Some Apple iMacs "Assembled In America"

whisper_jeff writes "A number of newly-purchased standard units are showing an "Assembled in America" notation. While the markings don't necessarily mean that Apple is in the midst of transferring its entire assembly operation from China to the U.S., it does indicate that at least a few of the new iMacs were substantially assembled domestically."

Misdirection

[asmkm22]

I couldn't care less about where it was assembled. The parts are still made in China, which is where the quality is real labor comes from. I'll be impressed if they open up actual factories here in the US, and stop using Ireland to funnel cheaper tax rates.

What are you typing on?

[SuperKendall]

I couldn't care less about where it was assembled. The parts are still made in China

If you cared about both things then you had better not be typing on a computer less than twenty years old.

Otherwise why are you harping on Apple for slowly shifting some assembly AND manufacture (remember they make chips in Texas) to the U.S. and giving every other company a free pass?

It's obvious it's going to take some time to move much of the whole process back to the U.S., if it can be done at all. At least Apple is trying.

Re:Misdirection

[thestudio_bob]

I couldn't care less about where it was assembled. The parts are still made in China, which is where the quality is real labor comes from. I'll be impressed if they open up actual factories here in the US, and stop using Ireland to funnel cheaper tax rates.

I'm sure this is directed to all large multi-national companies and not just Apple, right? Or is the old adage, "Haters going to hate." in full effect here?

Re:Assembled in USA, not America - Big difference!

[msauve]

The article is misleading, too. It states "the 21.5-inch iMacs are some of the first known examples of an Apple computer being assembled in the U.S., according to Fortune."

However, Apple ][, ][+, Macintoshes up to at least the SE and Mac II, were all made in the USA.

Re:What are you typing on?

[scot4875]

The reason that Apple gets singled out is because they go to such lengths to make sure you see the "Designed by Apple in California" every time you open one of their products, to trigger the "rah rah USA company!" emotional response. If they didn't go to such lengths to intentionally manipulate people, and also if they didn't position themselves as a premium brand when, in fact, their shit is made out of the same components and made in the same facilities as everybody else's shit, they might have a justifiable argument against being singled out.

This is potentially a step in the right direction, at least. Nowhere near enough to take them out of the "do not recommend, do not buy" category though.

--Jeremy

Re:But...

[Anonymous Coward]

Over the past 30 years, wages in the U.S. have remained flat while productivity has doubled. So the average worker is producing twice as much for the same pay. Where do you think all of that extra free production capacity goes? It maybe is related to the concentration of wealth at the top. Whatever your take on Unions, they're labor cost are still inadequate compared to production. But whatever, keep sucking up to the rich and maybe they'll actually let you kiss their ring one day.

CMs for protoproduction.

[AndyKron]

Sometimes companies start a new product in the states at a contract manufacturer so they can stay close, and work out the production lines. After that the information goes overseas. I used to work for a CM where we'd get this type of job all the time.

Re:But...

[ranton]

they're labor cost are still inadequate compared to production

Unless Union members are the ones responsible for the increased productivity (as opposed to the robotics engineers, business process analysts, etc.), how could you possibly think they are due any increased pay based on their increased production? Even if Union members are responsible for some of the increases in productivity, if they were being paid by the company while they were devising ways to improve productivity then they are still not entitled to increased pay (other than raises based on merit, but Unions are generally against that).

If Unions were doing their own productivity research based on money obtained from Union dues, then I completely agree that Union members should share in the extra profit that comes from the increased productivity.

Re:What are you typing on?

[the_B0fh]

Because they actually design their stuff in California, unlike every other brand?

Seriously, that chip on your shoulder? Doesn't it get heavy?