Technology Blog

Computers: the big picture right now 

AI is driving the hardware story. 

A surge in demand for high-bandwidth memory for data centers has squeezed supply of conventional DRAM/NAND, pushing component costs up by roughly 90–165 since Q1 2025. 

Analysts at Omdia expect memory prices to rise at least 60% in Q1 2026, with PC shipments forecast to fall 12% to 245 million units this year; sub-500 machines are hit hardest (-28%), while Macs see a smaller 5% dip thanks to Apple’s supply chain. Vendors including Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer and Asus are warning of 15–20% price hikes from mid-2026. 

Hardware & components RAM/storage crunch: AI data-center appetite is diverting capacity to HBM, leaving less DRAM/NAND for notebooks and desktops, which is likely to lift PC prices. 

Semiconductors: Elon Musk’s “Terafab” AI-chip fab is slated to start within days (announced Mar 14–15, 2026) as Tesla moves toward making its own AI silicon. ‚  Laptops & devices  Budget

 MacBook (“MacBook Neo”):

 Apple is pushing into the entry-level tier with a ~599 laptop (education price ~499) using an A18 Pro chip, 13-inch Liquid Retina display and up to 16 h battery, aimed at students and first-time Mac buyers. Pricing is still fluid—some reports note component inflation could push it toward 699–749.

 Social coverage has been heavy, with multiple posts highlighting the 599 starting point and student discount. 

  Industry trends AI demand continues to dominate hardware allocation, forcing PC makers to prioritize higher-margin, higher-priced configs. 

Low-end Windows/Chrome devices face the steepest declines, while premium systems are more relient.