BC2009
Apr 7, 11:46 AM
If the demand for touch panels increases then the manufacturers of touch panels will rejoice and expand their business thus increasing the supply. The real problem here is that RIM probably wants terms on touch panel production that are not all-too-inspiring to the manufacturers to warrant expansion. For example, Apple is confident that they will sell X units of iPads in Y units in 2012, and so on. So Apple prepays for what they need.
RIM is not as confident with their Playbook. They probably need contingencies in any long-term orders they place to ensure they can get out of buying touch panels they won't need. If these were 9.7-inch panels then the manufacturer could care less. Anything RIM walks away from, they can turn around and sell to Apple (very smart of HP). However, who is going to buy all those 7-inch panels if RIM's Playbook gets off to a false start? Samsung? Nope -- they make their own panels from what I have heard.
Supply and Demand.... When there is real demand for more touch panels from consumers than those being supplied to Apple for iPad then the manufacturers will expand their production and take advantage of the opportunity to increase profits. The real problem here is that RIM's attempt at media hype is not equivalent to real customer demand. The only tablet with a large amount of customer demand right now is the iPad. That is part of why I tend to believe that the "media tablet" category is a figment of the imagination for market analysts. Market analysts assign a level of demand to the "media tablet" category and make projections, but the difference between the "iPad" category and the rest of the "non-iPad media tablets" is staggering. The iPad category is flourishing, the "non-iPad media tablet" category is a fledgling state at best (if not failing).
If not for Apple's success with the iPad how many manufacturers would have already thrown in the towel with "media tablets" and once again written it off as "the technology for tablets is just not there yet for mass consumption". Tablets failed in various forms for over a decade. iPad is the first and only mass market success in this area. If not for Apple, there would be no such thing as "Honeycomb" or HP Touch Pad or Playbook -- these guys are hoping they can figure out what Apple did right and find some way to ride the same wave the iPad is on -- while technical specifications are there, they have not yet figured out the "magic" of iPad -- ease of use, awesome software market, and the emotional response Apple manages to evoke with their user experience. Just a few examples of emotional response.... There is something delightful about pinching a stack of photos to spread them out across the screen or the way Apple's tiled app icons and folders gets adults to collect apps the same way their kids collect trading cards -- these are very emotional things that Apple seems to understand.
EDIT: I failed to make it clear, but I do hope that touch panel production expands for RIM and others to get the supply they need. I like Apple having competitors because Apple tends to take the good things competition comes up with and add them as line items to their proactive project plans. I don't believe that competition drives Apple (certainly not in the way that Apple's actions or Apple's critics are basically driving the competitions plans). Apple is a bit more proactive, but when they have a worthy competitor, Apple certainly picks up on any "good" ideas the competition has had that happen to fit with their long-term plans. I also applaud RIM and HP for not going the "me-too" Android/Honeycomb route. There is something to be said for not selling out to a third-party on software.
RIM is not as confident with their Playbook. They probably need contingencies in any long-term orders they place to ensure they can get out of buying touch panels they won't need. If these were 9.7-inch panels then the manufacturer could care less. Anything RIM walks away from, they can turn around and sell to Apple (very smart of HP). However, who is going to buy all those 7-inch panels if RIM's Playbook gets off to a false start? Samsung? Nope -- they make their own panels from what I have heard.
Supply and Demand.... When there is real demand for more touch panels from consumers than those being supplied to Apple for iPad then the manufacturers will expand their production and take advantage of the opportunity to increase profits. The real problem here is that RIM's attempt at media hype is not equivalent to real customer demand. The only tablet with a large amount of customer demand right now is the iPad. That is part of why I tend to believe that the "media tablet" category is a figment of the imagination for market analysts. Market analysts assign a level of demand to the "media tablet" category and make projections, but the difference between the "iPad" category and the rest of the "non-iPad media tablets" is staggering. The iPad category is flourishing, the "non-iPad media tablet" category is a fledgling state at best (if not failing).
