The modest rebound in memory prices will mean higher prices for home PCs, according to Time Computers.

The consumer PC maker is to issue a warning on all advertising that will pass this on to home buyers.

The company reckons that on charging £49 more on 512MB systems at the end of next week, and - maybe - another £49 at the end of January. The sub-text, of course, is that people who buy now, can avoid the price rise.

Time and other PC manufacturers are keen to avoid controversy, as new prices will be higher than those quoted in the most recent editions of newsstand PC magazines.

Mesh today also released a statement on the Consumer Watch section of PC Advisor's web site, reproduced in part here.

"In the past, prices have generally gone up before Christmas (due to increase demand) and then come back down in the first couple of weeks in January.
This time however, prices have just kept on increasing.
MESH have absorbed as much of the increase as possible - but prices are now at such a point where we must pass on part of the increase to the consumer.
Customers who ring up to order are being told clearly that there is an issue and - in the majority of cases - they understand the situation and accept the small increase."
Contract DRAM prices have risen more than 50 per cent since December, while spot market SDRAM prices have also jumped, with demand from PC manufacturers rising three-fold in December and DRAM makers, reining in production. ®

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