Shenzhen, China Component Market
Ken Gracey
Posts: 7,415
Hey there,
Last week we visited the Shenzhen, China component market. If you operate an electronic·manufacturing facility in China, chances are high that it is located in or near Shenzhen (close to Hong Kong). The Purchasing Managers buy their components directly from the Shenzhen market, unless their volume is extremely high. There is no on-line ordering in China and dealing direct with manufacturers can be costly when you have many parts. To run a manufacturing center you need to go to this market to buy components.
The Shenzhen market has everything you could want - at incredibly affordable prices. You can buy everything from $700 Altera and $5000 Tek scopes to·tape and reel·resistors in every size you could imagine. Also common are all major component manufacturers we use at Parallax. What you can't find are some specialty components.
You've also got to be careful at this market. It is not uncommon to find SMT parts which were manually desoldered from a PCB and returned to a reel, or low grade imposters.·On the other hand, these are the same components you find at Mouser or Digi-Key.
I took a few pictures to share with our forums.
Sincerely,
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Ken Gracey (Parallax)) : 10/7/2005 9:52:52 PM GMT
Last week we visited the Shenzhen, China component market. If you operate an electronic·manufacturing facility in China, chances are high that it is located in or near Shenzhen (close to Hong Kong). The Purchasing Managers buy their components directly from the Shenzhen market, unless their volume is extremely high. There is no on-line ordering in China and dealing direct with manufacturers can be costly when you have many parts. To run a manufacturing center you need to go to this market to buy components.
The Shenzhen market has everything you could want - at incredibly affordable prices. You can buy everything from $700 Altera and $5000 Tek scopes to·tape and reel·resistors in every size you could imagine. Also common are all major component manufacturers we use at Parallax. What you can't find are some specialty components.
You've also got to be careful at this market. It is not uncommon to find SMT parts which were manually desoldered from a PCB and returned to a reel, or low grade imposters.·On the other hand, these are the same components you find at Mouser or Digi-Key.
I took a few pictures to share with our forums.
Sincerely,
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Ken Gracey (Parallax)) : 10/7/2005 9:52:52 PM GMT
Comments
Chris I.
We were escorted by Mac Ma, who operates the Parallax Hong Kong/China office. He speaks Cantonese and Mandarin, so the point-and-grunt approach was not required thankfully. Our lack of communication skills certainly was an invitation to try all kinds of foods.
Ken
Glad you had a good trip.
Ryan (李智上）
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Ryan Clarke
Parallax Tech Support
RClarke@Parallax.com
Shenzhen is the technological antithesis of Guangzhou.
I went to Guangzhou three years ago and and it looked like you could find a Commodore64 or an Apple IIe easier than an up-to-date laptop in there electronics marketplace. [noparse][[/noparse]I walked all the way across Guangzhou from the old train station to the Pearl River and came across it.]
Seems very interesting as the two cities are merely an hour or two apart [noparse][[/noparse]FYI-Shenzhen is a special commerce district and the currently wealthiest town in Chinese].
The food is great in Guangzhou. Maybe the best variety in China.
Noodles, nooodles everywhere... nooodles, noodles, I don't care.
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G. Herzog in Taiwan
你會說中國話？你是沒囯人嗎？還是你是中國人？ 日本人？韓國？；）
再見，
李智上(Ryan)
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Ryan Clarke
Parallax Tech Support
RClarke@Parallax.com
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·
Steve
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
我們祝願他運氣!
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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support
csavage@parallax.com
我會說中國話!
I am an American English teacher. I started to learn Chinese at 47 and find that learning really keeps me feeling young. These days I enjoy studying electronics, teaching, and Chinese.
No, I am not Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. I am fourth generation San Franciscan and family is originally German decent.
Ken,
I wish you good forture on your visit. China is unlike any place else in the world. A lot of history and very interesting people. Very hardworking, too.
再見，
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G. Herzog in Taiwan
我也是美國大鼻子：） 可是我會說韓國話。 我住在韓國的時候學中文。 很喜歡學漢字。
你學關東話嗎？（還是只學普通話嗎？）
再見，
李智上(Ryan)
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Ryan Clarke
Parallax Tech Support
RClarke@Parallax.com
How do you recommend someone start learning chinese as a second language? Also, have you found it difficult to learn an asian language when starting as an adult? Last Q - Kramer, did you move to China to immerse yourself in the language?
"Need more input." -Johnny5
Doc
Are you really a veteranian?
I suggest move to Asia -- While it is grammatically easier than learning many Western languages, living immersed in the society that uses it demands that you keep trying.
My Taiwanese students' greatest handicap is the lack of opportunity to actually practise face-to-face communication frequently with native speakers. There is a lot of research that shows the evolution of Pidgin and Creole languages comes about from such isolation from the native speaking community. You reach a plateau and are sociologically limited by what people around you accept as an adequate second language.
