Should You Feel Guilty Owning an iPhone?

Toms Hardware ^ | 5/28/2010 | Wolfgang Gruener

[dangerdoc]

A little liberal angst to chew on.

[a fool in paradise]

Countless big U.S. and non U.S. corporations are guilty of exploiting human workforce and looking the other way when it’s convenient. Chinese sweatshops have been making headlines for years and a recent article published on Gizmodo truly highlighted the ghastly working conditions at Foxconn, Apple’s contract manufacturer. When there are suicide attempts at a manufacturing facility, due to stress and working conditions, you know you are much closer to a modern form of slavery than an employer who makes sure its employees are taken care of.

Hey if they paid a fair wage, that iphone might cost $450 instead of $400...

[Eyes Unclouded]

Well either we enjoy our cheap (and bloody) products or we start a land war in Asia with a nuclear power to liberate a fifth of humanity. I’ll take the occasional pangs of guilt.

[devane617]

I LUV my iPhone...Hell no, I don’t feel guilty...

[Loud Mime]

I wouldn’t attribute care for others as liberal.

Here I will speak for myself: I am willing to pay an extra $100 for my future I-Pad if it is made in the U.S.A.

I want alternatives to Chinese-made goods. I buy Newbalance shoes (if they are USA-made), but run out of options quickly.

Hey, Mr. Jobs! Are you listening?

[Carley]

Just reading that WalMart is selling out their current stock of iPhones for $97

[svcw]

Why would you feel guilty. Its just a phone, and a great phone at that.

[skr]

And spit out

[Moose4]

OK. Instead, I bought an HTC Droid Eris. Same underpaid Chinese, none of the dumbass Apple worship and liberal angst. And I didn’t pay an extra $100 for the Apple symbol, either.

}:-)4

[dangerdoc]

Clearing out the old models for new ones coming next month.

[Dayman]

What companies pay for wages in other countries is nobody elses business

[Aria]

I agree with that....we need US manufactured alternatives - made by non-union workers.

[aquila48]

“At least as far as I am concerned, I would like to know that the “incredible price” of the iPad was achieved through Apple’s innovation and not on the shoulders of severely underpaid workers and an hazardous work environment in a factory on the other side of the world. That whole thought puts Apple’s impressive profit margins into an entirely differently light as well.”

What a a**hole. Why doesn’t he go and ask whoever assembles these if they would rather have the job they got or whatever other job may be available for them where they live.

[Responsibility2nd]

[dangerdoc]

German liberal responding to a recent news story, now that he has voiced his concern, his job is done, I’m sure he feels fine now.

[zeebee]

I am willing to pay an extra $100 for my future I-Pad if it is made in the U.S.A.

Would you be willing to pay an extra 1000? That's what it would probably take.

The workers who make it are not coerced. They are earning a living.

[Tennessee Nana]

Should You Feel Guilty Owning an iPhone?
____________________________________________

Only if you stole it from someone else...

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"I buy Newbalance shoes (if they are USA-made)"

Try Lowas, made in Europe: http://www.lowaboots.com/home/

I'd rather not buy stuff made in China, either. It's getting darned difficult, particularly for electronic devices.

[kbennkc]

If it ain't made in America , I ain't talking on it .

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Just reading that WalMart is selling out their current stock of iPhones for $97"

Yep. That's the ancient 3G model. They're getting ready for the new model's launch in a couple weeks. The current 3GS will slide into the bargain slot where the 3G sat.