How a Computer Case Is Built

mtxmorph writes "Ever wondered how that pretty case on your desk came to be? Tom's Hardware Guide recently took a trip to China to see the production process for the Chenbro XSpider/Gaming Bomb case. Lots of interesting pictures in this detailed article." I must admit, this is far more intriguing than I'd initially thought, if only for the subtle differences in corporate culture. Chenbro employees have the option of living "on campus" in employee housing.

Comments

"living on campus" is not just an extra

[Anonymous Coward]

The "living on campus" (what is considered by /. readers as a great thing) is not that great. The site is too slow so I can't read the article, though I do know a bit about China factories (living in Hong Kong and having visited a few myself, Hong Kong is part of the Guangdong province, Dongguan is one of the larger cities there). There is an important dark site to this whole China production work.
The workers often come from far away - all the way from the west is not uncommon. These people come to the east because of the 'good' salaries (typically about 20 RMB per day, or USD2.5, 12 hour days, 7 days a week), to make money and after a year or a few years move back to their village having saved a bit to live from. The working conditions are often harsh, poorly lit rooms, dusty, hot, etc.
They live on campus, often in single room appartments with shared facilities. Food is provided as well, the fee is normally around USD30 a month. Cheap, for you, but it is half of their salary! And all the rooms have strong iron bars - mainly against theft.
Margins for these factories are also often really low - cents to the dollar. As a result workers are sometimes treated as slaves, I read regularly stories about this in the Hong Kong newspapers. About workers making just enough to pay for their own stay and the contract cost (often have to pay a commission to a middle man to get the job), and not being allowed to leave the factory. Breach of the one year contract would cost them a fine of about two months salary.
The products coming from China are wonderful, and wonderfully cheap. Labour cost in China is low - China is now in the middle of the industrial revolution Europe and USA had in the 1800s. With all the poor working conditions and pollution included.
This is something to realise the next time you buy a case, or another product "made in China"! There is a lot to improve here.

Wouter.

Wanker

[Chuck Chunder]

How would "all literate people know how something simple like this is designed, tested, and constructed" if articles such as this didn't exist to tell them?