I moved to Taiwan [noparse][[/noparse]some may call it China, but not the people that live here] to pay off credit card bills. At 47, I had about $20,000USD of debt and it seemed that no one in San Francisco was interested in giving me anything but a 6 month temp job without medical or dental. California is about the most competative job market in the USA.
I came here, paid off the debt, and find that I can actually save money even though I make less that in the U.S. These days, if you want to get rich [noparse][[/noparse]or more comfortable], go where the global growth is greatest - Asia. I have medical and dental coverage too.
Ryan,
Please forgive me for not typing Chinese, but I am a bit impatient with writing it on the computer. I do understand that you are an American {Big Nose} and studying Chinese in Korea and you do speak Korean. [noparse][[/noparse]How is my translation?] I don't speak Guang Dong Hua [noparse][[/noparse]Cantonese], but a bit of Taiwanese [noparse][[/noparse]aka Fukien] which is somewhat similar in that it has 7 or 8 intonations rather than the 4 intonations of Mandarin. Mandarin is obviously easier, but still very different from western languages. {it would have taken me an hour to translate all that to Chinese}
I am a bit confused as to how you are Parallax Tech Support while living in Koren. Ken Gracey must be a really great boss.
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G. Herzog in Taiwan
My Korean is actually much better than my 普通話-
BTW Kramer, don't you use Hanyu pinyin for input on the PC? It's really fast for English speakers...
DoggieDoc: There are a few things I could suggest- the first is speak the foreign language as much as you can. Even if you say things incorrectly, use it every chance you get. If you can't be in the country, at least seek out opportunities to practice speaking/hearing the language. Rent movies in the language you want to learn. Books will only get you so far...
Ryan
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Ryan Clarke
Parallax Tech Support
RClarke@Parallax.com
Ryan - thanks for the tips. I attempted learning Japanese about 12 years ago during a small animal intership. As you mentioned I was limited by the books. I lost the drive early on for lack of interaction (my supposition) and didn't retain much. As the years have passed I realize that Chinese would be more appropriate and easier to interact with chinese speaking people in my area. If only there was more time ....
Oh, btw Ken - great thread. Thanks for the cool images.
Doc
再見，
Ryan
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Ryan Clarke
Parallax Tech Support
RClarke@Parallax.com
While you banter back and forth in Cantonese and Mandarin, I've got a few more thoughts and pictures to share.
I'll assume·you're already somewhat familiar with the "global economy" and the benefits and drawbacks to our·Western economies.·On one hand, Asian capabilities·in manufacturing may create jobs in the U.S. and other places which let us consume, sell, and design many of these products.·It also takes manufacturing jobs away from the U.S. On the other hand, their engineering and design economy is growing as China graduates 40x more EE students than the U.S. For this reason you can be excited and very concerned at the same time, especially if you believe the core of our economy lies with our creativity (and the careers in science, medicine, engineering and some manufacturing). They're gaining ground.
To illustrate, I'll give you an example. One of the attached pictures below is from the State Software Industry Building in Zhuhai, China (two hour ferry ride from Hong Kong). This building is a place where 100% foreign-owned [noparse][[/noparse]companies from somewhere other than China]·companies can occupy for 20 cents a square foot (lease rates in California are $1-2/ft). Additionally, the government will waive corporate income tax for two years while the full tax (a whopping 15%, versus 40-50% in the U.S.) kicks in on the third year. On top of this, university-educated engineers are hired for 3,800·RMB ($500 US) per month. Skilled and educated labor (marketing, reception, sales) staff are hired for $200/month. This particular building is perhaps 50% occupied. And if it fills up they'll just build another one. Lots of U.S. and European companies have been there for a long time already.
Compared to my last visit to China six years ago, this time I came back a bit more·concerned about·our future economy. They can only grow their economy considering the mass of population, current low standard of living, and technology support from the government in the form of taxes and other investment.
As their skills in technology·design continue to·increase (as they have done in manufacturing) we·must remain keenly aware and continue to develop our own·technology to be competetive.·We've got·experimentation and creativity on our side, which really helps. We've got to be able to do more than·watch this happen. What can we do?
Consider doing the following to help keep our country's skills and core economy growing:
- Introduce kids to robots, electronics and mechanics at an early age. Find out how to foster their interests.
- Ask your company to contribute to a local high school technology program.
- Innovate and create as a hobby; carry these skills into industry somehow.
- Launch·a new·company.
- Shake it up at your employment - let them know what it's going to take to compete.
- Get the education, if it helps you achieve any goals in developing technology.
Hope I don't offend anybody with these thoughts,·but this is my take on the situation.Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
P.S.·That's not an aquarium. It's a restaurant and you can pick out your own fish for lunch. This one is a giant Grouper who would probably feed a party of 8-10. They can slice him up and deliver him Shezhuan-style in about 15 minutes.
I think that is an excellent idea
Do c
Please forgive us for 'stealing your thread'.
