a residential street without an explicit commercial purpose, IMHO.

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#184
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> why are there shortages for these basic chips? Can’t they be made anywhere, and more easily? Not really. Semiconductor fabs are built around "tools" from manufacturers like AMAT and Nikon. Those tool vendors make most of their money from selling new tools for fancy new processes, not supporting 20-year-old stuff. Eventually stuff breaks, and fabs have to offline these older processes. The way this works in the tech…

Actually, ASML provides lifetime support for their machines. I don't know for the rest.

Most 20-30 years old machines on the market are Japanese, ASML wasn't that dominant in the long tail market up until DUV era.

And Japanese almost as a rule have whack a good leasing, and service business, including replacement parts for close to 30 years old equipment.

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#185

Regarding cars: "Some carmakers are now leaving out high-end features as a result of the chip shortage, according to a Bloomberg report on Thursday. Nissan is reportedly leaving navigation systems out of cars that would normally have them, while Ram Trucks has stopped equipping its 1500 pickups with a standard “intelligent” rearview mirror that monitors for blind spots" I have an unpopular opinion, especially when we…

Smaller trucks are available for those who want them. Most buyers prefer larger trucks.

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don’t want a monthly car payment pay a monthly car payment so later you can have a smaller monthly car payment?

I think the idea is that you accrue the interest yourself instead of paying it to someone else.

Yeah, but a savings account? Interest rates for savings are abysmal, and auto-loans are themselves frequently near (or at) zero these days, so it's losing advice as-given.

Better advice: put the money in the market or other higher-yielding investment, then take a low or no interest loan on the vehicle when the time comes so those investments can continue to grow at the much higher clip. Money's just too cheap to give away your own cash. Obviously, if the interest rate environment changes, this should be re-evaluated.

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#187
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I couldn’t imagine not having smart lights, they are one of the few iot devices that make my life a lot more comfortable- def not a novelty

What do you use them for that is really helpful? I’m considering getting some Hue lightbulbs, but it seems like a bit of a waste.

Color temp and dimming-without-buzz. And you can put the switch etc wherever you want, and change color temp and brightness automatically before bed.

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#188

Regarding cars: "Some carmakers are now leaving out high-end features as a result of the chip shortage, according to a Bloomberg report on Thursday. Nissan is reportedly leaving navigation systems out of cars that would normally have them, while Ram Trucks has stopped equipping its 1500 pickups with a standard “intelligent” rearview mirror that monitors for blind spots" I have an unpopular opinion, especially when we…

I definitely agree that car size inflation is a real problem. Cars are too big and getting bigger every year.

That said, "good visibility" is not a replacement for safety tech. The sensors and cameras in a car are always going to be better at spotting danger than a human for things like blind spot monitoring and backup cameras.

You sound a bit like the teachers that would drill mental math because "you won't always have a calculator in your pocket". It's good to be able to do mental math, and it's good to be an alert driver, but let's not ignore the massive capabilities that technology allows.

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#189
post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We are in the iPod Video stage of individual car ownership.

Are you saying that the next step will be the best version of individual car ownership?

I sure hope so. I think car culture is bad art.

But to defend the analogy, iPod Video was iPod gen 5. Apple did two more generations on that format with the minimum additional feature set.

That might take a while. And there will be many a Zune sold in the meantime.

Re: The global chip shortage is starting to have consequences

#190
post #51

Ban cryptocurrency exchanges and some of the wafer capacity currently being dedicated to mining will return to regular use (or we can just wait for the ETH2 merge, then ban the purchase of PoW cyrpto). Secondly get workers back to work by ending COVID-era unemployment payments and workplace restrictions.

China banned it and something like 60% of the mining happens there. The whole thing was built to get around bans. Also crypto was thing that just pushed us over the edge, before that Apple was buying out (preventing any chips from being manufactured at) entire node sizes, there were serious issues with semiconductor manufacturing already.

Enforcing and banning something is very different, especially in China.
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