| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12] > | Off topic: "我在美国学会成长" (Learning to grow up in America) Thread poster: isahuang
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Wenjer Leuschel (X) 
Taiwan
Local time: 10:06
English to Chinese
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| About Thomas Edison | Mar 31, 2007 |
"Fooling around with alternating currents is just a waste of time. Nobody will use it, ever. It's too dangerous. . . it could kill a man as quick as a bolt of lightning. Direct current is safe."
"Just as certain as death, Westinghouse will kill a customer within six months after he puts in a system of any size."
Well, Thomas Edison lost the game against George Westinghouse. Why? Just like Apple lost the game against IBM and Microsoft.
曾經有人發明了安全駕駛盤，當時的汽車工業沒有人採用，直到二十年專利屆滿之後，所有的汽車全都採用那樣的安全駕駛盤。教訓：所有的發明都必須配合人間的權力結構。Edison vs. Westinghouse 和 Apple vs. IBM & Microsoft 也說明了這點。
| | | | wherestip
United States
Local time: 21:06
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Wenjer,
When it comes to the personal computer, IBM has to be the biggest loser of all time. The then executive team was blissfully asleep at the wheel, and practically nurtured Microsoft and Intel into IBM's biggest competitors in the high tech industry.
But that's all history now. Microsoft and Intel are also finding themselves in a very competitive landscape these days, trying to fend off companies like Google and AMD from encroaching on their turf. IBM has learn... See more Wenjer,
When it comes to the personal computer, IBM has to be the biggest loser of all time. The then executive team was blissfully asleep at the wheel, and practically nurtured Microsoft and Intel into IBM's biggest competitors in the high tech industry.
But that's all history now. Microsoft and Intel are also finding themselves in a very competitive landscape these days, trying to fend off companies like Google and AMD from encroaching on their turf. IBM has learned its lesson and is actually maintaining an edge over its competition.
IMO all this mirrors what's happening to the U. S. on a global basis, as China rises to become a world economic superpower, seemingly an inevitable event and is only a matter of time when it turns into reality. The politicans in Washington are collectively asleep at the wheel, spending precious resources on fighting a never-ending war in Iraq. In the meanwhile, China is playing catch-up, not only in its own domestic economic development, but also playing an active role in many economic infrastructure projects of other third-world nations, gaining tremendous popularity internationally, and also reaping some financial benefits itself, a win-win situation.
... But again I digress.
[Edited at 2007-04-01 16:31] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Taiwan
Local time: 10:06
English to Chinese
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| I should have said... | Mar 31, 2007 |
wherestip wrote:
When it comes to the personal computer, IBM was the biggest loser of all time. The executives were sleeping at the wheel, and practically nurtured Microsoft and Intel into IBM's biggest competitors in the high tech industry.
IBM compatibles.
I feel the architecture of Mac somehow better than IBM compatibles, but Mac wins only niche market. Maybe niche market is not bad at all, so long you can survive and keep on research and development.
| | | | wherestip
United States
Local time: 21:06
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| CEO leadership | Mar 31, 2007 |
Wenjer Leuschel wrote:
I feel the architecture of Mac somehow better than IBM compatibles, but Mac wins only niche market. Maybe niche market is not bad at all, so long you can survive and keep on research and development.
I agree, Wenjer.
Apple is a wonderful turnaround story. Its innovative ipod made it the dominant player in the online music delivery business. Now it's launching its much ballyhooed multifunction iphone.
You have to give credit to Steve Jobs for his vision and leadership. He practically brought Apple back from the brink of bankruptcy.
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Shaunna (X)
United States
Local time: 22:06
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| Technologies | Mar 31, 2007 |
I don't really have a problem with technology itself. I just think the world today concentrated too much on technology development. At the same time when we put so much effort in improving health and life span, perhaps we should also encourage a "healthy" view of life quality, or even of life itself. At the same time when we provide technologies to enable one to connect to the world within several clicks, there should be more done to encourage people to really open their heart and communicate... See more I don't really have a problem with technology itself. I just think the world today concentrated too much on technology development. At the same time when we put so much effort in improving health and life span, perhaps we should also encourage a "healthy" view of life quality, or even of life itself. At the same time when we provide technologies to enable one to connect to the world within several clicks, there should be more done to encourage people to really open their heart and communicate with others.
