The Human Cost of an iPad

Dman001 · 28-05-2010 01:51AM

Sigh how many times does it have to be said that they manufacture products for many Tech firms such as Dell, HP, Motorola, Amazon, Nintendo, Sony etc.

Yet everytime I read the media reports on the factory and the recent controversy, Apple is the only company mentioned. Is it because of Apple's positive PR over the last couple of years that they are the only company mentioned?

m@cc@ · 28-05-2010 01:56AM

Dman001 wrote: »

Sigh how many times does it have to be said that they manufacture products for many Tech firms such as Dell, HP, Motorola, Amazon, Nintendo, Sony etc.

Yet everytime I read the media reports on the factory and the recent controversy, Apple is the only company mentioned. Is it because of Apple's positive PR over the last couple of years that they are the only company mentioned?

I wasn't aware that Apple were particularly targeted. But it can be any of the major conglomerates take part in human explotation of some sort. Of course they do, that's why their manufacturing takes place in South East Asia.

It just amuses me when you see one particular story in regards to this. Today's front page news, tomorrows fish supper wrapper.

Forest Master · 28-05-2010 02:22AM

ciano1 wrote: »

Pity apple won't humans as payment for an ipad

What?

jesus_thats_gre · 28-05-2010 02:32AM

Was there not some study performed where they compared suicide rates per 100,000 in China to that of that Foxconn plant and found that the Foxconn staff were slightly less like to commit suicide?

Edit:

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-and-dell-investigating-the-foxconn-working-conditions-2010-5

In fact, at 5.4 suicides per 100,000 people (400,000 people work at Foxconn), the Foxconn suicide rate is lower than it is in all 50 U.S. states.

In Wyoming, where the population is 512,757, and there are no sweatshops, 22.6 people per 100,000 commit suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

entropi · 28-05-2010 03:33AM

I'll never buy an Apple product, I just dont like them...

Then again after reading this story, I'm typing my reply on an Acer laptop:pac:

evolutionqy7 · 28-05-2010 04:31AM

imagine what they would charge for products if they paid them a quid an hour

Master of Nothing wrote: »

I'll never buy an Apple product, I just dont like them...

Then again after reading this story, I'm typing my reply on an Acer laptop

Acer FTW

maninasia · 28-05-2010 04:46AM

storm2811 wrote: »

Maybe,but there's not much you can do,nearly everything is "made in china/vietnam/malysia" etc.
And nearly all the working conditions in these places are the same as above.

apple suck anyway!

No usually they are WORSE than above. Foxconn's conditions are better than many if not most.

Mister men · 28-05-2010 08:08AM

I don't care about someone i don't know in China.

Biggins · 28-05-2010 08:20AM

bleg wrote: »

No, I won't buy it cause it's crap

Agreed.
Having look at its limitations, specs and what is little capable of, pass...
Add to that, the restricting of user rights to materials that is allowed on it, stuff Apple. They are setting a bad precedent.

Sadly fools and their money will be easily parted once more.
When I see a person with one of these irrelevant toys, I see a sucker.

topper75 · 28-05-2010 08:30AM

"Workers of the world unite!"

**** they already did that didn't they?

AAAAAAAHHH · 28-05-2010 09:07AM

nyarlothothep wrote: »

Most brands are engaged in this practice. Basically they have their goods produced by subcontractors, a pyramid scheme with the people who do the actual work at the bottom. Essentially the brand can focus on the marketing aspect and get away with investing as little as possible in the production. If workers get unionized or begin getting paid too much the corporations relocate to nations which vainly hope that they will get some of the benefits of a trickle down economy by having a multinational on their shores. Its a downright disgrace and unjustifiable. The abuses which go on these factories include from working until you die of exhaustion or disease, sexual harrasment and the miniscule pay level, which under normal circumstances contravene the labour laws of the host country. Once again it just highlights how far "humans" have to evolve. Its part of the whole system of the collusion of corporate and state elite control which needs to be reformed. But you can start by simply boycotting these brands and spreading the information about what they get up to. Its part of a long process of shifting public perception en masse such that the political culture doesn't allow such practices to continue. Kind of like the way in which having slaves is no longer permissable.

Why do you have humans in inverted commas?

biko · 28-05-2010 10:14AM

I just can't fathom a factory that employ 300.000 people.

The Mad Hatter · 28-05-2010 10:22AM

Biggins wrote: »

When I see a person with one of these irrelevant toys, I see a sucker.

I'll quote you on this when you announce that you've just bought the Android equivalent.

piby · 28-05-2010 10:23AM

Mister men wrote: »

I don't care about someone i don't know in China.

At least you're honest even if I don't agree with you.

cornbb · 28-05-2010 10:25AM

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/foremski/media-gets-its-facts-wrong-working-at-foxconn-significantly-cuts-suicide-risk/1356

Well if you overlook the sensationalism, it looks like the average Chinese worker is actually less likely to kill themselves if they work for Foxconn. But why let that get in the way of some good ole hype and outrage.

Also, let's overlook the fact that Foxconn make the Wii, the Kindle, the PS3, routers, motherboards and zillions of other things, when we have an opportunity to bash Apple.

Gurgle · 28-05-2010 10:27AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Would reports like this affect your decision to buy the product?

This factory (Foxconn) employs 400,000 people, who live and work at the campus. The majority are young men.

