Is it even possible for Apple to build the tablets in Turkey? I mean, I know it's possible, but why go through all the effort?
Good question. It probably wouldn't be worth the trouble for Apple.
All it would do is result in us seeing more headlines to the effect of "France: I want 15 million iPads.... but made in France," "India: I want 15 million iPads... but made in India," and so forth.
If the Turkish government is truly interested in its schoolchildren's welfare, it would be finding the least expensive + most effective tablet it can. And, at this point and by a long shot, there's only one.
Apple should (and probably will) tell them to take a hike.
A low-rate production facility (say 500k per month) might make sense for Apple/Foxcon. It wouldn't be full production, but at least final assembly or something. It might employ 1,000 people at $1,500/month each.
A low-rate production facility (say 500k per month) might make sense for Apple/Foxcon. It wouldn't be full production, but at least final assembly or something. It might employ 1,000 people at $1,500/month each.
This sounds insane to me. Like that stupid OLPC thing that ultimately did nothing.
Turkey is one of the poorest countries on earth despite being part of the European Union. They'd be better off spending the money shoring up education and human rights (and women's rights and gay rights), than wasting money on tablets for kids that don't have enough to eat.
Wow, such ignorance -- the Prof. bit in your name is just for a good laugh, yeah?
Turkey is not part of the European Union, though it is part of NATO. And Turkish women do have rights -- check out their university numbers and employment stats.
Economy wise, even Wikipedia knows better than you:
Quote:
Turkey has the world's 15th largest GDP-PPP and 17th largest Nominal GDP. The country is a founding member of the OECD (1961) and one of the G-20 major economies (1999). Since December 31, 1995, Turkey is also a part of the EU Customs Union. Mean graduate pay was $10.02 per manhour in 2010.
The CIA classifies Turkey as a developed country. Turkey is often classified as a newly industrialized country by economists and political scientists; while Merrill Lynch, the World Bank and The Economist magazine describe Turkey as an emerging market economy.
The World Bank classifies Turkey as an upper-middle income country in terms of the country's per capita GDP in 2007. According to a survey by Forbes magazine, Istanbul, Turkey's financial capital, had a total of 28 billionaires as of March 2010 (down from 35 in 2008), ranking 4th in the world behind Moscow (50 billionaires), New York City (60 billionaires) and London (32 billionaires).
There are some typical responses here, some possibly verging on xenophobia. What is so wrong with Turkey wanting to give their school children tablets as an aid to education? If this was one of the US States, or the UK, people would be jumping for joy. Turkey is just another business opportunity for the major players mentioned.
And, if you're all so flipping fired-up about human rights issues, how about giving up every thing you own that says "Made in China" -- you'd probably end up living in an empty house and your workplace would be sheer hell. And don't come out with the "we should manufacture goods in the USA" unless you're willing to pay $10K for a Mac and $5k for an iPad.
Apple isn't going to build a factory in Turkey. They'll be lucky to get an Apple store.
Why not? Apple's (and everyone else's) Asia-only manufacturing strategy is an IP disaster as Samsung has proved. They'll diversify assembly to Brazil and a poor European country to limit exposure to IP theft, carbon output & political leverage. Turkey makes sense & a big deal would compensate for startup costs.
While they're a it they should buy a fab for App processors & Flash production.
Apple, Microsoft and Intel are considering making a bid for a Turkish government project that would see the winning company build and supply of up to 15 million tablets, over four years, to school children.
Another Turkish government official, Industry Minister Nihat Ergun, said, on July 13, that the winning company will have to build the 15 million tablets in Turkey.
It would be interesting if something like this inexpensive tablet could be considered:
Most will scoff at the Resistive Touchscreen and other limitations, but for the proposed $35 price I'd even buy one (if they were available to the general public).
It might be a workable tablet, since they're going to be for children, though they perhaps should note the age of children they'll be for.
Right now there are still some issues needing to be ironed out.
Too bad no hardware specs are available for the Sakshat Tablet, and no hardware requirements were noted for the Turkish tablet project.
Today is August 18. Perhaps the Turkish government official, Industry Minister Nihat Ergun, who said, on July 13, that the winner would have to build the tablets in his country has not evaluated the capabilities of the "competition". He could easily wind up with a non-Apple factory in his country that assembles a very poor tablet. I personally would not build a factory in Turkey for an order of 15 million tablets and I hope Tim Cook, et. al., see it the same way. They would have to buy a lot more iPads than 15 million and have a lot more resources available than money.
