Apple is a proxy of what people want. The Soviet has already tried top down supply chain management and it did not work.
Apple is America's semiconductor problem
21–30 of 246 posts
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#22> With this position, Apple uses its outsized buying power to squeeze the margins of its suppliers such as Foxconn, leading to poor pay and terrible working conditions in Chinese factories. I'm sorry what? Poor pay and working conditions in the semiconductor hubs of China has been a problem as long as and before Apple made the iPhone. Apple certainly isn't HELPING that situation, but none of them are. All these fabs…
> None of this is unique to Apple.
It's not unique to Apple, but Apple is far better at it and far more focused on it than anybody. It's Tim Cook's particular strength, why he took over after Jobs died and has been a major focus of the company.
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#23The article makes sense to me. Apple has such a large marketing clout, they are able to set the prices. So prices are so low, they can only be made using boarderline slave labor.
Are we buying the same devices? Apple hardware is notoriously expensive.
Apple can set prices for their vendors/suppliers.
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#24I find the article compelling. He cited a lot of other articles, isn't making outrageous claims, provided concrete numbers, and isn't spinning unrealistic conspiratorial claims. The only core feature of human behavior we need to accept to believe the article is that some people are very greedy.
> He cited a lot of other articles, isn't making outrageous claims
One of these citations isn't even about chips, but he kind of implies it is. Not to mention, he said that apple stole technology. That has not been proven, the court case hasn't happened yet. Citing sources out of context, and making untrue claims about what the source says, makes the article less compelling in my opinion.
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#25Lol, maybe the author should ask himself if we ban Apple will we then see the American semiconductor industry boom and take over the world?
If not, then the logic is strenuous at best, you just viscerally hate Apple and want to find reasons to blame it as opposed to doing anything constructive for the American Semiconductor Industry. Something constructive would involve fixing the work ethic of American Semiconductor Factory employees which seems to be heavily lacking compared to their Taiwanese counterparts, a problem that we don’t see with say the AI workforce or any upper order white collar workforce.
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#26> With this position, Apple uses its outsized buying power to squeeze the margins of its suppliers such as Foxconn, leading to poor pay and terrible working conditions in Chinese factories. I'm sorry what? Poor pay and working conditions in the semiconductor hubs of China has been a problem as long as and before Apple made the iPhone. Apple certainly isn't HELPING that situation, but none of them are. All these fabs…
Monopsony is the correct term here it means that there is only one buyer. A monopoly means that there is only one seller.
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#27Was I the only person who saw this article was by Pete Singer and was briefly deeply confused? Why does the OG EA guy care about ... Oh. No R.
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#28> With this position, Apple uses its outsized buying power to squeeze the margins of its suppliers such as Foxconn, leading to poor pay and terrible working conditions in Chinese factories. I'm sorry what? Poor pay and working conditions in the semiconductor hubs of China has been a problem as long as and before Apple made the iPhone. Apple certainly isn't HELPING that situation, but none of them are. All these fabs…
Monopsony is correct in that case, meaning one buyer. The argument being that Imagination Technologies essentially had one buyer due to Apple's outsized demand for their component. When Apple left, their demand was substantially reduced with no one (or group) to pick up the slack. TSMC is in a better position, everyone is clamoring for their products (or really their services and production capabilities) so if Apple left they'd hurt a bit, but all the other buyers would be thrilled and TSMC would see a blip for maybe a quarter.
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#29> With this position, Apple uses its outsized buying power to squeeze the margins of its suppliers such as Foxconn, leading to poor pay and terrible working conditions in Chinese factories. I'm sorry what? Poor pay and working conditions in the semiconductor hubs of China has been a problem as long as and before Apple made the iPhone. Apple certainly isn't HELPING that situation, but none of them are. All these fabs…
>Poor pay and working conditions in the semiconductor hubs of China has been a problem as long as and before Apple made the iPhone. Apple certainly isn't HELPING that situation, but none of them are.
When the dominant player comes to town specifically BECAUSE of these terrible conditions and low prices, and use their market power to push prices even lower, they are absolutely part of the problem.
Re: Apple is America's semiconductor problem
#30The kind of monopoly apple has is interesting. In the US Apple has a complete monopoly on customers that spend money. If your app shows ads, apple customers are more valuable. If your app sells any kind of product apple users buy more. Market power is not determined by the number of users but by control of revenue.
Nothing you mentioned could be described as a monopoly. Monopoly has a definition, we can't just make it up as we go.
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