How does this stack up to the general worldwide suicide / attempted suicide rate for young men?

Biggins · 28-05-2010 10:34AM

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

I'll quote you on this when you announce that you've just bought the Android equivalent.

I'll be keeping you waiting.

pickarooney · 28-05-2010 10:37AM

starbelgrade wrote:

Yesterday a "saddened and upset" Apple promised to investigate whether the plant, which employs 300,000 people who earn around 35 cents an hour.

What does that work out at for a 10-hour shift?

ScumLord · 28-05-2010 10:38AM

In an attempt to prevent more suicides, the Taiwanese-owned firm has hired 2,000 singers, dancers and gym trainers. It is also putting up netting to thwart future suicides.

LOL... Weeeee, *boing* "oh no, he bounce, kill for more people, that 5 worker gone, oh noo..

Gurgle · 28-05-2010 10:41AM

pickarooney wrote: »

What does that work out at for a 10-hour shift?

They live in China ffs, they're not paying a mortgage in Lucan off their 35c per hour.

NothingMan · 28-05-2010 10:42AM

pickarooney wrote: »

What does that work out at for a 10-hour shift?

It was about then I realised it wasn't a Asian slave labourer at all, but the God Damn Lough Ness monster!

sbsquarepants · 28-05-2010 10:48AM

This just in - Whatever device you all used to read this post....made under exactly the same conditions, you might also want to look into how that coffee you drank this morning was made, where your clothes came from and so on and so forth. The world is a grossly unfair place populated by grossly unfair companies. Apple are no better or worse than any other.

Aids By Google · 28-05-2010 11:09AM

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6cf3f994-4437-11df-b327-00144feab49a.html

Were I work there are two of us. If one of us kills ourselves that means 50%, that's right, you heard me 50% of the employees would have committed suicide.

Shocking when you think about it.

pablomakaveli · 28-05-2010 11:12AM

According to this apple are pretty evil.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18377_5-reasons-you-should-be-scared-apple.html

ScumLord · 28-05-2010 11:25AM

Here's a brochure we got from a Chinese supplier.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/Turk/Chinese_company_spirit.jpg

Pittens · 28-05-2010 11:47AM

Story is ****.

1) Factory produces, as a subcontractor, most electronic equipment in the West.
2) Apple started using them later than most, Apple have a premium they can charge. Macs were never made there. Your Dell is far more likely to have been made there - cheap piece of sh*te that it is.
3) The sucicide rate is ( clearly) 10 per 400,000 in 6 months. Far less than a city of the same numbers in the West. Or ten colleges of 40,0000. Sucicides tend to peak amongst young men between 18-15 , the exact age group here.
4) Apple have looked into it. others have not.

I have no idea if you can sue over headlines - if the story then goes on to tell the real story ( other manufacturers are subcontracting). However a headline like iPad Factory Sucicides is misleading, or a lie.

so story is not a story. Typical Apple bashing rehashed by the half wits who use the majority OS and are appalled that a minority OS even exists...

As for the guy who used a Mac for the first time and found it difficult. Course it is.You are looking for menus at the bottom of a screen with a Start menu ( on the bottom left) which DOES EVERYTHING and when that is not available it is clearly going to put you in a tizzy.

Pittens · 28-05-2010 11:50AM

According to this apple are pretty evil.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18377...red-apple.html

According to me that series of stories is manufactured horsemanure..

marco_polo · 28-05-2010 11:53AM

Pittens wrote: »

Story is ****.

1) Factory produces, as a subcontractor, most electronic equipment in the West.
2) Apple started using them later than most, Apple have a premium they can charge. Macs were never made there. Your Dell is far more likely to have been made there - cheap piece of sh*te that it is.
3) The sucicide rate is ( clearly) 10 per 400,000 in 6 months. Far less than a city of the same numbers in the West. Or ten colleges of 40,0000. Sucicides tend to peak amongst young men between 18-15 , the exact age group here.
4) Apple have looked into it. others have not.

I have no idea if you can sue over headlines - if the story then goes on to tell the real story ( other manufacturers are subcontracting). However a headline like iPad Factory Sucicides is misleading, or a lie.

so story is not a story. Typical Apple bashing rehashed by the half wits who use the majority OS and are appalled that a minority OS even exists...

As for the guy who used a Mac for the first time and found it difficult. Course it is.You are looking for menus at the bottom of a screen with a Start menu ( on the bottom left) which DOES EVERYTHING and when that is not available it is clearly going to put you in a tizzy.

Persecution complex much?

It is not Apple bashing, happens to all big corporations at some point and on this occasion happens to be apples turn.

It was Bill Gs turn just last month.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/04/14/microsoft-in-hot-water-over-china-factory-conditions/

thirtythirty · 28-05-2010 11:55AM

I heard the iPad is blood-cooled.

Pittens · 28-05-2010 11:58AM

It is not Apple bashing, happens to all big corporations at some point and on this occasion happens to be apples turn.

If FoxConn - which has been around for ages and has produced Dell and others for ages, and has presumably had the same work practices for ages - has not been featured before in the Western Media, and is miss-classified as an iPad factory, then clearly the writer has an anti-Apple agenda.

It gets clicks from Apple fans, but most likely these days from Apple haters.

the latter will then repeat the headline : The title of this tread is not the human cost of a DELL.

so of course this is manipulated..

The Human Cost of an iPad

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