Laptop Shortage Puts Pressure On Schools, Parents As The School Year Begins

Laptops are in short supply, causing a headache for schools and parents as students begin another school year. With many schools and colleges across the country still engaged in distance learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for laptops has reached a historic level. As school districts across the country placed bulk orders for new laptops to ensure that all students will have the tools needed to learn online, they were told the orders would be delayed.

The top three computer manufacturers, Lenovo, HP, and Dell, said they are facing a shortage of nearly five million laptops, leaving many districts trying to dig up and refurbish older machines.

The shortage has driven up the prices, making it difficult for families struggling financially to purchase a new machine. Computers that were selling for $250-$300 are either out of stock or being sold for twice the amount. Higher-end models are still available in some stores and online, but even those are starting to disappear.

Apple doesn't seem to have the same issues and is still selling their more expensive laptops without delay. The Macbook Air is the cheapest option at $999, while the Macbook Pro starts at $2,399.

Manufacturers said they are doing their best to keep up with the demand, but the supply chain was not prepared to handle the massive influx of demand.

"The lead times in our products service are getting better by the day," Dell's Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke said. "But that's the challenge in front of us ... It's this unanticipated spike in demand in this particular sub-segment that has driven industry shortages, which I'm sure you heard from everybody, we're responding to."

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