Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

actually I'm going to stick with the "US invents it but it can't bring the price down" angle. How many consumer items does the US actually invent AND then produce? Or do we just move onto the next technology allowing the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, manufacturers to knock off the same product and make it into a cheaper consumer item which does sell.

The Apple ipod is an anomoly, but an example of how a well designed product will sell enmasse.

The point that host has made in this thread isn't about ibots and it's limited use, or the big dog and how we'll never see those things about either, no it's about how good the technology is that the US develops and doesn't make it into the hands of the general consumer wherein a company makes a profit.