Marking a change in Silicon Valley that many residents don’t think about, Fry’s Electronics, is shutting down the 31 stores it has remaining. Many techies welcomed Fry’s Electronics when it opened and advertised: transistors, IC’s, soldering irons, Jolt Cola, and pantyhose(?).
Its closing emphasizes a change in Silicon Valley tech which was often pushed ahead by individuals and clubs building electronic tech gadgets to an industry dominated by, software, apps, and complex mass-produced hardware relying on ASICs. Rarely do techies use soldering irons today.
Silicon Valley has transformed many times since the Santa Clara Valley orchards were known for producing fruit. Silicon Valley real estate trends have been constantly impacted by technology and economic changes but demand has been driven up by more and more innovative people wanting to be together to create part of the future. Working remotely puts different rules on whose ideas are shared and how much they are shared.