If not for Apple's success with the iPad how many manufacturers would have already thrown in the towel with "media tablets" and once again written it off as "the technology for tablets is just not there yet for mass consumption". Tablets failed in various forms for over a decade. iPad is the first and only mass market success in this area. If not for Apple, there would be no such thing as "Honeycomb" or HP Touch Pad or Playbook -- these guys are hoping they can figure out what Apple did right and find some way to ride the same wave the iPad is on -- while technical specifications are there, they have not yet figured out the "magic" of iPad -- ease of use, awesome software market, and the emotional response Apple manages to evoke with their user experience. Just a few examples of emotional response.... There is something delightful about pinching a stack of photos to spread them out across the screen or the way Apple's tiled app icons and folders gets adults to collect apps the same way their kids collect trading cards -- these are very emotional things that Apple seems to understand.
EDIT: I failed to make it clear, but I do hope that touch panel production expands for RIM and others to get the supply they need. I like Apple having competitors because Apple tends to take the good things competition comes up with and add them as line items to their proactive project plans. I don't believe that competition drives Apple (certainly not in the way that Apple's actions or Apple's critics are basically driving the competitions plans). Apple is a bit more proactive, but when they have a worthy competitor, Apple certainly picks up on any "good" ideas the competition has had that happen to fit with their long-term plans. I also applaud RIM and HP for not going the "me-too" Android/Honeycomb route. There is something to be said for not selling out to a third-party on software.
CiBoys
Aug 5, 04:48 AM
What I really want Apple to announce:
PowerMac (not MacPro FFS!:p )
ACD's (17, 20, 23 and 30", iSight and IR)
iPhone (http://www.floatingpears.com/garage/iPhone.jpg):rolleyes:
Leopard (iChat integration with MSN Messenger:D )
New MBP and iMac...
I just want a new MacBook Pro :D :D :D
PowerMac (not MacPro FFS!:p )
ACD's (17, 20, 23 and 30", iSight and IR)
iPhone (http://www.floatingpears.com/garage/iPhone.jpg):rolleyes:
Leopard (iChat integration with MSN Messenger:D )
New MBP and iMac...
I just want a new MacBook Pro :D :D :D
nazaar
Apr 5, 01:31 PM
Get the F over it Apple...
I just recently JB'ed my iPhone and it's sooo much better.
It's my device. I paid for it. I should be able to do what ever I want with it.
Don't give in Toyota!
I just recently JB'ed my iPhone and it's sooo much better.
It's my device. I paid for it. I should be able to do what ever I want with it.
Don't give in Toyota!
citizenzen
Apr 15, 06:40 PM
Firstly, your perspective would change completely if you ever decide to invest or trade.
Sounds like a good reason to avoid it.
Why focus your perspective on gaining wealth?
Aren't there more important things than that in our brief lives?
Sounds like a good reason to avoid it.
Why focus your perspective on gaining wealth?
Aren't there more important things than that in our brief lives?
ghostlyorb
Apr 5, 07:36 PM
Looks like a cool theme. I'm sure it's on a repo somewhere!
toddybody
Apr 25, 08:53 AM
I have to respectfully disagree. Having a large monitor in a small compact desktop form factor was important to me. I have very limited deskspace, even less floorspace, and a variety of needs for the large monitor. You may call this "form", but as far as I am concerned, this is "functionality", since a larger package forces me to make other compromise in my life.
Thats a totally valid point:)
icc world cup 2011 final
Final ICC World Cup 2011
afridi+icc+world+cup+2011+
World Cup Final 2011
ICC World Cup 2011 Final
Icc Cricket World Cup 2011
Day ICC Cricket World Cup
ICC World Cup 2011 Final
world cup 2011 final
ICC World Cup Final 2011
ICC World Cup 2011 Final
icc world cup final 2011
Wolrld Cup Wallpapers Of 2011
Thats a totally valid point:)
Nuc
Jul 21, 02:08 PM
It would be nice if they released the MBP before WWDC so that I can take advantage of the tax free holiday and the student discount here in NC...
