Laptop industry hit by components shortage
Bye bye, cell cell
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Laptop computer makers are bracing themselves for a components shortage due to significant dents in the supply chain brought on by massive recalls and heavy demand.
Semiconductor price tracker and electronics market researcher DRAMeXchange said the notebook industry was squeezed last quarter by a lack of key components including LCD panels, hard disc drives, batteries, and casings.
Its outlook for the next quarter is even bleaker:
"The situation could grow more serious in 3Q07, as quarterly shipments are expected to exceed 25.6 million, a quarter-on-quarter increase of 14.4 per cent," said DRAMeXchange.
It added that notebook manufacturers could also face a hike in component costs over the next five months or so because of supply chain shortages.
The impact on vendors may also hit consumers who, it predicts, could see less discounts and promotions.
Usually, notebook makers can expect shortages of one or two components and are therefore able to rejig the system's build accordingly to remain competitive on price.
However, DRAMeXchange's findings suggest a much more worrying picture for vendors because so many key components have been affected by the current shortage.
A number of factors have been accredited to the current worldwide supply dent.
Sony's recall of about 10 million laptop batteries and strong sales of LCD TVs have helped push the notebook manufacturing industry into a tight corner. ®
COMMENTS
Dell changed our order to an inferior screen at the same price - maybe this is why.
We just received a laptop from Dell that we had ordered with a 1440x900 True Life screen, and what came was the model with a basic 1280x800 without even the true life. Depsite this, they charged the full amount to the credit card and didn't tell us.
It seems that even though the product was advertised, offered and accepted with the higher res screen, Dell subequently dropped that screen from those models and they cancelled our order without telling us or asking whether it was acceptable (which it isn't as the low res screen is unsuitable for purpose), and maybe this is because the high res screen is no longer cost effective for them on cheaper models.
Having bought numerous Dell machines in the past, we thought it pretty disgusting and shameful that they should pull a stunt like that, and also really annoying as it now causes major inconvenience in trying to resolve the matter in a satisfactory way.
Nick / ionCube Ltd.
Parts availability
Two years ago, Blue Mountain Avionics had a severe problem when prices went up for their displays due to increased demand for them in the automotive industry.
http://www.bluemountainavionics.com/
Pretty neat products, I've flown in a couple of planes with them.
Ah ha!
Now Microsoft will have an legitimate excuse as to why "Vista sales" will be dropping! It isn't because they released a dodgy OS, it's becasue there aren't enough components to support their sales!
.... now where did I put that "Vista drivers" CD for the perfectly good laptop that I bought a year ago.... oh wait....
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