Hard Drive Prices Estimated to Fall by 2014 at Earliest

[News Portal]

Floods in Thailand during the 2011 monsoon season left many high-profile HDD manufacturers in the country unable to produce their drives, but prices were expected to have returned to normal by now. Latest estimates suggest this may not happen until 2014, with industry analysts IHS iSuppli releasing a report sugesting that we may have to wait even longer for prices to re-stabilise. "With the two mega-mergers between Seagate/Samsung and Western Digital/Hitachi GST, the two top suppliers held 85 percent of HDD market share in the first quarter 2012," the report reads. "The concentration of market share has resulted in an oligarchy where the top players can control pricing and are able to keep ASPs at a relatively high level."

Source: PC Gamer

Read full article by GON News

[neferseki]

"Latest estimates suggest this many not happen until 2014"

was that supposed to be may?

[Tim Colwill]

Yes! Good catch.

[Trixxter]

2014?!

God damnit, my HDD is crapping itself at the moment and I need at least two 2TB drives. :\

[diamondd]

2014?!

God damnit, my HDD is crapping itself at the moment and I need at least two 2TB drives. :\

well the prices aren't that ridiculous IMO, they're about the same now as they were before the flood really, they just haven't gotten cheaper as you'd usually expect.

[SomeXspeC]

One would think they would move these factories to different countries or at least different locations within the same country to avoid these problems. Events that have an effect on the production of HDD's and RAM are occuring far too often in recent years.

I just don't see how they can justify keeping those factories in locations prone to natural disasters and end up disrupting production and money earned. In the long run they could be better off if they just moved them.

[Ralph Wiggum]

well the prices aren't that ridiculous IMO, they're about the same now as they were before the flood really, they just haven't gotten cheaper as you'd usually expect.

That's what I thought. This is subjective of course, but I'm of the impression that normal HDD are pretty damn cheap (i.e. 2TB for less than $140).

If anything it would be nice to see SSDs better value for money but I understand they're the 'premium' option right now.

[Faint_Man_Australia]

One would think they would move these factories to different countries or at least different locations within the same country to avoid these problems. Events that have an effect on the production of HDD's and RAM are occuring far too often in recent years.

I just don't see how they can justify keeping those factories in locations prone to natural disasters and end up disrupting production and money earned. In the long run they could be better off if they just moved them.

I have a feeling it could be cheaper in the long run there. High risk location decreases rental/lease/purchase cost and allows for the company to hold the product price at a higher profit margin for longer in the case of flood. Sure there's the loss of manufacturing capability for a while but they are holding the prices that high for as long as 3 years after the resolution of the natural disaster.

[diamondd]

[Lord_Apophis]

^

Recently... I've just been buying a 2tb external drive when I see them on sale for $99 and rip the drive out of them.

I do want a fast Western Digital Black 3tb though, My current Steam drive is bursting at the seams, putting it off as long as I can in the hopes of lower prices.

[Trixxter]

Only main problem for me is I NEED at least one right now, low pay job etc.

The 2nd is to become a dual Drive to run iOS Lion and Linux. THREE WAY OS SYSTEMS.

[DarKnode]

Why do you NEED 3OS?

What is the HDD companies lied about their manufacturing issues and have all collaborated to jump profits 200% for 2-3 years?

[Bluefire]

Sure prices havent gone down.. but then sizes havent really gone up recently either.
Once they start releasing 4-5tb drives then I can see 2tb dropping below $100 as a regular thing...
But lets face it, $100-150 for basic 2tb isnt overly expensive...
Problem is when you start looking at server grade drives being over $200 for 2tb.. then you realise you need atleast 6 of them...

[SaNE]

But lets face it, $100-150 for basic 2tb isnt overly expensive...

Before they crashed they got to around $80 for 2TB, they are now $125.

[Mercinarie]

But lets face it, $100-150 for basic 2tb isnt overly expensive...

Before they crashed they got to around $80 for 2TB, they are now $125.

^this. there is a large profit margin now.