SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492024-03-29T03:28:27-06:00SparkFun Electronicscharliex on Walking Through Shenzhencharliexurn:uuid:34c1ecb3-ccf1-26b9-69d7-d86b41f6d9752010-01-03T13:09:19-07:00<p>I really want to go, Akihabara was amazing when i went in the early 90's and by all accounts Shenzhen is something else. though i hear a lot of the stuff can be subpar quality, rejects etc. Still its just fascinating to go and see it.<br>
I'd imagine that i'd be shipping a box of junk home though.<br>
Looks like the rest of the work outsourced its pollution.</p>
Pathogen-David on Walking Through ShenzhenPathogen-Davidurn:uuid:bef297cb-24ec-ea05-d7ad-c88c722332fe2009-03-03T22:17:54-07:00<p>(@4th picture) That is beautiful <em>crys from happyness</em><br>
~DtD</p>
macetech on Walking Through Shenzhenmacetechurn:uuid:9d377568-7662-9748-2715-21dba92e1dc22009-02-25T02:42:52-07:00<p>Nothing that hobbyists do as far as production choice is concerned will actually help the situation. It might make you feel better, but that's about it. Hobbyists are just along for the ride, if you want change then you need to have a movement that affects purchasing decisions for billions upon billions of electronic components and devices sold. You can make boards yourself, but even simple etching not to mention plating will involve chemicals harmful to the environment, and you probably have worse disposal facilities than most companies. A lot of PCB fabs are actually reclaiming etched copper in solution, so it can be economical to remove pollutants. More ideas like that are what will reduce impact of these processes.</p>
sqnewton on Walking Through Shenzhensqnewtonurn:uuid:d890ace2-f759-f93e-5604-d5ce883936b32009-02-24T11:44:44-07:00<p>"Nee how maa" (hello in Chinese). Awesome! As you said, like in a candy store. Love it! :)<br>
On the other side, too sad all that pollution. Even sadder is to think that is 'their' problem only. After all we all are on the same ball of dirt called earth.. :( too bad.<br>
@Nate/all: I am a HUGE fan of SFE and of working with electronics. Is there something we all can do/start in order to reduce sending stuff to China and build them here in the US? I see the situation now as a great opportunity to bring things back and start something great here reducing the harm to our planet. Comments anybody?</p>
Rubi on Walking Through ShenzhenRubiurn:uuid:7a04f360-6456-1158-37c9-b7a249df3ed22009-02-24T07:36:01-07:00<p>@Nate<br>
Do yourself a favour and buy a Transistor Gayitsu magazine.<br>
This electronic mag is unbelievable. A shame there is no english translation available.</p>
Rubi on Walking Through ShenzhenRubiurn:uuid:d75f09e7-d29c-1a1a-aab9-1ee8b71b83a32009-02-24T03:30:53-07:00<p>The Cue Cat Barcode Scanner?</p>
lucky on Walking Through Shenzhenluckyurn:uuid:fdd14a06-2f4d-a421-ddc5-fbee26893e9a2009-02-24T02:57:06-07:00<p>i'll check that! i really appreciate your help!</p>
jandirks on Walking Through Shenzhenjandirksurn:uuid:f11142b6-89a4-9280-af90-f84833128abc2009-02-24T02:55:30-07:00<p>lol, you beat me to it - I posted to find you posted too.</p>
jandirks on Walking Through Shenzhenjandirksurn:uuid:3d9a288b-4358-5c93-3e3a-397bb83755742009-02-24T02:53:58-07:00<p>Try the guys at <a href="http://www.seeedstudio.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.seeedstudio.com</a>. If I recall well, they have a sourcing service.</p>
Welcometoshenzhen on Walking Through ShenzhenWelcometoshenzhenurn:uuid:3687e53d-aeb7-0bcf-06ac-ec6285e4b4a82009-02-24T02:47:27-07:00<p>Well,i think we can help you .contact me with Fan@seeedstudio.com</p>
June on Walking Through ShenzhenJuneurn:uuid:625eb47f-c042-91a3-f5bc-ee54e5ab58d82009-02-23T23:27:04-07:00<p>OMG! It looks SO MUCH like Akihabara when I was in Japan a few months ago -- have fun guys! Hopefully I can follow later on in the year. =o)</p>
CTPCTP on Walking Through ShenzhenCTPCTPurn:uuid:725fd96f-b881-d0f0-a8f8-83cedb9c82fa2009-02-23T17:30:03-07:00<p>I'm pretty jealous you guys!!! Have fun for me!!!</p>
MikeYancey on Walking Through ShenzhenMikeYanceyurn:uuid:e56721b2-ee61-c446-3d52-70648f7366922009-02-23T15:48:20-07:00<p>Just went on an adoption trip to China this past July '08. Got to go to some 'end-user' electronics stores, including some tube-hi-fi spots, but not the component-level electronic items (dang!).<br>
I was surprised to find Ham radio items (Yaesu, Kenwood and Icom) in a few stores, along with some local brands.<br>