Nuc
Nuc
geiger167
Sep 11, 02:51 PM
Not really sure if any of the rumoured devices interest me tommorow, as living in the UK we probably will be denied any kind of movie download service (still waiting for tv show downloads to start) The media streaming device might be a cool idea but unless it had support for divx/transport stream files wouldn't really interest me either and cant imagine apple allowing support of an outside player like VLC and without any kind of download structure available to view apple sourced files outside the USA cant imagine it taking off. Having moaned a bit though I have still ordered a 24 imac and cant wait for it to arrive ( I love watching hdtv files on my 20' imac now so 24' must be heaven)
erikh
Sep 15, 04:22 PM
So, how is MacShrine perceived in the rumor community? Do they have a sufficiently good track record for us to say, "this is it - the Merom MBP is finally coming", or is this likely to be just another rehash of all the Core2Duo MBP hype/frustration going around?
Popeye206
Apr 6, 06:29 PM
Also, it is interesting that Android 2.2 makes up the largest percentage of OS's out there in use.
Can't Android users upgrade to the latest OS? 2.3.3 is the latest phone OS.
Can't Android users upgrade to the latest OS? 2.3.3 is the latest phone OS.
iStudentUK
Apr 10, 12:11 PM
I must say i just found this sight through google and had to join because of this post. I am a math teacher and the correct answer is 2
Welcome to the site! :)
I disagree for the reasons I stated just above.
Using "/" is only appropriate for "x/y" type functions. Anything more complex should use "_". Therefore, "/" is only used here because it is on a forum and so "_" looks clumsy. I'm looking at what I think the author would have written on paper, and I think that would have been the option that leads to 288.
EDIT- just saw your 2nd post. This is confusing. I originally saw it as 48/2 (9+3), and to me the space would also have made clear the answer is 288. However, then I saw there was no space!
Welcome to the site! :)
I disagree for the reasons I stated just above.
Using "/" is only appropriate for "x/y" type functions. Anything more complex should use "_". Therefore, "/" is only used here because it is on a forum and so "_" looks clumsy. I'm looking at what I think the author would have written on paper, and I think that would have been the option that leads to 288.
EDIT- just saw your 2nd post. This is confusing. I originally saw it as 48/2 (9+3), and to me the space would also have made clear the answer is 288. However, then I saw there was no space!
baryon
May 7, 10:34 AM
That would be cool, though I'm still not sure why MobileMe is so useful, all in all it's just wireless syncing over the internet right? Like when you add an iCal event on your iPhone, it appears on your computer without having to connect the cable?
mmomega
May 4, 02:52 PM
I would hope that creating a bootable DVD/flash drive would be part of the installation process.
How is it handled now for developers with the Lion preview?
So far you must enter a redemption code in the app store which allows you to download Lion.
If you want to install it on multiple computers you can copy the install file to another Mac but it needs to use the same app store account info.
I haven't found a way to burn or make it bootable since they don't offer a full dmg file on the developer page like they did with SL.
How is it handled now for developers with the Lion preview?
So far you must enter a redemption code in the app store which allows you to download Lion.
If you want to install it on multiple computers you can copy the install file to another Mac but it needs to use the same app store account info.
I haven't found a way to burn or make it bootable since they don't offer a full dmg file on the developer page like they did with SL.
generik
Jul 21, 06:56 PM
I'm excited but... :( I kind of want to wait for the 800 Mhz FSB that will most likely come out next year. if it comes with a new case with the macbook styled keyboard ill snatch it up. :p
That is going to be a long wait, so you better get ready!
This makes perfect sense as Apple has already dub the Black Macbook the "Top of the Line" yet there isn't really a difference between it and the Midrange so by adding The new processor and graphics chip Apple would essentially create the Top of the Line MacBook
The price difference would be too small for Apple to do too much though, after all I'm pretty sure it does costs Apple a lot more to make a black casing.. plus with Core 2 chips being more expensive than Yonah...
