Touch Screens May Get Pricier Due to Shortage in Supply

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Demand and supply of touch screens could be severely out of balance for the remainder of the year as significant new product releases meet a reduced production capacity.

According to Digitimes, an explosion at a chemical plant in Japan has caused vendors to more fiercely compete for the available supply of thin-film type touch screen materials. The publication stated that Samsung is especially aggressive and is "putting in twice the amount of orders it normally does".

The constrained environment is amplified by new product releases such as the iPad mini, as well as Microsoft's Surface tablet. The report suggests that supply is currently running 30 percent short of actual demand, which is more than likely resulting in a notable price increase of touch screens.

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Wolfgang Gruener
14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • That's going to hurt Windows 8. That OS depends on touchscreens too much.
    Reply
  • chewy1963
    Ha ha Micro$oft, another reason you're going to take a bath from Win 8! :lol:
    Reply
  • echondo
    chewy1963Ha ha Micro$oft, another reason you're going to take a bath from Win 8!Forest_GSThat's going to hurt Windows 8. That OS depends on touchscreens too much.
    All tablets, albeit Apple, Android and Windows, will ALL take a hit from this if they use the same material film, which 2 of them do as stated in the article.

    This doesn't just affect Windows 8, so ignorant.
    Reply
  • acerace
    echondoAll tablets, albeit Apple, Android and Windows, will ALL take a hit from this if they use the same material film, which 2 of them do as stated in the article.This doesn't just affect Windows 8, so ignorant.
    No s h i t. Don't get so butthurt, they're the usual trolls.
    Reply
  • mad tech
    is it that time of the year again? Where shortage = Us paying the price x99999999999 it's getting old guys try another lame excuse to drive prices up
    Reply
  • vaughn2k
    Another excuse to sell products with higher price tag. No wonder it happens every same time of every year.
    Reply
  • murzar
    WHAT?! NO WAY! This is daylight robbery!
    Reply
  • Onus
    How about "falling demand as people realize they simply don't need one drives touchscreen prices down."
    Reply
  • drwho1
    as long as my keyboard and mouse work... why should I care?
    Reply
  • xpeh
    So... Samsung ordered so much touch screens from its factory that it exploded? I probably misunderstood the article.
    Reply