IBM Unveils N.Y. Chip-Making Plant

Associated Press via Yahoo ^ | July 31 | ALICIA CHANG

[Straight Vermonter]

I work at the Burlington, VT plant which was originally supposed to be the location for the new fab. VT officials, however, have so angered IBM that it is widely rumored here that the company hopes to move completely out of the state.

IBM has waited 30 years for an access road to be built. Environmentalist just delayed the start of construction indefinitely again. IBM has asked the state to do something about high electrical costs (30% higher than in NY). The state has refused. In fact VT socialist congressman Bernie Sanders has repeated pushed for a union at the plant which already has about the best pay and benefits in the state. Governor (and presidential hopeful) Howard Dean has said the state needs to move away from (high paying, good benefit) jobs with large corporation and focus on (minimum wage, no benefit) jobs with local mom and pop companies. Needless to say big corporations are not beating down the doors to move to VT.

[Kevin Curry]

Needless to say big corporations are not beating down the doors to move to VT.

Just gays and lesbians seeking wedlock.

[eureka!]

What surprised me most was that the grifting Senator Clinton didn't announce this/take credit. In due course, I'm sure. And my condolences to you SV. Cheer up, many of us live in California. ;^)

[Straight Vermonter]

Good point.

Before I forget, NY State gave IBM full permiting to build, in just a few weeks. It is estimated it would have taken IBM 9 years to get the same permits here.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Just gays and lesbians seeking wedlock."

Don't you mean webmock..??!!

[Texas_Jarhead]

oops.. webmock should be wedmock

[decimon]

For all that's wrong with New York, the legislators here seem to know not to kill off our businesses. Or they're in bed with the businesses. Something like that.

[alrea]

For all that's wrong with New York, the legislators here seem to know not to kill off our businesses. Or they're in bed with the businesses. Something like that.

NY has been driving companies South for years. The state of NC is full of X-NY'ers who talk about lack of jobs in NY State.

It's surprising that IBM didn't build that plant somewhere else.

[nervousinvermont]

I work at the Williston site. I think ol' Howie Dean is trying to make VT into a vacation state for the trust fund kids. Great place to live if you are independently wealthy and liberal.

[denydenydeny]

Yoooo hooooo....

[blam]

"The plant also will be the first to mass produce circuits thinner than 0.1 micron, or 1,000 times thinner than a human hair. The old standard was 0.25 microns, with some chips now at 0.18 microns. The thinner lines, or conduits, allow chips to run faster and use less electricity."

I made chips for 30+ years. We were just going to 0.25 microns when I retired. (TI)

[decimon]

You're right. NYC in particular has driven off the textile industry and has what was called the best natural harbor virtually empty.

I should have said that they know not to kill off the big businesses.

Some people from the NYC area have moved to States like NC because there they could afford a house.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"What surprised me most was that the grifting Senator Clinton didn't announce this/take credit." Most politicians say good news on their watch is all their doing and bad news is -- not ;-) Once you look for it, you see and hear it everywhere. Even from the home team.

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

The plant also will be the first to mass produce circuits thinner than 0.1 micron, or 1,000 times thinner than a human hair. The old standard was 0.25 microns, with some chips now at 0.18 microns.

From my limited knowledge, I think IBM is now at 0.13 microns and this plant is supposed to get them down to 0.08!

Please let them make Power PC chips there with the 0.08 microns process. Daddy needs a new PowerMac!

[eureka!]

Understood. But some are more brazen than others--the most brazen I can think of being a credibly accused rapist and perjuror. ;^)

[ConsistentLibertarian]

I don't know about that. This is one point that I think applies in equal measure to politicians of every party.

[blam]

"The plant also will be the first to mass produce circuits thinner than 0.1 micron"

Mass produce is always the key word. This business has put many "over the edge."

[Billy_bob_bob]

TSMC .13 has been around since Jan 01. It's mature enough now to where they have the high voltage variations and everything. That means the next generation is just around the corner. I'm guessing it will be .08 microns. It went from .25 to .18 to .13, so my best guess is that .08 is going to be real by the end of the year.

[staytrue]

1000 american jobs created.

[Willie Green]

Not really. Doesn't begin to offset those that IBM has laid off.
It's an interesting technological advancement...
But the high-tech sector remains saturated and the overall decline will continue.
Chips are no longer a high-growth industry.
Despite technical advances, the gold-rush is over.