[snowsislander]

I used to buy into that whole "race to the bottom" thing, but now I don't. I live in America, I have access to the latest in cheap technology, the internet, and universities.

Generally, for the coolest, newest technology, my experience has been that you find it first in Akihabara (Tokyo's "Electric Town"), not in the U.S. However, it isn't usually all that cheap, unlike the versions that eventually show up in the U.S.

[searchandrecovery]

Generally, for the coolest, newest technology, my experience has been that you find it first in Akihabara (Tokyo's "Electric Town"), not in the U.S.
First, in my own defense, by cheap technology I was referring to basic computer tech (computers for under $250 if you build your own, for example). I guess I was trying to say if you have the drive to succeed, there's just a ton of resources out there.

Second - time for you spill. This "Electric Town" that you talk about - you go there often? What were the latest & greatest objects you saw? What did you last buy from there? No need to answer - just curious.

[tortoise]

Generally, for the coolest, newest technology, my experience has been that you find it first in Akihabara (Tokyo's "Electric Town"), not in the U.S.

Very true for consumer electronics. But for high-end commercial tech and raw high-tech componentry, the US is still just about the only game in town and will be for the foreseeable future. A lot of that Japanese stuff still has plenty of USA in it, it just isn't obviously visible when looking at the Japanese branded gadget. The US is lousy at developing consumer products, but fantastic at producing technology and technological innovation. We should be focusing on our strengths as a practical economic matter.

For a very simple example, who do you think has a world-wide lock on the silicon process technologies that everyone uses to produce their electronic gadgets?