I thought I was immune to stupid comments but, "Turkey is one of the poorest countries in the world." and "Apple will never build a factory in Turkey." And those along similar lines. Implying that there is no manufacturing capacity in Turkey.
Just FYI - Turkey has a flourishing manufacturing sector that includes steel mills, ship building and heavy manufacturing.
This deal is modeled on Foreign Military Sales Off-Sets with which Turkey has broad experience. In fact Lockheed Martin manufactures F-16s in Turkey. [Just a little bit more complex than iPads.] a Lockheed executive told me that the Turkish line is the only zero-defect facility in Lockheed's experience.
I hope that Apple loses the bid. It doesn't sound like a good deal and with that amount of tablets, they can't be making that much profit. It sounds like Turkey wants whichever company who wins to bend over backwards and commit to ridiculous comprises. When I think of hi-tech, Turkey doesn't immediately pop into my mind. Apple doesn't need this deal. They should concentrate on their real customers with money to spend.
Wow. That's a lot of mistakes in one short post.
- Not much profit? Well, if the other companies can even break even, Apple can make a reasonable profit. Have you noticed that all the other tablets on the market are similar price to Apple's but inferior products (cheaper screen, smaller screen, less storage, etc). In the iPad and MBA lines, Apple has the most cost-competitive manufacturing
- Turkey doesn't have high tech? Actually, it does, but it's irrelevant. We're not talking about making microprocessors or space shuttles here, we're talking about assembly - which Turkey could easily handle.
- Apple doesn't need this deal? Actually, they do need it - every bit as much as anyone else. If someone else gets it, they're suddenly right up there with Apple in sales - which gives them a huge amount of leverage.
- Company must bend over backwards? I don't see anything like that in the request. They want someone to sell them 15 M tablets and maybe assemble them in Turkey. Not at all unreasonable, and manufacturing in Turkey is very competitive.
I think HP should put in a bid. I understand they have some unsold tablets gathering dust.
Quite so. Turkey could get them for pennies on the dollar, without all this BS they're trying to pull. They'd even get immediate delivery. Problem solved.
I hope that Apple loses the bid. It doesn't sound like a good deal and with that amount of tablets, they can't be making that much profit. It sounds like Turkey wants whichever company who wins to bend over backwards and commit to ridiculous comprises. When I think of hi-tech, Turkey doesn't immediately pop into my mind. Apple doesn't need this deal. They should concentrate on their real customers with money to spend.
Bingo. Apple may bid, but they ain't gonna shed a tear if they don't win. This deal probably isn't even on Steve Job's primary radar, to be honest.
As for manufacturing iPads in Turkey, that is never going to happen in the next five years. Let's be realistic.
I thought I was immune to stupid comments but, "Turkey is one of the poorest countries in the world." and "Apple will never build a factory in Turkey." And those along similar lines. Implying that there is no manufacturing capacity in Turkey.
Just FYI - Turkey has a flourishing manufacturing sector that includes steel mills, ship building and heavy manufacturing.
This deal is modeled on Foreign Military Sales Off-Sets with which Turkey has broad experience. In fact Lockheed Martin manufactures F-16s in Turkey. [Just a little bit more complex than iPads.] a Lockheed executive told me that the Turkish line is the only zero-defect facility in Lockheed's experience.
We're talking consumer electronics here. At a scale and quality of Apple iPads.
Hence them wanting the product built in Turkey. This offer is really about two things. First, bringing jobs to the Country by promising to purchase 15 million units of the product. This is to provide incentive for a manufacturer to open a factory in Turkey that would build even more product after the government's purchase. Not sure that is going to work, but from Turkey's perspective it is worth trying. Second, as a side effect the offer is about giving children an important learning tool.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prof. Peabody
This sounds insane to me. Like that stupid OLPC thing that ultimately did nothing.
Turkey is one of the poorest countries on earth despite being part of the European Union. They'd be better off spending the money shoring up education and human rights (and women's rights and gay rights), than wasting money on tablets for kids that don't have enough to eat.
This sounds insane to me. Like that stupid OLPC thing that ultimately did nothing.
Turkey is one of the poorest countries on earth despite being part of the European Union. They'd be better off spending the money shoring up education and human rights (and women's rights and gay rights), than wasting money on tablets for kids that don't have enough to eat.
