General Discussions

**ibbo** · 06-13-2006, 11:21 AM

This is a rather intersting article

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index...S&NewsID=14915

How much do they make off these things if this labour cost is true.

We should be boycotting these kinds of products for A they take jobs away from our areas and B they are (it would seem) exploiting these people and making vast profits from them.

Tut Tut Apple

Ibbo

**dwirken** · 06-14-2006, 02:05 PM

i don't believe that.

and if it is true, then microsoft, intel and all that is using them also.

**WinSrev** · 06-17-2006, 11:04 AM

That sounds like something Apple would do, i guess the demand of iPods is too much for them. And Microsoft and AMD employes are paid decent wages.

**Christopher** · 06-17-2006, 01:08 PM

Apple released a statement about this the other day: http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index...e&NewsID=14935

**CasaPages** · 06-17-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chroder

Apple released a statement about this the other day: http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index...e&NewsID=14935

Yeah sounds like a pretty typical response.....

I wouldnt doubt they are sketchy, thus the corporate world and it being all about the bottom line.

**buzzshare1** · 06-20-2006, 07:51 PM

Well we are living in a free world - so they can do whatever they choose - is this right or wrong???

**ADAM Web Design** · 06-21-2006, 12:26 AM

The most disturbing aspect of MAC isn't this. It's the stupid PC vs. MAC commercials they keep airing now where they try to make MAC out to be the intelligent alternative to a PC by having some skater-type represent the MAC and some stuffy middle-aged middle manager represent the PC.

I actually wanted to hurl something at my TV the first time I saw one of them. They're just so...so...Applesque. (Then again, so is the Flash vs. QuickTime conflicting install fight going on.)

**stOx** · 06-21-2006, 02:22 AM

Yeah i have been watching them adverts on youtube, They are corny and smug and are quite patronising to users.
This is closer to the truth

**jason_bristol** · 06-21-2006, 02:26 PM

That's very funny. Even more funny because all I use are macs. They are still better than PCs though.

**buzzshare1** · 06-21-2006, 05:50 PM

Ii’s not what tool you are using is’t how you use it that counts large numbers...

**freehelp** · 06-22-2006, 03:49 AM

You'd be surprised how many other you products you buy come from labour situations much worse than that.

**stOx** · 06-22-2006, 05:05 AM

Things like labour conditions and wages are relative.
What may be poor working conditions and low wages to us maybe be high paying jobs in excelent conditions in other countries.

It's national economy in a nut shell.
If other countries demanded the wage we get we wouldn't be manufacturing our products there, which in turn would damage thier economy, which in turn would mean they would work in even poorer conditions for even lower wages with no hope of improving thier economy at all..

**ibbo** · 06-22-2006, 06:19 AM

So just becuase its Apple and every one wants an Ipod that makes it OK for Apple to exploit cheap labour? I know some business whom have received massive slamming for there exploitation of cheap labour.

But thats capitalism I guess.

The rich get richer while the poor (who are they again) .......

Ibbo

**stOx** · 06-22-2006, 07:45 AM

Like i say, It's relative.

Capitolism means everybody gets richer, The rich get richer and the poor get richer, But there is still a gap between the two.
The trouble is people are too busy looking at the next guy and saying "i want what he's got".

What would be better for third world countries, Would it be better that apple weren't making thier product in thier country, or is it best that they are?

Now think about this, How can apple produce thier products in a country where doctors get paid $100 a week and pay people who put ipods together $500 a week? What do you think would happpen in that country? Would doctors still want to be doctors, or would they want to be the guy who screws on the backs of apple ipods?

The mistake people make is to look at other countries earnings compared to ours, Which you can't do. If you want to look at working conditions and wages you have to compare it to the working conditions and wages oof others doing similar jobs in the same country.

If left wingers were in charge of the planet we would have have equal amounts of nothing.

**ibbo** · 06-23-2006, 10:01 AM

"Capitolism"

Sadly does not mean everyone gets richer, it seperates the two by the richer getting richer yes, but these are the ones who exploit cheap labour. Minimum wages are relatively new and if not for them been introduced many people would still be living in virtual poverty.

Thats capitalism.

"What would be better for third world countries, Would it be better that apple weren't making thier product in thier country, or is it best that they are?"

To you and me It is transparent as to where these products are put together. As a big business they should have morals and ethics about using such cheap labour. At days end your Ipod dont cost any less juts becaue its been made in a cheap labour nation.

So not only do Apple benefit twice is this little arangement they ripp you (for they never lower their prices to reflect the production cost) so they are screwing you over too.

Add to this the fact that they tend to crack a lot and its makes it nothing more than a cheap not so rubust peice of technology thats appears to have cut every corner going yet your still paying through your teeth for it.

I don't have an Ipod and If I did I would keep it (after all like I said its transparent to me) but the over all picture is not so rosy and to say as a couple of civilised nations we certainly in many ways dont act like we are.

And overall thats the issue (not whyo or where but what).

Ibbo

**stOx** · 06-23-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Sadly does not mean everyone gets richer, it seperates the two by the richer getting richer yes, but these are the ones who exploit cheap labour. Minimum wages are relatively new and if not for them been introduced many people would still be living in virtual poverty.

Of course not everybody gets richer, But i does mean more people have opportunities to work. Which means more people will be making money, That's a good thing.

Quote:

To you and me It is transparent as to where these products are put together. As a big business they should have morals and ethics about using such cheap labour. At days end your Ipod dont cost any less juts becaue its been made in a cheap labour nation.

So you don't like cheap labour because it doesn't dirrectly benifit you? Would you be happier if "exploitation" meant you got cheaper products? To me that seems worse than what corporations are doing.

Market prices are not, and have never been, A reprisentation of manufacturing costs.
When a company decides what to charge for a product they charge what it's market value is, It's not based on how much it cost them to manufacture the item.

Quote:

As a big business they should have morals and ethics about using such cheap labour.

I would put it the other way round.. I would say they are moraly obliged to manufacture products in countries where labour is cheaper. Because if companies like Apple didn't make ipods in these counties those people would have no chance of improving thier economy.