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CES: American-Made, Industrial-Strength Smartphone and Tablet Cases (Video)
Even the most loving fathers tend to get upset when their kids destroy "...VCRs, DVD players, a Nintendo Wii, a Sony PS3, [and] numerous mobile phones." With smart phones costing lots more than older stupid phones, and most tablets costing even more, Greg Pilling decided to make aluminum and plexiglass smartphone and tablet cases strong enough to be, if not childproof, at least child-resistant. Since he owned an auto parts manufacturing company in Tucson, AZ, it was no big deal for him. So now he has SASCASE as a second business, and can make you a case for almost any kind of mobile device you might own. His cases look plenty tough, and they aren't cheap. But if you want to save money and make your own, Greg says plans for all cases he makes are open source (even though they aren't on his website yet). Also on the open source front, he is working on an open source "ruggedized" tablet he hopes to bring to market "in the $300-$400 range" to compete with the Panasonic 7” Toughpad that runs more like $1100.
American made means "Not made in a developing country by near-slave-wage employees."
I'm against protectionism, but bringing manufacturing back to the west is not a bad thing.
Keep on knockin'
https://robbiecrash.me
Excuse me, but you seem to have mistaken where you were posing. The flamewars about America are currently going on in this story. Please relocate your trolling there. Thank you for your cooperation..
No problem. He'll sell you a ruggedized kid for $2500.
Everything is better with chainsaws.
If you want to learn nothing about the Toughpad, but have fun while doing so, I suggest the following article: http://lookrobot.co.uk/2013/01/14/the-panasonic-toughpad-press-conference/
American made means "Not made in a developing country by near-slave-wage employees."
US mininum wages and the laws which provide exceptions to them look like near-slave-wage to me.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
Articlew is just advertising.
Also what are all those lumps on the cases about? They make it look industrial but I think it is just for the look.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
Then he has ZERO chance meeting his price point.
finding a board fab house and Chip supplier in the USA will be impossible. he can NOT make an "american made" tablet for under $1400.00
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
He talks and talks no data on how well the device protects the product. How about some drop tests and Impact tests comparing unprotected and protected product. My guess is that anything that really protects it will make it unusable.
You're not looking very hard at what employees in China are making manufacturing these goods then.
But fine, go with the environmental standards, safety standards, other working conditions. While not perfect, manufacturing laws in the US, Australia, Canada, western Europe, etc, are significantly better than in developing countries.
Keep on knockin'
https://robbiecrash.me
Great; I got intercepted by my company's web filter for trying to access a porn site for that link to sascase dot com. Anyone else get that?
Among other things, it indicates the manufacturer isn't obsessed with cutting every possible corner to save themselves money. It's not that Chinese manufacturers aren't perfectly capable of high quality work --- crappy Wal-Mart Quality goods are the result of *American* investor-leeches demanding products with the absolute cheapest materials and manufacturing quality (resulting in items with only the outward appearance of actually functional goods). A manufacturer willing to spend a couple more percent of the price of a product on US-waged labor also probably won't be skimming pennies by making internal parts out of terrible low-grade materials that fall apart after a month of use.
Even the most loving *fathers* tend to get upset when their kids destroy
Is there an open source design I can download, so I can build my own ruggedized kid?
But it's OK to say Japanese cars are well made.
How about a moderation of -1 pedantic.
Unfortunately not - he likes to use his own proprietary equipment for the manufacturing. You just pay him the fee and introduce him to your wife, and he'll handle all the hard work for you.
Everything is better with chainsaws.
Making a ruggedized product has more to do with component selection and layout than it does with a tougher case. Failures happen when components become dislodged from the mobo's, not when the case cracks. In fact, the case cracking could be helping the computer/device because it's going to use energy that otherwise might go towards prying components off their pads.
A ruggedized computer is not simply the same as a non-rugged version crammed into a heavier case. A waterproof and dustproof version is, though.
by Mike Buddha -- Someday the mountain might get him, but the law never will.
"American Made" also means, "my money goes to my own community, and supports manufacturing wages instead of Wal-Mart greeter/do-you-want-fries-with-that wages."
If more people in my neighborhood earn wages that allow them to raise a family, and be self-sufficient, then it means I don't have to pay as much to provide that family with social-programs that allow them to feed their families. There's less crime, less violence, fewer social problems. Happier people. Call me crazy, but I don't want to be a rich person in a poor neighborhood. I would like my neighbors to do very well.
Having said that, I also want the people working for slave wages in third world hell-holes to do well, but I can't do anything to help them if workers in my country have to compete with those slave wages. Better their wages rise to compete with ours than having our wages fall to compete with theirs. When it comes to labor, "free market" doesn't apply because companies hiring are necessarily monosopies.
As I've said before, I'll pay 50-100% more for a locally-made product, and I'll pay 100-200% more for a locally-made product manufactured by union workers.
You are welcome on my lawn.
When did he say he would source those things in the US? He specifically mentions ordering shit from China. He's just going to assemble everything in the US.
Are agnostics skeptical of unicorns too?
"American made" is not a selling point, it's bigotry. Idiots.
American patriotism halts at the wallet?
My Japanese car was assembled in Indiana: http://www.subaru-sia.com/
Toyota's nowadays are more made in america than cevy's...
Make a man a fire and he will be warm for a day, set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
Given this is Slashdot... a case for something other than an iPhone? :)
I agree. One of the guys renting the space next to me used to work as a designer at Fjällräven (outdoor clothing/camping equipment) and he'd done several purcasing trips to China. He told me that Chinese manufacturers will meet your price point and always make money on the deal. Always. They won't care about the quality.
I would hope so. Better to support your own community.
There is room for global consciousness, but not until we have local stability.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Considering a Nexus 7 is $200, and I said I'd pay 200% for local, union-made products, I don't see why I should pay "$1000-1500".
Yes, I'd pay $400 for a locally-made, union labor Nexus 7.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Therefore it is NOT american made and just marketing bull-pocky.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
It's not bull-pocky when he tells you EXACTLY what he's doing in the video.
Are agnostics skeptical of unicorns too?