That is going to be a long wait, so you better get ready!
This makes perfect sense as Apple has already dub the Black Macbook the "Top of the Line" yet there isn't really a difference between it and the Midrange so by adding The new processor and graphics chip Apple would essentially create the Top of the Line MacBook
The price difference would be too small for Apple to do too much though, after all I'm pretty sure it does costs Apple a lot more to make a black casing.. plus with Core 2 chips being more expensive than Yonah...
mBox
Apr 24, 04:44 PM
Well forget BD and go for 4K with REDRAY ;)
doctor-don
Apr 25, 10:56 AM
I like Steves sense of brevity.
Perhaps if people bothered to look up some info on what they were talking about before they went off half-cocked about the latest hyped paranoia...
News media will do practically anything to attract viewers / listeners / readers, even if the conclusions are incorrect.
Perhaps if people bothered to look up some info on what they were talking about before they went off half-cocked about the latest hyped paranoia...
News media will do practically anything to attract viewers / listeners / readers, even if the conclusions are incorrect.
wizard
Mar 27, 12:02 PM
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8G4 Safari/6533.18.5)
I just don't understand the thought of an iPad 3 this fall. Unless they're trying to line up iPad updates with iPod updates, I don't see how this is possible or even really needed. I like the timing of the current releases. It offsets any updates of iPhones and iPods because they all have different release times.
Having iOS 5 this fall does make sense, honestly.
Everyone assumes that iPad 3 is a direct upgrade/replacement for iPad 2. This doesn't have to be the case at all. If it is even real, it could be any number of things, it could be sub seven inch, a thirteen inch machine, a machine that supports 4G and Retina or any number of other configurations.
I have no doubt in my mind that Apple will eventually deliver iPads in sizes other than the current model. It only makes sense as it offers solutions for people with different needs. However such a machine (a smaller iPad) needs lower power hardware than what is seen in ipad 2. I believe that hardware is coming for iPhone 5 to allow for the performance boost without killing the battery.
I just don't understand the thought of an iPad 3 this fall. Unless they're trying to line up iPad updates with iPod updates, I don't see how this is possible or even really needed. I like the timing of the current releases. It offsets any updates of iPhones and iPods because they all have different release times.
Having iOS 5 this fall does make sense, honestly.
Everyone assumes that iPad 3 is a direct upgrade/replacement for iPad 2. This doesn't have to be the case at all. If it is even real, it could be any number of things, it could be sub seven inch, a thirteen inch machine, a machine that supports 4G and Retina or any number of other configurations.
I have no doubt in my mind that Apple will eventually deliver iPads in sizes other than the current model. It only makes sense as it offers solutions for people with different needs. However such a machine (a smaller iPad) needs lower power hardware than what is seen in ipad 2. I believe that hardware is coming for iPhone 5 to allow for the performance boost without killing the battery.
ten-oak-druid
Apr 25, 10:40 AM
Steve:
You may not track anyone. But you can. We'd like to know you cannot.
Please address that issue.
Thanks
You may not track anyone. But you can. We'd like to know you cannot.
Please address that issue.
Thanks
Tonsko
Nov 8, 10:26 AM
Just as an aside, something else to keep in mind, a reason I've found that companies like to spend a lot of money on security software (or indeed software in general) is down to internal politics. For instance, if the IT director expouses a theme of free software, and the company ends up with a virus (even one that 'paid for' solution wouldn't pick up), then he will be in the firing line for not being percieved as doing all he possibly could to prevent it. So using expensive, well software is an exercise in risk transferral.
Back OT, I've not installed Sophos on my MBP yet, still waiting for more verdicts from you lot :)
Back OT, I've not installed Sophos on my MBP yet, still waiting for more verdicts from you lot :)
CalBoy
May 3, 02:29 AM
Really, most opinions I see in the US to keep the imperial system is because you're not accustomed to it. Fahrenheit being more accurate than Celsius or Kelvins, really? Just add a decimal, that's the beauty of it, you add a decimal point or a factor of ten and Earth doesn't suddenly implode.