I am actually very easily fascinated by all kinds of inventions myself. I am just back from a long conference. Had a very interesting discussion with a professor, not about any research we are doing, but rather about how to make affordable devices for automatic presentation of posters for conferences. That was fun.
wherestip wrote: I'm more optimistic when it comes to human invention and the progress of technology. It's not even a century ago when the first transistor was invented by a couple of scientists at Bell Labs. To make a long story short, without the discovery of semiconductors, there would have never been the technology of large scale integrated circuits; without LSICs, there would have never been the development of microprocessors; without computer chips, there would have never been the design of the personal computer; without pervasive computing, there would have never been the creation of the Internet. ... Then there would have never been this discussion here today. [Edited at 2007-03-31 19:47] ▲ Collapse
| | | | wherestip
United States
Local time: 21:06
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| Shaunna, I agree. | Apr 1, 2007 |
Shaunna wrote:
I don't really have a problem with technology itself. I just think the world today concentrated too much on technology development. At the same time when we put so much effort in improving health and life span, perhaps we should also encourage a "healthy" view of life quality, or even of life itself. At the same time when we provide technologies to enable one to connect to the world within several clicks, there should be more done to encourage people to really open their heart and communicate with others.
I think it's more an issue of information overload than anything else. Technology is not the culprit IMO, instead it's how it is being used.
Actually I'm just rambling today. I really haven't carefully read what everyone said. I just decided to open my mouth after glancing at a few sentences here and there
[Edited at 2007-04-01 00:04]
| | | | wherestip
United States
Local time: 21:06
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| Shaunna (X)
United States
Local time: 22:06
English to Chinese
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| Here and there | Apr 1, 2007 |
wherestip wrote: Actually I'm just rambling today. I really haven't carefully read what everyone said. I just decided to open my mouth after glancing at a few sentences here and there
Me too. 
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redred
China
Local time: 10:06
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| that is to say | Apr 1, 2007 |
Shaunna wrote:
有时我看到大笔大笔的科研投入，尤其是那些打着帮助非洲落后国家之名的，我就想，如果这些钱都用来改善他们的社会医疗体系及提高他们对疫病的了解和防患意识，那钱能用得更有价值。就算是爱滋病和疟疾被解决了，再有大的疫病发生，非洲还将是重灾区。不是应为那里的病毒/细菌更利害，而是缺少应对体系。
前不久听一个非洲过来的social worker的报告，听得我们做科研的一个个心情沉重。
远离文明的地方，还没开窍。
这种情况反而容易灌输不知道在哪儿常听到的冗长道理——对于他们来说那就是知识。
[Edited at 2007-04-01 14:56]
| | | | isahuang
Local time: 22:06
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TOPIC STARTER | have we gone too far? | Apr 2, 2007 |
The first piece is hilarious. But seriously, I am wondering if we have gone too far with those smart phones. Do we really need them? We get improved productivity only to find that we have to work more to keep up with the invention. Companies are constantly trying to roll out fancy (not always necessary) gadgets to improve profit margin. Many of those new products are not driven by consumers' demand but shareholders' evergrowing expectations. I just read an article in this week's Business Week about French wine industry abandoning traditional wine making methods in order to compete with American wine. They are using new technology to make wine. Today's Bordeaux wine is nothing like the one 20 yrs ago. Is this progress or regress?
Here is an interesting article in FT about the Parisian farmer's market
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/6d047294-df25-11db-b5c9-000b5df10621.html
[Edited at 2007-04-02 02:49]
| | | | Shaunna (X)
United States
Local time: 22:06
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| totally agree | Apr 2, 2007 |
So easy to get lost in the pursuing of technology.
Tingting Huang wrote:
The first piece is hilarious. But seriously, I am wondering if we have gone too far with those smart phones. Do we really need them? We get improved productivity only to find that we have to work more to keep up with the invention. Companies are constantly trying to roll out fancy (not always necessary) gadgets to improve profit margin. Many of those new products are not driven by consumers' demand but shareholders' evergrowing expectations. I just read an article in this week's Business Week about French wine industry abandoning traditional wine making methods in order to compete with American wine. They are using new technology to make wine. Today's Bordeaux wine is nothing like the one 20 yrs ago. Is this progress or regress?
| | | | wherestip
United States
Local time: 21:06
Chinese to English
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| Moderation is the key | Apr 2, 2007 |
Tingting Huang wrote:
The first piece is hilarious. But seriously, I am wondering if we have gone too far with those smart phones. Do we really need them? We get improved productivity only to find that we have to work more to keep up with the invention. Companies are constantly trying to roll out fancy (not always necessary) gadgets to improve profit margin. Many of those new products are not driven by consumers' demand but shareholders' evergrowing expectations...
Tingting,
I agree with you. You'd know where I stand on this if I told you I wouldn't have had a cell-phone if it wasn't for what happened on 9/11. I carry a basic cell-phone mostly for emergency purposes.
Actually, if it were up to me, there would be a ban on talking on cell-phones while driving in busy traffic. What do those people have to yak about non-stop anyway?
Well, seriously, I agree with you that the ultimate success or failure of a product is mostly determined by the consumer. A good example is the battle of VHS versus Betamax. JVC's VHS format eventually won over Sony's superior Betamax. Also, Microsoft's Windows prevailed over IBM's superior O/S2; Intel's Pentium beat out IBM's PowerPC and Digital's Alpha... IMO it's the consumer that has the final say.
