DRAM it! Cheap PCs being priced out of existence as memory cost bites

Fewer Americans are buying PCs as rising component costs mean the sub-$500 bracket is rapidly disappearing, with laptop makers favoring higher-end machines – and things are likely to deteriorate throughout the year. According to stats compiled by Omdia, unit sales to US distributors plunged 7 percent year-on-year in Q1 to 15.8 million units. HP was hit hardest, shrinking by more than a fifth and losing its spot as the most purchased PC brand stateside.