I know this sounds incredulous and insulting, but people are terrible at math. The more of it you make them think about (whether it's decimals or fractions or anything else) the worse they perform. It's why you'll see almost every recommended quantity expressed as a whole number. It reduces error for the untrained, and makes expressing the value simpler.
Is it change just for change's sake? Up to you, basically everyone else on Earth made their choice. ;)
Did they really? How many people, after you factor out colonization, dictatorship, and a complete absence of prior standardization, actually switched? I can think of only a few countries, none of which were as large and as diverse as the US is.
Besides, it's not as if sciences and engineering are out of the loop. Only civilian uses are Standard. How does it affect you, a Canadian, if grandma bakes using cups and Fahrenheit?
I think I have to disagree. It may be easier for Americans to grasp the "highs" and "lows" of the Fahrenheit scale, but any European would have a different concept of high and low. Also, the difference in Celsius units is rather insignificant. For example, the difference between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius is 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, hardly a noticeable difference when it comes to weather forecasts.
No, but 1.8 is a big difference when it comes to taking a baby's temperature or figuring out if your meat is done just right. For a child, 99 is considered a mild fevor and is 37.22. 98.6 is considered "normal" and is 37 flat in C. However, if you had a mother trying to keep track of her child's fever over a period of time, the small variations between those two temps would be a lot more important. The total variation between 99, 99.5, and 100 F is so small on the C scale (37.22, 37.5, 37.77) that it's a lot easier to make mistakes in recording or reporting the results. Sure it's easy to do when it's your job in a professional setting, but lay people make mistakes all the time. Using a scale that makes the number differences larger (and psychologically significant, because you can bet no mother is going to forget that her child has a fever of 100) helps reduce those errors.
I'm not so sure. If a recipe calls for 2 tablespoons, is it not just as easy to measure out 30ml? Might using one graduated measuring "cup" be easier than a series of various-sized spoons and cups? For dry goods, grams are easily measured on a scale. With practice and experience, it's quicker and more precise than measuring exactly three cups of leveled flour: you can just sift the flour into your mixing bowl until the scale reads 375 grams. Indeed this method uses less dishes, too.
There are a lot of measuring cups and spoons that do come graduated these days (no, they're not in the "beyond" section of BBB), but it's not always possible to go by weight. Weight also doesn't solve much because it would add an additional piece of equipment that isn't needed for a lot of recipes. It's also impractical to keep weighing out ingredients, especially if their net weight is going to be in the few grams. You also probably wouldn't save any dishes because flour is usually added into other wet ingredients like butter and sugar separately, so a second bowl would be used regardless.
Other than that, any vessel marked "30ml" used for measuring would essentially be a tablespoon. A rose by any other name, really. Except that the 30ml rose is clunkier to say. In fact, you'd still need names for all of the common measures even using SI. Is everyone really going to go around calling a cup the "237ml vessel?" Are people going to start calling it the "liter quartet of milk?" What would you do for the measures that have a secondary meaning? Will people still be able to call it a "pint" if it's sold as 500ml?
Are there really any benefits to the Customary scale, or do we just perceive benefits because it's what we're used to? And if the latter is the case, why make American students learn two systems of units when one fulfills all needs?
There are some (albeit few these days). For daily tasks, the composite numbers in Imperial units are easy to halve and quarter. This has less relevance today with prepackaged food and digital equipment, but at one time it made practical sense for a lot more uses. The residual benefits are still present in home baking and similar activities where base 10 doesn't help, but those are the few things that still make heavy use of standard units anyhow. I don't think it's that onerous to know these days, especially with apps, Google, and conversion charts everywhere around us.