Agreed. How is this the best use of educational funding in a poor country? I realize many applications are coming out with ipad editions but this is still a relatively new product and within a couple generations they may not be able to run newer programs designed for future ipad generations. Also in a school situation wouldn't theft and damage be huge issues with such a portable product?
Comments
Is it even possible for Apple to build the tablets in Turkey? I mean, I know it's possible, but why go through all the effort?
Good question. It probably wouldn't be worth the trouble for Apple.
All it would do is result in us seeing more headlines to the effect of "France: I want 15 million iPads.... but made in France," "India: I want 15 million iPads... but made in India," and so forth.
If the Turkish government is truly interested in its schoolchildren's welfare, it would be finding the least expensive + most effective tablet it can. And, at this point and by a long shot, there's only one.
Apple should (and probably will) tell them to take a hike.
I think HP should put in a bid. I understand they have some unsold tablets gathering dust.
Hasn't every iPad clone maker?
A low-rate production facility (say 500k per month) might make sense for Apple/Foxcon. It wouldn't be full production, but at least final assembly or something. It might employ 1,000 people at $1,500/month each.
Too much. They only pay $150-$250 USD a month
This sounds insane to me. Like that stupid OLPC thing that ultimately did nothing.
Turkey is one of the poorest countries on earth despite being part of the European Union. They'd be better off spending the money shoring up education and human rights (and women's rights and gay rights), than wasting money on tablets for kids that don't have enough to eat.
Wow, such ignorance -- the Prof. bit in your name is just for a good laugh, yeah?
Turkey is not part of the European Union, though it is part of NATO. And Turkish women do have rights -- check out their university numbers and employment stats.
Economy wise, even Wikipedia knows better than you:
Turkey has the world's 15th largest GDP-PPP and 17th largest Nominal GDP. The country is a founding member of the OECD (1961) and one of the G-20 major economies (1999). Since December 31, 1995, Turkey is also a part of the EU Customs Union. Mean graduate pay was $10.02 per manhour in 2010.
The CIA classifies Turkey as a developed country. Turkey is often classified as a newly industrialized country by economists and political scientists; while Merrill Lynch, the World Bank and The Economist magazine describe Turkey as an emerging market economy.
The World Bank classifies Turkey as an upper-middle income country in terms of the country's per capita GDP in 2007. According to a survey by Forbes magazine, Istanbul, Turkey's financial capital, had a total of 28 billionaires as of March 2010 (down from 35 in 2008), ranking 4th in the world behind Moscow (50 billionaires), New York City (60 billionaires) and London (32 billionaires).
There are some typical responses here, some possibly verging on xenophobia. What is so wrong with Turkey wanting to give their school children tablets as an aid to education? If this was one of the US States, or the UK, people would be jumping for joy. Turkey is just another business opportunity for the major players mentioned.
And, if you're all so flipping fired-up about human rights issues, how about giving up every thing you own that says "Made in China" -- you'd probably end up living in an empty house and your workplace would be sheer hell. And don't come out with the "we should manufacture goods in the USA" unless you're willing to pay $10K for a Mac and $5k for an iPad.
Never gonna happen.
Apple isn't going to build a factory in Turkey. They'll be lucky to get an Apple store.
Why not? Apple's (and everyone else's) Asia-only manufacturing strategy is an IP disaster as Samsung has proved. They'll diversify assembly to Brazil and a poor European country to limit exposure to IP theft, carbon output & political leverage. Turkey makes sense & a big deal would compensate for startup costs.
While they're a it they should buy a fab for App processors & Flash production.
McD
Apple, Microsoft and Intel are considering making a bid for a Turkish government project that would see the winning company build and supply of up to 15 million tablets, over four years, to school children.
Another Turkish government official, Industry Minister Nihat Ergun, said, on July 13, that the winning company will have to build the 15 million tablets in Turkey.
It would be interesting if something like this inexpensive tablet could be considered:
"Sakshat Tablet" -- http://sakshattablet.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakshat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytIKIGRW7j0
Most will scoff at the Resistive Touchscreen and other limitations, but for the proposed $35 price I'd even buy one (if they were available to the general public).
It might be a workable tablet, since they're going to be for children, though they perhaps should note the age of children they'll be for.
Right now there are still some issues needing to be ironed out.
Too bad no hardware specs are available for the Sakshat Tablet, and no hardware requirements were noted for the Turkish tablet project.
