re: #285 Walter L. Newton

Which computer would you suggest that has relatively no manufacturing ties to China or the sort of labor practices that you find troublesome.

It’s very difficult to do so, especially since the same company, like Dell, will have manufacturing units in different parts of the world. Dell has production facilities in India, Brazil, and China. The processors made by Intel are made in China, Costa Rica, Ireland, etc. etc. Figuring out where all the components of a particular build come from is a non-trivial challenge.

I’m not in any way in favor of not buying products from China, anyway. I’m simply pointing out that, of all the possible companies to source their computers from, many earth-first types pick the company with the worst, bar none, environmental record, and manufacturing facilities that are exploitative.

washingtonpost.com

Given China’s lax business oversight practices and worker protections, it is generally up to the individual company to determine what the conditions inside the manufacturer are. It’s entirely possible to run a factory in China and pay above-market wages and treat workers well. Apple has not done so.