[drzaiusapelord]

They're only successful because of government protectionism. Google android services aren't allowed in China and this Android fork using homegrown services is. They don't pay patent or licensing fees so that cuts the price of the phone significantly and they more or less ripoff Apple for design:

http://www.cultofandroid.com/66569/xiaomi-dont-copy-apple/

They're cheap and work "well enough" but I wouldn't buy a drone from them until there are a lot of reviews. Even then, it probably wont be available in the states if they still license fee dodge. The pricing is in yuan and a straight conversion to dollars is pretty much meaningless. There's always going to be a higher price in the states, or to any country they export to, for a variety of reasons.

I'd rather pay a little more and buy a DJI. They're reputable and have great reviews. The $500 model has a 2.7K HD camera and 4.5 stars on Amazon and I can get it here via Prime in two days. There's a lot of competition in this space already. I'm skeptical they'll break through.

[igravious]

> They're only successful because of government protectionism.

Protectionism exists across the board in the EU and the US, especially in agriculture. In fact, it has been stated that if there weren't protectionism in the EU and US poorer countries in the world could trade their way out of debt and in a very real sense the protectionism in the US and EU is keeping those places poor and relying on handouts.

I only _wish_ the EU was more protectionist about tech. Because the EU hasn't been we have home-grown no Googles, no Apples, no Microsofts, no Amazons, … you name it. It's actually smart of China to protect their tech sector from being steamrolled over.

I get it though. When we act in our self-interest, it's normal and reasonable. When others do, how dare they.

> I'd rather pay a little more and buy a DJI

Article states that 4k model of DJI is over $1000, Xiaomi 4k model is $460. That's the first time I've seen 'a little more' mean 'greater than twice the price'.

[drzaiusapelord]

>It's actually smart of China to protect their tech sector from being steamrolled over.

Yet there's no homegrown Android, no Chinese OS, etc. Just lazy Linux distro derivatives and lots of pirating of Western software. I think you're overplaying the perceived benefit of protectionism.

Europe's lack of innovation has more to do with its high regulatory environment, high taxes, expensive labor entitlements, and anti-entrepreneurial attitudes. How well is protectionism working in Brazil, which has absurd import taxes? They need to import that things they can't make, which are significant, and Brazilians pay absurd tariffs on these goods.

The benefits of open and free markets are obvious.

>Xiaomi 4k model is $460.

Again, that's not the US price. There is no US price yet, or ever. The US/EU price will include import costs and patent/licensing fees for technology they are using. There's a reason you can't get Xiamo phones in the West. The DJI price includes all of that and the 4k Phantom 3 is $649.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1208608-REG/dji_phanto...

That's a real product you can buy today, not a disingenuous yuan to dollar conversion.

[verytvse]

> Yet there's no homegrown Android, no Chinese OS, etc.

Not yet, but seeing how they have taken over the hardware industry, I can see them taking on hardware very soon.

Their mobile apps are getting to be quite innovative, with Facebook copying many WeChat features.

> I think you're overplaying the perceived benefit of protectionism.

If you read the book, "Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism" you'll see that protectionism and IP theft played a major role in helping all modern Western nations develop.

Like the US stealing British tech to fuel their own industrial revolution, and not respecting patents until it benefited tem.

For a more recent example, take a look at South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. All of them are protectionist until just 25 some years ago.

[ksk]

>The benefits of open and free markets are obvious.

All "developed" countries were heavily protectionist in their formative years. Only now that they have some economic power in the world, they're trying to impose asymmetrical "free trade" agreements on nations which are not developed and force them to abandon protectionism. These are just the facts.

>I think you're overplaying the perceived benefit of protectionism.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1843310279

[igravious]

Ah that link is interesting. I was wrong about the price differential, wasn't trying to be disingenuous, I was going by the article (and ended up comparing apples to oranges by mistake) so I didn't know where you were coming from.

I don't think I've ever seen a Xiaomi phone in the wild and I've only ever seen a single OnePlus v1.

Again, I think it is in China's interests to protect their markets as they see fit, within reason.

[flatM]

Yeah, DJI would be a better choice, if you are in the market for a drone.