I know this sounds incredulous and insulting, but people are terrible at math. The more of it you make them think about (whether it's decimals or fractions or anything else) the worse they perform. It's why you'll see almost every recommended quantity expressed as a whole number. It reduces error for the untrained, and makes expressing the value simpler.
Is it change just for change's sake? Up to you, basically everyone else on Earth made their choice. ;)
Did they really? How many people, after you factor out colonization, dictatorship, and a complete absence of prior standardization, actually switched? I can think of only a few countries, none of which were as large and as diverse as the US is.
Besides, it's not as if sciences and engineering are out of the loop. Only civilian uses are Standard. How does it affect you, a Canadian, if grandma bakes using cups and Fahrenheit?
I think I have to disagree. It may be easier for Americans to grasp the "highs" and "lows" of the Fahrenheit scale, but any European would have a different concept of high and low. Also, the difference in Celsius units is rather insignificant. For example, the difference between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius is 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, hardly a noticeable difference when it comes to weather forecasts.
No, but 1.8 is a big difference when it comes to taking a baby's temperature or figuring out if your meat is done just right. For a child, 99 is considered a mild fevor and is 37.22. 98.6 is considered "normal" and is 37 flat in C. However, if you had a mother trying to keep track of her child's fever over a period of time, the small variations between those two temps would be a lot more important. The total variation between 99, 99.5, and 100 F is so small on the C scale (37.22, 37.5, 37.77) that it's a lot easier to make mistakes in recording or reporting the results. Sure it's easy to do when it's your job in a professional setting, but lay people make mistakes all the time. Using a scale that makes the number differences larger (and psychologically significant, because you can bet no mother is going to forget that her child has a fever of 100) helps reduce those errors.
I'm not so sure. If a recipe calls for 2 tablespoons, is it not just as easy to measure out 30ml? Might using one graduated measuring "cup" be easier than a series of various-sized spoons and cups? For dry goods, grams are easily measured on a scale. With practice and experience, it's quicker and more precise than measuring exactly three cups of leveled flour: you can just sift the flour into your mixing bowl until the scale reads 375 grams. Indeed this method uses less dishes, too.
There are a lot of measuring cups and spoons that do come graduated these days (no, they're not in the "beyond" section of BBB), but it's not always possible to go by weight. Weight also doesn't solve much because it would add an additional piece of equipment that isn't needed for a lot of recipes. It's also impractical to keep weighing out ingredients, especially if their net weight is going to be in the few grams. You also probably wouldn't save any dishes because flour is usually added into other wet ingredients like butter and sugar separately, so a second bowl would be used regardless.
Other than that, any vessel marked "30ml" used for measuring would essentially be a tablespoon. A rose by any other name, really. Except that the 30ml rose is clunkier to say. In fact, you'd still need names for all of the common measures even using SI. Is everyone really going to go around calling a cup the "237ml vessel?" Are people going to start calling it the "liter quartet of milk?" What would you do for the measures that have a secondary meaning? Will people still be able to call it a "pint" if it's sold as 500ml?
Are there really any benefits to the Customary scale, or do we just perceive benefits because it's what we're used to? And if the latter is the case, why make American students learn two systems of units when one fulfills all needs?
There are some (albeit few these days). For daily tasks, the composite numbers in Imperial units are easy to halve and quarter. This has less relevance today with prepackaged food and digital equipment, but at one time it made practical sense for a lot more uses. The residual benefits are still present in home baking and similar activities where base 10 doesn't help, but those are the few things that still make heavy use of standard units anyhow. I don't think it's that onerous to know these days, especially with apps, Google, and conversion charts everywhere around us.
Snowcat001
May 7, 12:47 PM
I'd get it if it were free!!
gmail is free... so why can't mobile me?
Now I start thinking about it, I've never paid Google a single cent, but I use
*Gmail
*Google search engine
*Google maps
*Google Earth
(*And I used Picasa for a short period of time)
Maybe some orther stuff but the point is... its all free!:)
gmail is free... so why can't mobile me?
