3 ms·

Have Chinese based electronics improved in the last decade. I remember the concerns about devices catching fire (hoverboards) and lead in vinyl and other materi

Have Chinese based electronics improved in the last decade. I remember the concerns about devices catching fire (hoverboards) and lead in vinyl and other materials (I remember an Amazon kids pencil bag that was recalled two years ago) For a household product that runs autonomously throughout my house and interacts with many surfaces, and with small kids in the house, I want a reputable supplier, not just whiz bang features and a slick app. Maybe Roborock is that, but there is so much opacity when dealing with Chinese companies even in cases where the govt is not involved.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
Obviously, but there are some serious contenders here who are actually working on a reliable brand. But if you just buy a random generic bot...ya...it probably isn't going to work out well.
dghlsakjg 3y ago
Ignoring political concerns (which is a big problem); Chinese manufacturers make great products. DJI, huawei and insta360 are three off the top of my head that are perfectly capable of going up against global brands. Additionally, almost every high quality brand has manufacturing in China; Apple, Microsoft, Nikon, Canon, Dyson, the list goes on. This is more a problem of “you get what you pay for”. No name hoverboards were a real problem because designing a compact, high power draw, lithium powered device is hard to do. Segway, ninebot, etc all make great ‘hoverboard’ like products.
- seanmcdirmid 3y ago
  Chinese can make great products. You can also lose your shirt with some sort of shanzhai abomination. And you don't always pay bottom dollar for that, you are just getting 不便宜，也没好货. This is why it is very important for China to develop some reliable high quality brands.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- insane_dreamer 3y ago
  > Chinese manufacturers make great products. this should read "A few Chinese brands make great products" Most Chinese brands make low quality products; corner cutting is rampant. > Additionally, almost every high quality brand has manufacturing in China; Apple, Microsoft, Nikon, Canon, Dyson, etc. That is because the foreign brands set the specs and define the standard of quality, which the factory (i.e., Foxconn) follows to the letter. So Chinese _manufacturers_ can make great products (when required and paid) but Chinese _brands_ generally do not. This is one reason why Chinese brand products are cheaper than their foreign brand counterparts even when the foreign product was also manufactured in China. DJI and Anger are two Chinese brands that have worked hard to develop a good reputation internationally, and deliver top products. I wouldn't trust Huawei though.
  - dghlsakjg 3y ago
    So Chinese factories are capable of high quality manufacturing. And Chinese brands are capable of high quality design and manufacturing. That’s what I was trying to get across. As I said earlier you get what you pay for. I can buy great products made in China by Chinese companies and terrible products made in Switzerland by Swiss companies.
    - hn_go_brrrrr 3y ago
      You're saying "it's possible" and your parent post is saying "it's unlikely". You're not disagreeing, exactly, but...
Brybry 3y ago
The Roborock vacuum experience is pretty good. We have a fearless cat and I've never felt it was unsafe around the vacuum. Generally it just works. The only "issues" I've had to deal with are: a) it'll eat cords so the cleaning area has to be picked up before vacuuming (or bad areas zoned off) b) it can (rarely) get stuck so the cleaning area has to be picked up (ie. a step stool I left out) c) it can (rarely) get lost if there are major changes to stuff in the cleaning area (ie. if a bunch of cardboard boxes are left out) d) very rarely (less than once a year) I have to "restore" the map (I think if c happens it might start hallucinating new map area) I don't know what the replacement part or customer service experiences are like though. We've had our Roborock for 3+ years now, which isn't a huge amount of time but I wouldn't consider it poorly made. Maintaining it to clear out pet hair and such is simple.
karmasimida 3y ago
> Have Chinese based electronics improved in the last decade You would surprised. The answer is yes and yes. Roomba like robots are dominated by Chinese companies and they are the most advanced manufacturers technology wise as well.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago

Obviously, but there are some serious contenders here who are actually working on a reliable brand. But if you just buy a random generic bot...ya...it probably isn't going to work out well.

dghlsakjg 3y ago

Ignoring political concerns (which is a big problem); Chinese manufacturers make great products. DJI, huawei and insta360 are three off the top of my head that are perfectly capable of going up against global brands. Additionally, almost every high quality brand has manufacturing in China; Apple, Microsoft, Nikon, Canon, Dyson, the list goes on. This is more a problem of “you get what you pay for”. No name hoverboards were a real problem because designing a compact, high power draw, lithium powered device is hard to do. Segway, ninebot, etc all make great ‘hoverboard’ like products.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
Chinese can make great products. You can also lose your shirt with some sort of shanzhai abomination. And you don't always pay bottom dollar for that, you are just getting 不便宜，也没好货. This is why it is very important for China to develop some reliable high quality brands.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
insane_dreamer 3y ago
> Chinese manufacturers make great products. this should read "A few Chinese brands make great products" Most Chinese brands make low quality products; corner cutting is rampant. > Additionally, almost every high quality brand has manufacturing in China; Apple, Microsoft, Nikon, Canon, Dyson, etc. That is because the foreign brands set the specs and define the standard of quality, which the factory (i.e., Foxconn) follows to the letter. So Chinese _manufacturers_ can make great products (when required and paid) but Chinese _brands_ generally do not. This is one reason why Chinese brand products are cheaper than their foreign brand counterparts even when the foreign product was also manufactured in China. DJI and Anger are two Chinese brands that have worked hard to develop a good reputation internationally, and deliver top products. I wouldn't trust Huawei though.
- dghlsakjg 3y ago
  So Chinese factories are capable of high quality manufacturing. And Chinese brands are capable of high quality design and manufacturing. That’s what I was trying to get across. As I said earlier you get what you pay for. I can buy great products made in China by Chinese companies and terrible products made in Switzerland by Swiss companies.
  - hn_go_brrrrr 3y ago
    You're saying "it's possible" and your parent post is saying "it's unlikely". You're not disagreeing, exactly, but...

Brybry 3y ago

The Roborock vacuum experience is pretty good. We have a fearless cat and I've never felt it was unsafe around the vacuum. Generally it just works. The only "issues" I've had to deal with are: a) it'll eat cords so the cleaning area has to be picked up before vacuuming (or bad areas zoned off) b) it can (rarely) get stuck so the cleaning area has to be picked up (ie. a step stool I left out) c) it can (rarely) get lost if there are major changes to stuff in the cleaning area (ie. if a bunch of cardboard boxes are left out) d) very rarely (less than once a year) I have to "restore" the map (I think if c happens it might start hallucinating new map area) I don't know what the replacement part or customer service experiences are like though. We've had our Roborock for 3+ years now, which isn't a huge amount of time but I wouldn't consider it poorly made. Maintaining it to clear out pet hair and such is simple.

karmasimida 3y ago

> Have Chinese based electronics improved in the last decade You would surprised. The answer is yes and yes. Roomba like robots are dominated by Chinese companies and they are the most advanced manufacturers technology wise as well.