[Crispy]

Asked whether the fact that a product was made in Japan was persuasive when purchasing goods or services, 42 percent of respondents in the U.S.

I can't speak for other countries, but I think that minority is due to a majority reading "made in Japan" as "Made somewhere other than the US".

[cstaylor]

...where attendance is mandatory. At the University, I was forced to take basic world history to graduate... I wonder if some of my classmates had ever cracked open a newspaper in their lives... so one day, the professor asks, "Does anyone know who the two primary nations behind the European Union are? Here's a hint: they're the two largest countries in Western Europe", and this guy in front of me raises his hand and answers "Ireland".

[gaijinzilla]

"Ireland" ....that's a good one!! At least the named a country from the right continent Years ago while living in Europe (I won't name the country in question as not to offend its citizens and my ancestors, but it looks like a boot and the letters T-A-L are bookended by the letters I & Y) having to get some paperwork registered at a government office (of said unnamed country) the bureaucrat-du-jour looks over my paperwork and says "So you're from Brazil, right?" "No, I'm from Canada. It says so right here on the form" He looks at me (these were the days before bullet proof glass) from across the counter and goes "Canada, Brazil, it's the same thing." Yeah, right in Canada in February we're all dancing in the streets; women wearing itty-bitty thongs & g-strings swaying their hips to the sultry samba beat in -20 weather!! So, to get even I called him a Frenchman!!
About things "Made in Japan"..there are many things made here that are very high quality. I think that Americans are just jealous because most of the stuff "made in the USA" is really made by some child laborers somewhere in Asia Although I'm afraid that Japan is heading down that road too

[Ketou]

I think that Americans are just jealous because most of the stuff "made in the USA" is really made by some child laborers somewhere in Asia

Go N*ke!!!!!
Basic wage in the US or a dollar a month to kids in India??
How the else are we gunna pay those advertising fees!!

[kamome]

Maybe Japanese products would rate higher if the quality of Sony products hadn't gone down the tubes. Remember back in the '80's when Sony was the shit? Well, every Sony product I bought in the '90's broke within 2 weeks after taking it out of the box. Hint: stick with the PS2 and you'll be ok. But don't buy a Sony phone, CD player, or TV. Panasonic is way better in those categories.

[Crispy]

This NetMD Walkman I picked up rocks my ass, and it is so energy efficient. The software sucks my left nut though, but that is by design. Luckily, there are ways to bypass it.

[mitch]

The Japanese respondents believed that Westerners would rate quality and reliability most highly of all, but these aspects earned less praise than expected.

Why is it I am reminded of Back to the Future?

Doc Brown: Aaah, here's your problem, made in Japan.
Marty: What are you talking about doc? All the good stuff is made in Japan.

Aaaaah 1985, a simpler time. Lybians(sp???) were the terrorists then.

[cstaylor]

Libyans.

[tokyojoe]

Maybe Japanese products would rate higher if the quality of Sony products hadn't gone down the tubes. Remember back in the '80's when Sony was the shit? Well, every Sony product I bought in the '90's broke within 2 weeks after taking it out of the box. Hint: stick with the PS2 and you'll be ok. But don't buy a Sony phone, CD player, or TV. Panasonic is way better in those categories.

While you`re at it, don`t buy a Vaio either.

[cstaylor]

Yeah, no shit... you can kiss customer support goodbye if you buy a piece of Sony trash.

[cstaylor]

Try and download updated XP drivers from Sony's website...

[tokyojoe]

My sony VAIO is great...I have absolutely no problems at all...its the best puter I ever had!
VIVA LAS VEGAS BABY!

You`re lucky! At my last company every Vaio we bought developed problems within the first week. Wouldn`t boot, screen would go red, whatever. And don`t dare modify the desktops. A buddy of mine tried to add a new mobo and other components and they got wrecked. Sony was using some weird power supply inside that was non-standard.