Quote from: nedbert9 on September 21, 2012, 01:51:58 AM

Quote from: loshia on September 20, 2012, 07:57:19 PM

It's China dude. You can hire people to assemble and solder boards 12 hours a day 7 days a week for $200 or less a month by the tens of thousands.

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Quite true but I know that China can buy and sell our ass hundreds of times:) It is just a matter of time this to happen. Back to the topic - I do not think that they can hire qualified people for 200 even in China. As far as i know 200 USD workers are something like "freelancers". They are farmers and are coming to the factory on a project base. What they do is farming mostly. I personally do not like the idea my ASIC to be soldered by farmer who had a good sleep a month ago, with eyes semi closed thinking about cows, chickens rise or whatever is left in the farm and so on..what about you? But as i said despite of hardware assembling itself..Their know-how is the bitstream or whatever it is called if such thing exists for ASICS and believe me they WILL NEVER outsource it. What i mean is that in any case they will have to do some of the work by themselves... Or at least testing ...

Pretty humorous. *** is reportedly installing a 'pick and place' system to do the SMT themselves.

Ok, if you don't have libertarian leanings and do take issue with what's going on with *** right now - think about your purchase decision carefully.

Even if you are 'locked in' to *** right now, as most are, there are alternatives for future purchases. All of them from relatively reputable members of the community.

yeah, China labor cost is greatly increase these years, $200 is not enough for a quality worker.
you must spend 300$ for him.

and the SMT welder operator's salary is 500$.