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eppur_se_muova

(42,559 posts)

36. Remember when the fiber optic market collapsed because it built out too far, too fast ?

Tue May 5, 2026, 07:06 PM

May 5

Probably, all that "excess" capacity is in use now, but at the time, you couldn't sell it for enough to keep all those companies in business. Some of the biggest tech company crashes around the turn of the century came from that.

Now, what's going to happen when AI companies discover end users don't demand or even access all the capacity they're building ? Those big resource-gobbling data centers could be home to mall-walkers in another few years. By the time demand builds up, the hardware will be obsolete, and sold off by the ton.

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Here's what data centers are doing to the PC business. I built my own PC last Sept. as mu old one was 13 years old [View all] Cheezoholic May 5 OP

The computer geeks Keepthesoulalive May 5 #1

Yes, it's why I built mine when I did, and in September. I still came in under Black Friday pricing, which is nuts n/t Cheezoholic May 5 #3

When the orange piggy turd was elected kimbutgar May 5 #2

I need to buy a new laptop, mine's 6 years old. Initech May 5 #12

You might look at an Acer UpInArms May 5 #27

Yeah Acer was on my list. Initech May 5 #28

And Windows 10 will start becoming unusable in October. I can't put Windows 11 into my perfectly fine desktop. BamaRefugee May 5 #4

I am still using my old windows machines Keepthesoulalive May 5 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 May 5 #9

For some reason when I've run the test BamaRefugee May 5 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 May 5 #29

Get something refurbished. LuvLoogie May 5 #11

Thank you I'll check that out BamaRefugee May 5 #26

Refurbished I think is standard 90 days, but LuvLoogie May 5 #34

I built mine last year. Bought a 7800X3D and 9070XT. Cost less than $1,000. Initech May 5 #6

Will Linux become more popular? purr-rat beauty May 5 #7

Not only that, but computer makers are "baking in" age verification and who knows what else. usonian May 5 #10

My daughter just switched to Linux Luciferous May 5 #14

My daughter has been using Linux for years and Prairie_Seagull May 5 #17

I will switch as soon as the apps I use move over. tinrobot May 5 #21

I salvaged the monitor, keyboard and mouse from my last Windows 10 PC. Used them on a $449 m4 MacMini. retread May 5 #8

Apple supports their hardware for a ridiculously long time Soul_of_Wit May 5 #15

Once you get a Mac, you'll never go back. nt Trueblue Texan May 5 #18

Every desktop I've ever had I've built myself. It's fun, you save money and you get a depth of understanding of your Fil1957 May 5 #13

So have I charliea May 5 #22

A few years ago I really wanted to build a laptop, and the kit I saw was pretty good. If it was a little more expensive Fil1957 May 5 #32

Also hard drives Bluetus May 5 #16

I just bought a prebuilt gaming PC in late February. Grumpy Old Guy May 5 #19

64GB of RAM cost me $153 last year. Same product today is $839 tinrobot May 5 #20

If we slow AI, it's liking horse and buggy drivers yelling at cars. Melon May 5 #23

China doesn't care about killing jobs or the environment. FascismIsDeath May 5 #31

I work on a competitive industry Melon May 5 #35

Horses? Not even close. It's more like car companies hoarding all the steel. tinrobot May 5 #37

You left something else out jmowreader May 5 #24

I had my newest machine custom made with a nice nVidia card that has 16GB of VRAM. FascismIsDeath May 5 #30

M2 SSDs pricing has gone insane. yourout May 5 #33

Remember when the fiber optic market collapsed because it built out too far, too fast ? eppur_se_muova May 5 #36