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Re:Foxconn’s empty buildings, empty factories, and empty pro... by ineedasername on Monday October 19, 2020 @11:21PM (#24833650)
Well, plenty of manufacturing doesn't require state of the art. Start with that level today, and you can still use it a decade from now for products that don't require bleeding edge.

Take chip fab for example: 45nm chips appeared around 2008, and cutting edge today is 5nm. Yet something like an arduino may come in around 200nm, the Pi 4 is still 28nm. So there's a fairly long lifespan for manufacturing facilities. Some will retool for the latest tech sure, but plenty will simply pivot to a different market niche commensurate with their capabilities.

Re:Foxconn’s empty buildings, empty factories, and empty pro... by maxerickson on Monday October 19, 2020 @11:22PM (#24833658)
They said they were going to make a chip fab in Kenosha?
Re:Foxconn’s empty buildings, empty factories, and empty pro... by ineedasername on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @09:00AM (#24836766)
I was using that as an example of manufacturing capabilities that are not worthless as soon as something better comes along. It's a clearer example than more vague references to electronics that aren't as complex or cutting edge as the latest smart phones. That comparison is true as well, but I thought something more concrete would make the point more clearly.