I live in Japan and have been here for just over 9 years. And just about everyone I know (Japanese and foreigners alike) either have an iPhone or are dying to get one. Yours truly included.
Actually, this is not something new, only new in this day and age. The Singer / Songwriter Keith Green did this about 2 decades ago:
(quoted from Wikipedia) In 1979, after negotiating a release from his contract with Sparrow, Green surprised many in the music industry by refusing to charge money for concerts or albums. Keith and Melody mortgaged their home to privately finance Green's next album, So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt. The album, which featured a guest appearance by Bob Dylan, was offered through mail-order and at concerts for a price determined by the purchaser. As of May 1982, Green had shipped out more than 200,000 units of his album - 61,000 for free. Subsequent albums included The Keith Green Collection (1981) and Songs For The Shepherd (1982).
Note how his CONCERTS were free (pay as you like) as well! I wonder if Radiohead would do that?
Actually, a quite suitable studio isn't all that necessary these days, especially if you're recording from a lot of digital equipment. If you were doing live guitars, still, a small room and a decent mic is about all ya need.
I bet he could put together a very nice studio for less than the cost of a cheap car. (and that's a VERY nice studio).
"Earlier this month, the writer of such Queen hits as "We Will Rock You" and "Fat Bottomed Girls" was granted an honorary doctorate from Exeter University in Devon, England."
Because nothing says "academic" like singing "Fat Bottomed Girls" at the next Faculty Meeting...
Just becuase he OWNED 4 doesn't mean he BOUGHT 4...
I'm on my 3rd iPod (fixed twice in 2 weeks)..... it just recently got the "click of death" and it's not out of warranty. A good smack got it working again, but when it finally goes, someone else is getting my money.
While the Japanese DO exhibit some sense of nationalistic pride (and as your said NOT xenophobia), that is NOT the reason they do not buy foreign goods... the truth be told, Japanese goods (on the whole) are better made and last longer. This coming from a US citizen who has lived here in Japan for 6 years now... I simply would NOT pick a US (or Chinese) made product if I had a choice.
A SECOND factor, which is probably even more important here in Japan, is size. The Japanese not only WANT smaller products (cars, fridgerators, etc), they NEED them! The average apartment / house / road / locker / etc. is very small, especially compared to their US equivalents (sp?). So, of course when a WELL MADE and SMALL product comes along, they snatch it up (ala iPod, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, etc.)
When I was attending Indiana University at Bloomington about 12 years ago, someone had created a little unix app that did a similar thing. The program would display a simple ascii map of a specified computer room, pinpointing the location and name of each user currently logged on in that room.
It was great fun for sneaking up and scaring the bejeez out of your friends.:-)
Even if we ignored the copyright issues, what's the point of recording lectures? This year I recorded 2 weeks worth of my Graduate-level classes before I realized, "Hey, when am I going to have time to listen to this?" It's much better and easier to take NOTES, catch the important tidbits, write it down... that way you can skim through your notes later and refresh your memory...
Listening to a 3 hour lecture 1x is more than enough!
I wonder why Vodafones in the US aren't like the ones here in Japan -- The newer phones receive regular broadcast TV, no fees or special equipment required. On your Vodafone you can watch anything that's not on cable TV. Pretty nice. But I just don't get the whole "download and pay" gambit in the WEST...
With the proliferation of (initial)(name) products, I wonder how long it will take for Google to create "The G-Spot", a website where everyone can get together for fun and games. Maybe even offer their own anti-virus software to boot?
I have a Panasonic Let's Note CF-W2 (bought here in Japan). The STANDARD battery gets about 6 hrs on AVERAGE! Just sitting around doing nothing it'll get about 7. Watching a DVD I'll get about 5 hours. It's a super workhorse.
I couldn't ask for a better laptop. It's also fanless, so unless you have a CD in the drive, it's dead quiet...
Last I checked (As I started my collece career as an Astrophysics Student, and met many many brilliant professors), it takes a PhD to understand the math. BUT, anyone with lots of though and patience, can learn the concepts.
I never got that Astrophysics degree, but I can still hold an intelligent conversation with my friends who are studying Solar neutrinos, searching for the Higgs Particle and just plain having fun with HEAP.;)
As for people stroking their ego... it happens. But as long as they have fun and don't hurt no body...
Well, I've lived in japan for the last 3 years, and I've seen many many computers, I've even bought 2 since I've been here, and EVERY computer I've seen is running a Japanese Native Windows. I'm using Japanese Native Windows 2000 to type this, I installed Japanese Windows onto my English Laptop.
Point being, Windows is everwhere. It's the #1 OS in Japan. I walk into an Electronics store here, and out of about 30 machines on display, 100% of them are windows!
So, someone doesn't quite have their facts straight...
Slashdot Mirror
They don't have middle names here in Japan! NOW WHAT?!
I've lived and worked in Japan for the last 10 years -- I have 200+ college students a semester, and I have to hear about this or hear one of these.
I wonder what they writer meant about it's being a "hit"... WHERE is it a hit again? Some small ward in Shinjuku?
Jds
I live in Japan and have been here for just over 9 years. And just about everyone I know (Japanese and foreigners alike) either have an iPhone or are dying to get one. Yours truly included.
What the heck? I WISH my students would take notes in class!