The realities of China can be quite daunting to Americans. It really is the 'Sleeping Giant'. And every one needs to have a way to feed themselves with dignity - we are one world. {The Chinese say, 'Under heaven, one big family.'}
I whole-heartedly agree with your attitutes about education. If you don't invest in kids, you are not investing properly in the future. They all grow up to be workers and customers if they are given a good education to help them with life's challenges. They can be inspired.
Nonetheless, with the Internet 70% English and English being the defacto 2nd language with an estimated 4 billion people wanting to learn - we do have a product or two. Teaching in any form can provide a westerner with a life-time of work in Asia and most of the developing world.
China was much more of a concern when the 'Bamboo Curtain' was up and no one could talk to them.
I risk being too serious. Warm regards,
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G. Herzog in Taiwan
Post Edited (Kramer) : 10/8/2005 4:50:37 PM GMT
i want to improve my english..i have been learning english for about 8 years..but i still can not use it properly..
Don't get discouraged! Having learned other languages, I know it can be tough to learn a new language, and the English language isn't easy to learn.
Knight.
If you are interested in using the SX-28 or SX-52, it is an excellent way to improve.
Real communcation about a topic that you really want to learn truly helps increase speed.
I am sure the technology is a good career project too.
We have 'Whats a Microcomputer' in Chinese to get you started, but that is the BasicStamp.
Nonetheless, it will build a lot of your vocabulary as you can compare the Chinese and English versions for details.
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G. Herzog in Taiwan
你會說韓國話嗎？ 好啊！안녕하세요?
Kramer,
I was thinking more along the lines of "天下爲公" [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Ryan
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Ryan Clarke
Parallax Tech Support
RClarke@Parallax.com
Is that understandable？ Maybe it just means, 'Everyone is under heaven' and I interpreted wrong.
Try.... 天下無難事，只怕有心人。 It is more in keeping with learning.
I think the first phrase is above the Grant Avenue and Bush Street Gate to San Francisco's Chinatown.
I have been cheating and using cut and paste to build Chinese messages from what you already wrote,
but this time I turned on my Chinese.· {Cut and Paste is also a fast way to get Gunther's umlat right}
Everyone is making me take responsiblity for improving my Chinese skills. 誰誰!
Sometime I cannot seem to figure out how to properly get it working -- too many software challenges, so I let it slide.· I have Twinbridge, but it seems to conflict with the Windows XP.
Luvadidas, if you are really serious about English language learning I can e-mail you a lot of my teaching materials.
I study teaching ESL at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland via on-line and have taught for 11 years.
I retain a U.S. copyright to all of it, but am only really concerned if someone, somewhere claims my original research as theirs. As long as you are willing to leave the 'copyright' on the documents and let people know it came from me, you can share them.
不怕慢，只怕佔。
我是黃鶴老師。{yes, that is my Chinese name}
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G. Herzog in Taiwan
Post Edited (Kramer) : 10/12/2005 3:54:26 PM GMT
Ryan
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Ryan Clarke
Parallax Tech Support
RClarke@Parallax.com
What's the browser you guys use for displaying those Chinese Characters? I just see question marks on mine.
Just curious
Rafael
The Windows IME works fine, but I want to add fonts that show a phonetic symbol [noparse][[/noparse]In Taiwan it is calle BA-PA-MA-Fa]. Otherwise, I can only read, but not verify the sound of the language.
Twinbridge has the fonts, but it really messes with the Windows IME.
Flyingfishfinger [noparse][[/noparse]what a name!]
I am using an up-to-date WindowsXP with its Internet Explorer. The shift to WindowsXP supported 'Unicode' which is like a huge extention to ASCII. ASCII support 256 choices, but Unicode allows for Asian Chracter based languages by supporting both ASCII and thousands more. It does with by being a 16bit code instead of the traditional 8bit [noparse][[/noparse]so it has 2 to the 16th power choices]
You may have the feature, but never turned it on because you haven't needed it.
As the say, "A person who speaks two languages in bi-lingual; a person who speaks three languages is tri-lingual; and a person who only speaks one language is an American." oops!
Via con dios, muchachos.... Ariba! Ariba! Shalom.
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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support
csavage@parallax.com
Ryan
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Ryan Clarke
Parallax Tech Support
RClarke@Parallax.com
我会说一点点..안녕하세요 . 만나서 반갑습니다 . 저는 Phoenix 라고 해요 .저는 한국을 참 좋아해요.^^
Kramer
Thank you so much for your advice..and please please please!!! send it to me,im really serious about English language learning,and i will take an interpretation test next month,i'm a little bit worried about that..im poor in oral English..and i promise that i wont send the materials to any public language schools and i will leave the 'copyright' on the documents.
and MR 黄鹤..i dont know whether you know the Chinese poem <黄鹤楼>
昔人已乘黄鹤去，
此地空余黄鹤楼。
黄鹤一去不复返，
白云千载空悠悠。
it's a beautiful poem and this name has a profound meaning^^
thank you 黄鹤老师^^ and my e-mail address:· phoeasonix@hotmail.com