I've been to NYC computer store. There's so many unsold beagle bone, raspberry pi, adafruits, seeed, Arduinos, Neuron Robotics, etc sitting there for four years. Big cities heard about Youtube, Iphone-X, Nintend Switch, Xbox One s, self driving cars. But not IOT, Internet of Things, smart homes.
Any ideas what causes big cities to stop buying Arduino, pi, etc?
podbaydoors:
I've been to NYC computer store. There's so many unsold beagle bone, raspberry pi, adafruits, seeed, Arduinos, Neuron Robotics, etc sitting there for four years. Big cities heard about Youtube, Iphone-X, Nintend Switch, Xbox One s, self driving cars. But not IOT, Internet of Things, smart homes.Any ideas what causes big cities to stop buying Arduino, pi, etc?
hello
There are several reasons.
Seen as being for nerds
Seen as not being "Glitzy" enough
Money, Economy, Not a necessity
Apple products are seen by many as a Status Symbol. The "I can afford an Apple iPhone!" mentality.
People have to have an Imagination and some creative spark to be into Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Beagle bones
etc.
People, particularly in the USA, belong to The Church of Instant Gratification.
"I want patience and I want it NOW!"
They are also the "Entertain me" generation.
There is nothing "Cool" about Arduino, Raspberry Pi (outside of the UK), Beagle Bones, etc.
This is partly why Radio Shack has gone bankrupt and closed nearly all the stores.
Why Borders Book Stores closed.
Why Book World Stores are all closing.
Just like "Commonsense" is not that common.
Having and Imagination and using it, is rare in the world today.
Part of this is the industry's own fault.
Why is the Raspberry Pi Magazine, MagPi, $15.00 USD per issue in the USA. $129.00 USD per year for a subscription?
Part of it is that Parts for projects are priced beyond many peoples reach. $150.00 USD for 5 meter reel of LED lights. Breadboards, passive components, active components etc are items you do not find locally in the brick and mortar Main Street/High Street.
Just browse Amazon.com and you will find numerous 3rd party vendors selling products with inflated prices.
As far as schools go, STEAM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math, are not a high priority.
Schools are struggling money wise and cannot afford someone who has the experience in those areas.
The Students end up with a teacher with a degree in 18th Century History, teaching Physics or Biology.
To summarize it is all about Money, Social Status & Glitz.
Go to have the Glitz.