alt Hacker NewsThe only one you mentioned was existing factories extending production hours. AFAIK they already operate 24/7! Apple can't switch suppliers because everyone is selling out. Semiconductor factories are specialized and can't be easily switched to other types. It takes time and money and it stops making money for the duration, leading to a similar risk analysis as building a new one.
Replies
1. existing factories increasing production 2. factories but are not making ram switch 3. Large consumers of ram use alternatives, broadening the supply
And let’s suppose none of these make a mark and a new factory needs to be built or something. This means: 1. You wait for build out and prices go down. 2. Prices go down anyway because demand is not sustainable.
And to turn it around, when you buy an expensive GPU to play computer games you are claiming a valuable industrial resource. Should the government subsidize your home consumption use case? Computer technology is a scarce resource with many uses.
Apple can’t switch now, but they can take it in the house over the next 3 to 4 years to avoid this fiasco again. They have the right new CEO for the job. He’s a designer and engineer of chips, and since Apple didn’t waste money on the AI model/Data Center building exercise.
They certainly have the money to get it done in house, long-term, why? after this fiasco, the Chinese are going to have a much bigger piece of the memory market worldwide. So strategically, it pays to bring it memory in house in partnership with TSMC in Arizona or Oregon.