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22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

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171–180 of 211 posts

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#171
post #118

If my parents had bought me a $30k laser cutter I would be too. But I can't even afford the garage. If you want to worship a DIY-god then look up Jerry Ellsworth. She's the real deal, unlike this guy, and makes chips with her own dumpster-dived repaired machinery, not with contacts to the local University's million dollar research lab.

The article mentions she was an inspiration for the 22 year old and that she says of him he has taken her work to the next level.

I'm curious, what work were you doing that was stymied by your parents lack of funding?

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#172
post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are just saying that if you assume this following: * There is a rough fixed % of people that are capable of doing interesting things and maybe useful things * There are minimum levels of resources, time, and comfort that enables you to do interesting things * The current population that enjoys those resources isn't actually that different from the population at large in terms of that % Assuming all of that, if y…

You should read this shorty story: https://www.abelard.org/asimov.php

Excellent choice.

Asimov in the 1950's was quite a visionary. I always liked this.

But I never heard him referred to as "shorty" before ;)

Don't want to be a spoiler but in his visions for an increasingly advanced technological future once the 21st century would arrive, here the dystopian elements that had unfortunately accrued had to be fed to an increasingly conformist society as a utopia instead. No surprise considering the attitude during the Cold War. While the outliers having the true creative potential were subjected to an artificially dystopian environment by comparison, from which only the most-ambitious few would have to break out of on their own accord, against all odds, motivated only by their own committment, to take their rightful place as professionals.

Didn't have to wait until the 65th century to make significant progress in this direction.

>It is pretty clear from the photos that this young man is very fortunate to have well off and supportive parents.

Good observation, and maybe that's about all that's going to be having such an early start for some time to come now. But we don't need photos to be well aware he is vastly outnumbered by tons of more fortunate youngsters who have accomplished absolutely nothing at that age, if not perpetrated destructive efforts instead. Photos of their "accomplishments" outnumber this type of posting a million to one.

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#173

Indeed. The hardest part these days is getting access to a garage.

In California you could totally build an advanced New piece of technology like a new IC machine or process in way less time than you could build a simple permitted barn.

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#174
post #122
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interestingly, as a young Australian, I've thought about this a lot and I genuinely struggle to find a better country to live in. We have our share of problems, but compared to the problems of other countries, I can't help but feel they're significantly less. A large part of it being how isolated we are from the rest of the world and all the benefits that provides. Not to mention the low population density of the cou…

Come here to South Africa. In fact a lot of South African "expats" are moving back. Many, many places are extremely decent and lifestyle can be excellent.

It could just be the media, but I've heard nothing but terrible things about South Africa.

Failing government. Constant crime. Water shortages. Power blackouts. Is it perhaps different if you're living in a gated community?

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#175
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interestingly, as a young Australian, I've thought about this a lot and I genuinely struggle to find a better country to live in. We have our share of problems, but compared to the problems of other countries, I can't help but feel they're significantly less. A large part of it being how isolated we are from the rest of the world and all the benefits that provides. Not to mention the low population density of the cou…

It really depends what specific circumstances you are comparing. If you are looking at trades, low skill full time, or casual work, I dont think there is a better place to be. If you are comparing the lifestyle available from a full time skilled job (tech especially) its honestly not great. Work anywhere in Asia, and while your wage may be lower, what you get for it goes a whole lot further. Restaurants are a focus,…

I would have to disagree about the full time skilled job comment.

I work remotely for a tech company and to say that you can barely work in Australia whilst earning a very decent salary, is an understatement. 2 - 3 hours a day, at most (at least in tech). Some days you don't even have to do anything. And this is most large companies (although it depends on your rank).

This factor alone makes Australia an amazing place to live, excluding all the other reasons to live here.

Compared to America and Asia, if I have to work 3-4 times harder than I currently am, what am I actually gaining? I'm just losing time to live the life I truly want. No thank you.

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#176
post #174
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Come here to South Africa. In fact a lot of South African "expats" are moving back. Many, many places are extremely decent and lifestyle can be excellent.

It could just be the media, but I've heard nothing but terrible things about South Africa. Failing government. Constant crime. Water shortages. Power blackouts. Is it perhaps different if you're living in a gated community?

Depends where you live. I don't live in a gated community and I am not affected directly by crime. Power blackouts is called loadshedding and has to do with capacity. Get solar and batteries and you will be immune to that. It's being fixed too.

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#177

Indeed. The hardest part these days is getting access to a garage.

On that thread, his garage is larger than the entire space I rented for living in when I was his age. But the point I'm going on to make isn't just about how stupid the cost of housing is; it's that the high cost of housing comes with extra costs that we might not even see. How many people would be doing all sorts of neat things, some of which would genuinely bloom into real advances and ideas and genuine new wealth…

Going by the photos on that article, the garage is bigger than the 500sqft ex-council flat I rent with my girlfriend, for the equivalent of $2k/month, in London.

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#178
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh man such a funny joke. It's funny because it's true. That said, as a European the meme of "they started in their garage" always sounded so American. Maybe that's what Europe is lacking in terms of entrepreneurship - garages.

Yes, but also no. The US has a basic fluidity of business. You can build things at home (in your garage, if you have one) and try to sell them and establish a formal business later, if the business justifies the process. For a one person business, there's not really a lot of requirements to formalize a sole proprietor business either: often a local business license (which is mostly guaranteed issue and just a tax col…

Worth pointing out the same is true in other countries - in the UK, a sole trader business doesn't need to notify the government they exist at all until tax return time.

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not in Australia. Even rural is expensive.

Recently moved into a four-bedroom home in a moderately desirable suburb of Los Angeles. I myself work in tech field and my spouse is university faculty. Our subdiv is a large tract of homes built 15-25 years ago, all in the mid six figures to just a hair over seven. At least three of the neighbors within sight of my own house are some sort of residential construction or property trade contractor. Two are public scho…

I know tradies with massive houses and smallholdings within 50 miles of London. I've also lived with tradies in a 4-person semi-legal HMO.

The error bars here are huge.

Re: 22-year-old builds chips in his parents' garage (2022)

#180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recently moved into a four-bedroom home in a moderately desirable suburb of Los Angeles. I myself work in tech field and my spouse is university faculty. Our subdiv is a large tract of homes built 15-25 years ago, all in the mid six figures to just a hair over seven. At least three of the neighbors within sight of my own house are some sort of residential construction or property trade contractor. Two are public scho…

Most tradespeople I know can’t afford “hair over seven” figures for a home. Everyone in your neighborhood is house poor. They are banking on equity. They had a sizable upfront down payment. Like I said, all the tradespeople I know are struggling with lower 6, much less hair over 7.

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