Now . . . in tablet form.
Just FYI - Turkey has a flourishing manufacturing sector that includes steel mills, ship building and heavy manufacturing.
This deal is modeled on Foreign Military Sales Off-Sets with which Turkey has broad experience. In fact Lockheed Martin manufactures F-16s in Turkey. [Just a little bit more complex than iPads.] a Lockheed executive told me that the Turkish line is the only zero-defect facility in Lockheed's experience.
I hope that Apple loses the bid. It doesn't sound like a good deal and with that amount of tablets, they can't be making that much profit. It sounds like Turkey wants whichever company who wins to bend over backwards and commit to ridiculous comprises. When I think of hi-tech, Turkey doesn't immediately pop into my mind. Apple doesn't need this deal. They should concentrate on their real customers with money to spend.
Wow. That's a lot of mistakes in one short post.
- Not much profit? Well, if the other companies can even break even, Apple can make a reasonable profit. Have you noticed that all the other tablets on the market are similar price to Apple's but inferior products (cheaper screen, smaller screen, less storage, etc). In the iPad and MBA lines, Apple has the most cost-competitive manufacturing
- Turkey doesn't have high tech? Actually, it does, but it's irrelevant. We're not talking about making microprocessors or space shuttles here, we're talking about assembly - which Turkey could easily handle.
- Apple doesn't need this deal? Actually, they do need it - every bit as much as anyone else. If someone else gets it, they're suddenly right up there with Apple in sales - which gives them a huge amount of leverage.
- Company must bend over backwards? I don't see anything like that in the request. They want someone to sell them 15 M tablets and maybe assemble them in Turkey. Not at all unreasonable, and manufacturing in Turkey is very competitive.
I think HP should put in a bid. I understand they have some unsold tablets gathering dust.
Quite so. Turkey could get them for pennies on the dollar, without all this BS they're trying to pull. They'd even get immediate delivery. Problem solved.
But that would make sense, so it'll never happen.
I hope that Apple loses the bid. It doesn't sound like a good deal and with that amount of tablets, they can't be making that much profit. It sounds like Turkey wants whichever company who wins to bend over backwards and commit to ridiculous comprises. When I think of hi-tech, Turkey doesn't immediately pop into my mind. Apple doesn't need this deal. They should concentrate on their real customers with money to spend.
Bingo. Apple may bid, but they ain't gonna shed a tear if they don't win. This deal probably isn't even on Steve Job's primary radar, to be honest.
As for manufacturing iPads in Turkey, that is never going to happen in the next five years. Let's be realistic.
I thought I was immune to stupid comments but, "Turkey is one of the poorest countries in the world." and "Apple will never build a factory in Turkey." And those along similar lines. Implying that there is no manufacturing capacity in Turkey.
Just FYI - Turkey has a flourishing manufacturing sector that includes steel mills, ship building and heavy manufacturing.
This deal is modeled on Foreign Military Sales Off-Sets with which Turkey has broad experience. In fact Lockheed Martin manufactures F-16s in Turkey. [Just a little bit more complex than iPads.] a Lockheed executive told me that the Turkish line is the only zero-defect facility in Lockheed's experience.
We're talking consumer electronics here. At a scale and quality of Apple iPads.
Oh my god, Im ROTFL! MSFT & Intel??? Why not just buy all of the leftover Touchpads at a discount?
Perfect. Hp might even pay the shipping.
...a Lockheed executive told me that the Turkish line is the only zero-defect facility in Lockheed's experience.
Cool!
This sounds insane to me. Like that stupid OLPC thing that ultimately did nothing.
Turkey is one of the poorest countries on earth despite being part of the European Union. They'd be better off spending the money shoring up education and human rights (and women's rights and gay rights), than wasting money on tablets for kids that don't have enough to eat.
This sounds insane to me. Like that stupid OLPC thing that ultimately did nothing.
Turkey is one of the poorest countries on earth despite being part of the European Union. They'd be better off spending the money shoring up education and human rights (and women's rights and gay rights), than wasting money on tablets for kids that don't have enough to eat.
Agreed. How is this the best use of educational funding in a poor country? I realize many applications are coming out with ipad editions but this is still a relatively new product and within a couple generations they may not be able to run newer programs designed for future ipad generations. Also in a school situation wouldn't theft and damage be huge issues with such a portable product?