Hard Drive Shortage from Thailand Flooding

[Jim Alexander]

Last fall's flooding in Thailand that hit hard drive factories led to predictions of some delays in acquiring new systems. 

 

The impact turns out to have been even worse that anticipated. See  http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222522/Impact_of_hard_drive_shortage_to_linger_through_2013

 

Especially hard hit was Western Digital, but the impact has rippled through the industry, and it may be many months before the supply chain is restored and prices stabilize. More serious where multi TB drives are needed.

 

Dell sales folks had advised me to get a major order in early, as they saw the problem looming, but even they are overwhelmed by the impact. 

 

I've had a $26K order for backup server equipment for a client, involving large drives, on order for over 90 days, that they can't deliver. Dell of course can't charge customers until they deliver, and sales reps are hurting because their commissions aren't released. And Dell being Dell, despite the interventions of their sales guys, all I can do is wait to check the pending order page on their site for the weekly update that the equipment is "in production" but delayed yet another week. They've never sent out a notice to customers. 

 

Shows how dependent we are.

 

Jim