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/format/compare/betamax-vhs.html
There are of course the more austere lifestyle and puritan views against technology. The Amish in Pennsylvania to this day are still riding around in horse and buggies, for example.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_and_buggy
I've also heard horror stories of parents letting their children die of simple illnesses because seeking medical treatment and taking modern medicine were against their religious beliefs
http://www.masskids.org/dbre/dbre_1.html
The infamous Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and his Unabomber Manifesto were an extreme case of someone dead set against modern technology, so much so that he engaged in terrorism until finally being caught.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unabomber
Like a lot of social issues, I believe in being moderate and having a balanced view on things. (凡事尽量不要偏激) Also, I'm all for "Live and Let Live". 
[Edited at 2007-04-02 21:59]
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isahuang
Local time: 22:06
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TOPIC STARTER
Martin Jones wrote:
应该算是testimonial吧。我们非常感兴趣。
这两天有点时间，想起来Martin的帖子，就在这儿写点儿自己的感受。不过先在此说明，以下所写基于我个人经历，属个人观点，不见得具代表性。
在美国生活感受很多，我就想到哪，写到哪吧。我的中文功底一向不深，（原因之一是my chinese has been polluated by my students' Enginese）如有言语措辞不当的地方，还请大家多包涵。
估计不少人对留学美国比较感兴趣，我就先从留学说起吧。中国学生的优秀大概不需要我在这儿再加以肯定了，估计大家已经听得太多了，我就说点儿别的吧。
我总的感觉是中国学生（来自大陆的）自律性强、很实际。这一点在选择专业时是最明显不过了。中国学生大多会选择一些好找工作的专业，自己的兴趣不在考虑之中。这应该与国内的基础教育强调的重点有一定的关系。国内的基础教育不重视个人兴趣的开发，所以中国学生选择专业时会比较实际。当然这样做的经济利益可说是指日可待。以自己的兴趣维生并非难事，不过据我的观察，在美国的中国人对自己的期望很高，并不会满足于一个年薪仅够维生的工作。在这种情况下，很多中国人只能把自己的兴趣置之度外，选择好找工作的专业，如：统计学、会计学、电脑、金融等等（近几年MPA很流行，尤其是健康保健领域的MPA）。美国学生也有像中国学生比较务实的，不过这样的美国人还是居少数。我的一个美国同学以前是学艺术的，她已决定拿到现在的学位后要在读一个博士学位，我问她学什么，她说历史，用她的话说就是another useless degree，可是她一点都不介意，还半开玩笑的说，I will just quit my current job and go deeper into debt。真得很佩服她的潇洒。我想可能只有从小在不愁吃、不愁穿的环境里长大的人才会有这种潇洒。很多中国人是穷怕了，不要过那种花明天的钱实现今天的梦的生活。
另外一点就是大家众所周知的：中国人很向学。在中国餐馆吃饭的时候，常听到旁边桌子的中国人讲他们在学校做的研究，公司又出了一个新的软件，暑假要给孩子注册高级数学班什么的。这些话题很少会出现在美国人的饭桌上。中国人受孔子思想的影响，重视教育，这是美德。不过在美国，要成功还要其它因素。但凭学术上的硬本领只是一种途径，是一种hard way。在美国，社交 (networking)非常重要。中国人普遍社交能力比美国人差很多。今天就先说到这儿，关于社交，请大家听下回祥解。
| | | | Yi-Hua Shih
Taiwan
Local time: 10:06
English to Chinese
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| Tingting，再向妳要一次～～ | Apr 7, 2007 |
Tingting, Friedman The World Is Flat 的（你手上的應該是英文版的吧？）掃描本，我還是要再向你要一次啦！上次沒有收到，估計你沒看到我的請求帖子，所以再來找你討一次囉～
請寄
[email protected]
感謝！感謝！！！
Tingting Huang wrote: Weiping Tang wrote:
有些事情只有亲身体会了才能知道，到底美国如何我也不了解，好像自己碗里的东西不香甜就觉得别人碗里的东西好吃，也不一定正确。
[Edited at 2007-03-28 04:48] 你说得队，一个人的观点跟他的亲身经历有直接的关联。我想你一定是有自己的个人经历才会有上面的感触。至于印度人的创新，我推荐一本书，Thomas Friedman写的The World Is Flat.书里并不是特意讲印度人，而是讲20世纪的变化，其中很大一部分讲的是印度人在outsourcing中的影响。我有这本书其中的几章的扫描本，你感兴趣的话，我可以email给你。
| | | | isahuang
Local time: 22:06
English to Chinese
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TOPIC STARTER
美国人也同样觉得找工作很重要。不过他们觉得正因为重要，所以更要学自己感兴趣的专业，这样才有可能把专业学好。很多美国人的想法是，工作迟早会有的，something will come up sooner or later. 没有必要逼着自己单纯为找工作而学一个自己没有兴趣的专业。
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