Japan earthquake could affect iPad production

[jocampo]

Disaster in Japan could affect the production of some electronic devices, including iPad:

Analysts said small companies in Japan, China and other Asian countries would bear the brunt of those price increases, as larger companies tend to have long-term contracts for parts. But even giants like Apple could be affected.

http://nyti.ms/gsiNSF

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Let Japan straighten out its problems. We can wait.

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

Let Japan straighten out its problems. We can wait.

[DixieGal]

Agreed. Those people need to tend to food, water, and shelter. My wants pale beyond insignificance in the face of such devastation.

I wish that i could bring the whole nation to my house, to cook for and comfort them.

But the financial aftershocks will certainly create ripples of devastation in those affiliated suppliers and contractors down the line as well.

It is horrible how thin our veneer of modernity can be when challenged for our basic survival. Food, water, and shelter. When one or all of these elements is removed, it must become the immediate priority.

[jocampo]

Folks,

Agree! I wanted to share that news because thought it was interesting. But life is way more important than a piece of electronic device.

[Yolina]

Deleted... apparently it was maudlin and absurd

[leebase]

Originally Posted by Yolina

May I suggest that people who were considering a new iPad or tablet or whatever else might consider making a donation to one of the Japan appeal charities instead?

Why? Not "why give to Japan", buy why suggest that we not buy the goods we desire and can afford?

One could just as easily say "May I suggest that all mobileread.com customers cancel their internet service and give money to those in need in Japan". By all of us participating here today, we are just parading how heartless we are to pay for the sillyness of INTERNET access when real suffering is going on in the world.

Lee

[DixieGal]

Lee, i don't think she was being snarky. Like all of us, probably just wondering how to help.

[Danielle]

Originally Posted by Yolina

May I suggest that people who were considering a new iPad or tablet or whatever else might consider making a donation to one of the Japan appeal charities instead?

I agree!

My heart is breaking for all the people in Japan.

[Yolina]

Deleted... apparently it was maudlin and absurd

[MsAstoria]

Give what you can to Red Cross or charitable agency of choice, but if you have a purchase in your future, then do. They need revenue too for economic stability and jobs for their people.
Of course iPad comes out of China but lots of internal parts do come out of Japan.

[Worldwalker]

Leebase, there are times when your position is not appropriate. This is one of them.

And yes, the effects of the Japanese earthquake are rippling through many other areas. I keep tropical fish, and I was looking forward to my local fish store getting in some red cherry shrimp yesterday. No shrimp, and there aren't going to be any shrimp -- theirs come straight from Japan. (they're little bright red freshwater shrimp ... very decorative in fish tanks if you like that sort of thing; I do) Countries are linked together in the modern world in ways we don't even notice until some of them affects us personally.

Unlike, say, Haiti, Japan is a very rich country. They're not going to be struggling to pay for their earthquake repairs. But anything that goes to support outside groups (urban SAR teams, etc.) going to help, especially those whose countries are not paying their travel bills, could be a huge help. During a natural disaster, people like SAR dog handlers, emergency doctors, etc., get on the planes first and think about how to pay for it later. Help from their fellow citizens is what makes it possible.

Something else overlooked is support for their employers. Do you have a co-worker who might not show up some morning, with only a "in the field, back when I can" note in their place? It can be hard to find a boss that allows that sort of thing. His donation is a hole in his business, and that, too, needs to be dealt with. Pitch in and make sure their work gets done. Long ago, I was that person; you would not believe how much it matters to know that your job is being covered while you're getting your two hours of sleep on a cement slab somewhere. Are you one of their customers? Cut them some slack; they can't be here to help you, they're helping people who need them more than you do. They'll be back, probably tired and sore and with haunted eyes and stories they can't tell, but they'll be back. Knowing that their customers, too, think what they're doing is more important than the optimal distribution of wealth is another sanity saver.

And as for getting an iPad, if you wanted one: Certain people thinking of Apple's profits. That's what they're here for. Buy, buy, buy. But for those of us with hearts, those who aren't paid to only care about a particular company, yes, it does matter. Not just for the benefits to the people who need it right now, but to ourselves. Feeling good about yourself instead of greedy is worth more than any gadget. Just time-shift your spending. Let's say your discretionary funds, which you've been saving for your iPad, amount to $X per month. You find out that one will be available for you in 3 months. So you have $3X from your iPod fund you can spend on relief aid, and then refill the fund over the next 3 months from your discretionary line item. You're doing what you can to help, so you feel good. You're still buying an iPad as soon as you can, so the company shills are happy. Everybody wins.

p.s. Doctors Without Borders is always a good charity to support if you don't have a personal favorite already. They focus more on the undeveloped parts of the world than the urbanized ones, but they do have teams in Japan.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

Leebase, there are times when your position is not appropriate. This is one of them.

Appropriate? Someone suggests that instead of buying iPads we give money to Japan? And THAT'S not maudlin and worthy of comment?

Is ANYTHING more important than helping people in need? Don't pay for internet, give to folks in need. Don't buy a car, give to people in need. Ok, buy car, but only a used Yugo to give to folks in need.

I'm not the one stepping into a thread that's related to the iPad and inserting the absurd notion that I replied to. Every single thread on this board could easily have the comment "why talk about this topic, just stop and give money to Japan".

It was absurd and deserved to be called out as such.

Lee

[Yolina]

Deleted... apparently it was maudlin and absurd

[elcreative]

And Worldwalker has the nerve to criticise leebase for a reasonable comment and then puts this rubbish in about "company shills" and "Certain people..." If you've got accusations then have the courage to make them openly rather than on the sly... Worldwalker, I thought better of you... Curmudgeon doesn't justify this type of baseless comment!:

"And as for getting an iPad, if you wanted one: Certain people thinking of Apple's profits. That's what they're here for. Buy, buy, buy. But for those of us with hearts, those who aren't paid to only care about a particular company, yes, it does matter. Not just for the benefits to the people who need it right now, but to ourselves. Feeling good about yourself instead of greedy is worth more than any gadget. Just time-shift your spending. Let's say your discretionary funds, which you've been saving for your iPad, amount to $X per month. You find out that one will be available for you in 3 months. So you have $3X from your iPod fund you can spend on relief aid, and then refill the fund over the next 3 months from your discretionary line item. You're doing what you can to help, so you feel good. You're still buying an iPad as soon as you can, so the company shills are happy. Everybody wins."

And doing good is not about self, self, self feeling good, it's about improving the lot of someone else.