Actually, this is not something new, only new in this day and age. The Singer / Songwriter Keith Green did this about 2 decades ago:
(quoted from Wikipedia)
In 1979, after negotiating a release from his contract with Sparrow, Green surprised many in the music industry by refusing to charge money for concerts or albums. Keith and Melody mortgaged their home to privately finance Green's next album, So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt. The album, which featured a guest appearance by Bob Dylan, was offered through mail-order and at concerts for a price determined by the purchaser. As of May 1982, Green had shipped out more than 200,000 units of his album - 61,000 for free. Subsequent albums included The Keith Green Collection (1981) and Songs For The Shepherd (1982).
Note how his CONCERTS were free (pay as you like) as well! I wonder if Radiohead would do that?
Cheers,
Jeffrey
PS -- Quote source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Green
Actually, a quite suitable studio isn't all that necessary these days, especially if you're recording from a lot of digital equipment. If you were doing live guitars, still, a small room and a decent mic is about all ya need.
I bet he could put together a very nice studio for less than the cost of a cheap car. (and that's a VERY nice studio).
Cheers,
Jds
So, I suppose that mirrored sunglasses are about to make a comeback...
"Earlier this month, the writer of such Queen hits as "We Will Rock You" and "Fat Bottomed Girls" was granted an honorary doctorate from Exeter University in Devon, England."
Because nothing says "academic" like singing "Fat Bottomed Girls" at the next Faculty Meeting...
Why is everyone picking on Sake? I mean, sure it's served slightly warm and in tiny cups, but it's not all that bad to drink, is it?
Just becuase he OWNED 4 doesn't mean he BOUGHT 4...
I'm on my 3rd iPod (fixed twice in 2 weeks)..... it just recently got the "click of death" and it's not out of warranty. A good smack got it working again, but when it finally goes, someone else is getting my money.
Count= 3 owned, 1 bought
Cheers,
Jds
While the Japanese DO exhibit some sense of nationalistic pride (and as your said NOT xenophobia), that is NOT the reason they do not buy foreign goods... the truth be told, Japanese goods (on the whole) are better made and last longer. This coming from a US citizen who has lived here in Japan for 6 years now... I simply would NOT pick a US (or Chinese) made product if I had a choice.
;-)
A SECOND factor, which is probably even more important here in Japan, is size. The Japanese not only WANT smaller products (cars, fridgerators, etc), they NEED them! The average apartment / house / road / locker / etc. is very small, especially compared to their US equivalents (sp?). So, of course when a WELL MADE and SMALL product comes along, they snatch it up (ala iPod, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, etc.)
And thus the Japanese consumer cycle thrives.
iSuck
Thank you, I'll be here all week!
Jds
Hello no! That's what hobbies are for!
Jds, wishing I had your job...
>Pfft. Just have a kid. I guarantee that at least one parent will automatically
> do this.
I have two kids -- 3y and 1y. This really should b moded insitefulllllllllll bjhbkjhb
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........
When I was attending Indiana University at Bloomington about 12 years ago, someone had created a little unix app that did a similar thing. The program would display a simple ascii map of a specified computer room, pinpointing the location and name of each user currently logged on in that room.
:-)
It was great fun for sneaking up and scaring the bejeez out of your friends.
Even if we ignored the copyright issues, what's the point of recording lectures? This year I recorded 2 weeks worth of my Graduate-level classes before I realized, "Hey, when am I going to have time to listen to this?" It's much better and easier to take NOTES, catch the important tidbits, write it down... that way you can skim through your notes later and refresh your memory...
Listening to a 3 hour lecture 1x is more than enough!
April is Math Month?
Huh. That figures.
Wow, this will REALLY help masters and doctorate students who have to write research papers with a minimum page count...
Jds
Hmm. I wonder what would happen if I use AIM for sharing a couple copyrighted eBooks? Does this mean they now own the rights to those as well?
3. never blog about anyone you fuck from the office
4. never fuck with anyone you block about from the office
5. never fuck about with anyone you blog from the office
6. never blog with anyone you fuck about from the office
7. Don't fuck n blog.
I wonder why Vodafones in the US aren't like the ones here in Japan -- The newer phones receive regular broadcast TV, no fees or special equipment required. On your Vodafone you can watch anything that's not on cable TV. Pretty nice. But I just don't get the whole "download and pay" gambit in the WEST...
*shrug*
With the proliferation of (initial)(name) products, I wonder how long it will take for Google to create "The G-Spot", a website where everyone can get together for fun and games. Maybe even offer their own anti-virus software to boot?
I have a Panasonic Let's Note CF-W2 (bought here in Japan). The STANDARD battery gets about 6 hrs on AVERAGE! Just sitting around doing nothing it'll get about 7. Watching a DVD I'll get about 5 hours. It's a super workhorse.
I couldn't ask for a better laptop. It's also fanless, so unless you have a CD in the drive, it's dead quiet...
Jds
Last I checked (As I started my collece career as an Astrophysics Student, and met many many brilliant professors), it takes a PhD to understand the math. BUT, anyone with lots of though and patience, can learn the concepts. ;)
I never got that Astrophysics degree, but I can still hold an intelligent conversation with my friends who are studying Solar neutrinos, searching for the Higgs Particle and just plain having fun with HEAP.
As for people stroking their ego... it happens. But as long as they have fun and don't hurt no body...
Well, I've lived in japan for the last 3 years, and I've seen many many computers, I've even bought 2 since I've been here, and EVERY computer I've seen is running a Japanese Native Windows. I'm using Japanese Native Windows 2000 to type this, I installed Japanese Windows onto my English Laptop. Point being, Windows is everwhere. It's the #1 OS in Japan. I walk into an Electronics store here, and out of about 30 machines on display, 100% of them are windows! So, someone doesn't quite have their facts straight...