3 ms·

> the memory manufacturers have refused to budge on creating new fabs That's EXACTLY how a free market is supposed to work. The existing memory manufacturers a

> the memory manufacturers have refused to budge on creating new fabs That's EXACTLY how a free market is supposed to work. The existing memory manufacturers are FREE to not build new factories, and anyone else is FREE to build those factories in their place.

t-writescode 2mo ago
Then perhaps we’re seeing one of the downsides of that. When 0->1 is prohibitively expensive, existing players can continue to raise prices *very* high because cost-of-entry is extreme, until it’s not sufficiently extreme. And then we have bubble issues because the introduction of a new, cheaper player, causes the bottom to fall out and for the circumstances that allowed the new manufacturer to exist to completely go away.
- leni536 2mo ago
  In addition of being expensive, it's also a gamble. If it wasn't risky then I don't think financing it would be that big of an issue.
- dist-epoch 2mo ago
  This is also caused by the FREE market - consolidation, all markets tend to consolidate around a few companies due to economy of scale. The fix is regulation - we are going to have NOT-FREE-MARKET electricity, NOT-FREE-MARKET water supply, .... for vital services. I'm not talking about you, it's funny to see anti-regulation HN complain about a FREE MARKET working as such. Suddenly it's not so fun where you are at the losing end of the free market when it turns out some are willing to pay way more for RAM than you are.
  - carlosjobim 2mo ago
    Everybody needs electricity and water, but nobody needs more RAM except for companies. And they can pay for it.
    - Iolaum 2mo ago
      Hello!? Us consumers need it too.
      - doubled112 2mo ago
        Really depends how you're defining "need". Will you die without it? Will your life as you know it end if your next phone has 8GB instead of 12GB?
        cgriswald 2mo ago
        Those questions can’t get to the root of how the GGP is using the word for two reasons: 1. Companies, not being alive, can’t possibly need in this sense without analogy. 2. The poster included electricity as something everybody needs but there are people surviving without it.
      - carlosjobim 2mo ago
        You need 8GB at the very most, which isn't out of reach for any consumer. If you need more, then you are a professional and can afford more. Or you are a hobbyist, and your hobby doesn't deserve any subsidies from the hard working tax payer.
        pfdietz 2mo ago
        > You need 8GB at the very most I call total bullshit on that. I need more.
        carlosjobim 2mo ago
        Why would you need more compute power than other people? An 8GB machine is already way beyond capable for anything a consumer - and most professional - can throw at it. And why in the world should the government force tax payers to subsidize your extraordinary computing needs?
        2mo ago

t-writescode 2mo ago

Then perhaps we’re seeing one of the downsides of that. When 0->1 is prohibitively expensive, existing players can continue to raise prices *very* high because cost-of-entry is extreme, until it’s not sufficiently extreme. And then we have bubble issues because the introduction of a new, cheaper player, causes the bottom to fall out and for the circumstances that allowed the new manufacturer to exist to completely go away.

leni536 2mo ago
In addition of being expensive, it's also a gamble. If it wasn't risky then I don't think financing it would be that big of an issue.
dist-epoch 2mo ago
This is also caused by the FREE market - consolidation, all markets tend to consolidate around a few companies due to economy of scale. The fix is regulation - we are going to have NOT-FREE-MARKET electricity, NOT-FREE-MARKET water supply, .... for vital services. I'm not talking about you, it's funny to see anti-regulation HN complain about a FREE MARKET working as such. Suddenly it's not so fun where you are at the losing end of the free market when it turns out some are willing to pay way more for RAM than you are.
- carlosjobim 2mo ago
  Everybody needs electricity and water, but nobody needs more RAM except for companies. And they can pay for it.
  - Iolaum 2mo ago
    Hello!? Us consumers need it too.
    - doubled112 2mo ago
      Really depends how you're defining "need". Will you die without it? Will your life as you know it end if your next phone has 8GB instead of 12GB?
      - cgriswald 2mo ago
        Those questions can’t get to the root of how the GGP is using the word for two reasons: 1. Companies, not being alive, can’t possibly need in this sense without analogy. 2. The poster included electricity as something everybody needs but there are people surviving without it.
    - carlosjobim 2mo ago
      You need 8GB at the very most, which isn't out of reach for any consumer. If you need more, then you are a professional and can afford more. Or you are a hobbyist, and your hobby doesn't deserve any subsidies from the hard working tax payer.
      - pfdietz 2mo ago
        > You need 8GB at the very most I call total bullshit on that. I need more.
        carlosjobim 2mo ago
        Why would you need more compute power than other people? An 8GB machine is already way beyond capable for anything a consumer - and most professional - can throw at it. And why in the world should the government force tax payers to subsidize your extraordinary computing needs?
        2mo ago