Now I start thinking about it, I've never paid Google a single cent, but I use
*Gmail
*Google search engine
*Google maps
*Google Earth
(*And I used Picasa for a short period of time)
Maybe some orther stuff but the point is... its all free!:)
Apple OC
Apr 20, 12:22 AM
this seems very likely .... looking forward
marvel2
Jan 14, 11:51 AM
So I solved my problem. Erased the TomTom kit from the iPhones BT memory and repaired the two devices. Now the iPhone automatically pairs when I dock it in the TomTom kit.
One thing I think the kit can improve on is the voice volume of a call conversation. It could be a bit louder.
One thing I think the kit can improve on is the voice volume of a call conversation. It could be a bit louder.
snberk103
May 4, 10:33 AM
So then you can't speak to whether or not it would actually be cost effective for the country to switch.
....
Switching to metric is short-term pain for long-term gain. Older people will need have both measures used for a few years. Some Engineers etc will need to hit the books again (but let's face it - if they can learn the formula's once, they can look up the "translation". It's not like they forget how the principles work).
The long-term advantages are:
1) Less freaking-out of kids who are weak in math. "If you have a stick that is 3' 7 13/16" and need to divide it into 3 equal sections, what is the length of the each section to the nearest 1/64 inch?" as opposed to "If you have a stick that 1233 mm long....." - and no, I didn't check to see if they are the same -
2) Same idea as above.... "If you have a tank filled with 450 cubic yards of water, and it is flowing out at a rate of 3 gallons a minute, how long does it take to empty?" as opposed to the metric system where 1000 litres of water is 1 cubic meter which is 1 tonne (approximately - since altitudes and temperatures affect the density of water).... but it's close enough for horseshoes....
3) Manufacturing. As the last industrialized country in the world still non-metric, do people really believe that there isn't a cost when a US factory has to retool to provide a product for export? Or understand that the cost of goods being imported from off-shore includes the cost of retooling for an non-metric customer? Do people not think that some small factories in the US have lost contracts to off-shore customers because they couldn't afford to switch to a metric size? And that some US factories have probably been forced to retool anyway when the sole supplier of a component wouldn't make a special run of non-metric fasteners?
Just asking. The days when the USA was top of the heap in manufacturing are past. The USA is now competing head to head with the rest of the world that has left behind bolts that are 3/16 diameter and 1 7/8 long and 12tpi.
....
Switching to metric is short-term pain for long-term gain. Older people will need have both measures used for a few years. Some Engineers etc will need to hit the books again (but let's face it - if they can learn the formula's once, they can look up the "translation". It's not like they forget how the principles work).
The long-term advantages are:
1) Less freaking-out of kids who are weak in math. "If you have a stick that is 3' 7 13/16" and need to divide it into 3 equal sections, what is the length of the each section to the nearest 1/64 inch?" as opposed to "If you have a stick that 1233 mm long....." - and no, I didn't check to see if they are the same -
2) Same idea as above.... "If you have a tank filled with 450 cubic yards of water, and it is flowing out at a rate of 3 gallons a minute, how long does it take to empty?" as opposed to the metric system where 1000 litres of water is 1 cubic meter which is 1 tonne (approximately - since altitudes and temperatures affect the density of water).... but it's close enough for horseshoes....
3) Manufacturing. As the last industrialized country in the world still non-metric, do people really believe that there isn't a cost when a US factory has to retool to provide a product for export? Or understand that the cost of goods being imported from off-shore includes the cost of retooling for an non-metric customer? Do people not think that some small factories in the US have lost contracts to off-shore customers because they couldn't afford to switch to a metric size? And that some US factories have probably been forced to retool anyway when the sole supplier of a component wouldn't make a special run of non-metric fasteners?
Just asking. The days when the USA was top of the heap in manufacturing are past. The USA is now competing head to head with the rest of the world that has left behind bolts that are 3/16 diameter and 1 7/8 long and 12tpi.