USB sticks, cameras, lenses; couldn't really find any cheaper than a good store (or online) in the USA. Got a Canon camera bag for about $5, though. Portable DVD players were still quite expensive (about $200), but in the US, these are $69 to $89.<br>
Fewer pirate movies (that I could find), although Spongebob and other cartoons are sold in bundles (in sort of large, book-albums of DVDs).<br>
The air and the water are difficult to get used to - if at all. We have no idea how good we have it in western countries. The people there are great though.<br>
Mike Y<br>
Dallas, Texas</p>
Emcee Grady on Walking Through ShenzhenEmcee Gradyurn:uuid:aabeccd0-52ce-255b-b6bd-86d0b69ab7a42009-02-23T14:18:24-07:00<p>Like Donald Trump, but with way better hair! :)</p>
lucky on Walking Through Shenzhenluckyurn:uuid:3858cd9c-841a-fc24-2890-e24136ec7d952009-02-23T14:01:52-07:00<p>thank you Trevor!</p>
Calif on Walking Through ShenzhenCalifurn:uuid:6254d186-5af6-f5eb-e099-7210be847b6e2009-02-23T13:49:46-07:00<p>What a contrast to US. Electronic parts stores in China are like mortgage brokers in US. They're everywhere. If Sparkfun was in Hong Kong you'd be the Donald Trump of China.</p>
TheDoc on Walking Through ShenzhenTheDocurn:uuid:fabf9910-a01b-7caa-40c7-595ec58da2432009-02-23T09:55:37-07:00<p>What a cool trip you guys! I'm feeling somewhat tempted to go myself.. What a heaven indeed!</p>
trevor on Walking Through Shenzhentrevorurn:uuid:81628809-3ee7-98fa-349e-85a29444de2a2009-02-23T09:04:48-07:00<p>Hi lucky,<br>
Try<br>
GlobalSources: <a href="http://www.globalsources.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.globalsources.com/</a><br>
TradeEasy: <a href="http://www.tradeeasy.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.tradeeasy.com/</a><br>
Ali Baba: <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.alibaba.com/</a><br>
Made In China: <a href="http://www.made-in-china.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.made-in-china.com/</a><br>
Trevor</p>
Rubi on Walking Through ShenzhenRubiurn:uuid:5cb9e994-7fc7-fe42-2b8e-d091e6315ca22009-02-23T03:21:37-07:00<blockquote>
<p>Be sure to keep an eye on the gang's flikr accounts<br>
Where can I find these accounts ?</p>
</blockquote>
Nate on Walking Through ShenzhenNateurn:uuid:687fe59d-6491-cc85-a303-d526a1f117072009-02-23T02:55:11-07:00<p>My pack is full of goodies (tweezers, USB bar code scanner, multimeter, bluetooth usb, puzzles from hong kong, gifts etc, etc), but I'll see if I fold in the buildings.</p>
Nate on Walking Through ShenzhenNateurn:uuid:89f57adc-9055-fb9d-1945-6d6d694be9682009-02-23T02:49:34-07:00<p>Actually, most vendors are happy to sell in single unit quantities. I'm sure I got horribly expensive pricing, but many $1 and $2USD parts are less than $0.25 in single units. The vendors are really reps for the factories and they're hoping to sell 1000s.</p>
lucky on Walking Through Shenzhenluckyurn:uuid:a5ee0aa3-7593-7df9-d0bb-581c219d3dfd2009-02-23T01:58:02-07:00<p>nice trip; i kind of need a chinese contact to help me buy electronics components from China. Can anybody helps? Many thanks. Have a nice day!</p>
Welcometoshenzhen on Walking Through ShenzhenWelcometoshenzhenurn:uuid:ee002802-448a-babf-77f0-c12b424219f52009-02-23T01:06:00-07:00<p>Well,the air in shenzhen is nice .It's a little bit cloudy this days, You should see blue sky most of the time.</p>
Rubi on Walking Through ShenzhenRubiurn:uuid:431668a0-900a-2f77-eb3c-5b9c3af648c72009-02-23T01:02:11-07:00<p>The pictures remind me a bit at Hamradio exhibitions like Dayton or Friedrichshafen. But however they seem to be smaller. What I always wonder is, how much moneys you can spend at connectors and similar stuff,...</p>
jandirks on Walking Through Shenzhenjandirksurn:uuid:df57e782-1274-708a-b116-ffc5866cc1522009-02-23T00:59:56-07:00<p>Nate, can't you confiscate one or two of these buildings and keep them as your warehouse?</p>
Mrb0y on Walking Through ShenzhenMrb0yurn:uuid:b0c14df9-7c91-4ea3-d97c-f39297b56fad2009-02-22T19:55:03-07:00<p>Nice, looks like the ultimate geek trip for sure! I'm new so I don't have the any of your traveling partner's flickr account links? Could you post them so I can enjoy your trip via the comfort of my couch. :) Very much appreciate your posts!</p>
micro_engineer on Walking Through Shenzhenmicro_engineerurn:uuid:3c347ab0-38de-f61a-aac3-e563dc5e65472009-02-22T17:23:48-07:00<p>Look nice (except for the pollution). Were the vendors selling in small quantities or only large?</p>