Get your kit now while it's cheap

Typhoon Nari hit Taiwan yesterday, bringing high winds and heavy rains. The typhoon is expected to last at least two more days, during which there is a good chance of widespread flooding and mudslides.

Rail and air transportation has been

Typhoon Nari hit Taiwan yesterday, bringing high winds and heavy rains. The typhoon is expected to last at least two more days, during which there is a good chance of widespread flooding and mudslides.

Rail and air transportation has been interrupted, and many towns evacuated in anticipation of catastrophe. Major blackouts have been reported, affecting up to 25,000 houses.

All emergency services are on alert against the worst, as Nari continues to rage, delivering a massive 32 inches of rain in the first 24 hours.

Why are we telling you this? Because when the weather in Taiwan sneezes, hardware prices the world over jump – especially RAM prices.

Atomic contacted the local VIA spokesperson, John Gatt, on a non-related issue this morning. However, after John attempted to contact HQ back in Taiwan, he informed us that no one from VIA had been able to make it to work that morning, due to flooding.

What does that mean? It means that there is a very good change that a lot of tech companies in Taiwan have had production either slowed or halted by this latest Typhoon, thus costing them money which will have to be made up at some point.

If Nari is as bad as the Toraji Typhoon last July, you can be sure that major damage will ensure (Toraji caused around $6 billion in damage) and hardware prices will skyrocket.

What's that all mean? It means that if you are planning to buy some new kit in the next few months, you should do it now if you want to take advantage of low prices in RAM and other components. Should you decide to wait a while before purchase, you will feel the wrath of Just In Time management techniques, as local retailers run out of stock and push prices up to compensate.

You're still here? Go buy your gear!