The Second Best Time to Buy a Computer Is NOW

(The best time was before Windows 10 went out of support.)

If you’ve been putting off buying a new computer, the window for “waiting a little longer” may be closing.

Over the past few months, several forces in the technology supply chain have started converging, and the result is likely to be higher computer prices and tighter availability through 2026 and possibly into 2027.

We’re already seeing early signs of this in the market.

Recently, one of our vendors had to reprice a computer order after it was already placed. A system sourced through Lenovo jumped roughly 35–40% before delivery. That’s something we almost never see in normal market conditions.

This is not only a Lenovo problem but also an industry-wide one. All of our major electronics partners, including Lenovo, Dell, and CDW, have advised that prices have already risen and that the trend is likely to continue.

What’s Driving the Price Increases?

A recent supply-chain bulletin from CDW outlines the core issue: memory and storage shortages.

Demand for key components like DRAM and NAND storage has surged, largely because of the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and hyperscale data centres. As a result, manufacturers are prioritizing supply in the following order:

1. Data centres and AI infrastructure

2. Enterprise servers

3. Commercial OEM systems

4. Channel inventory and retail markets

In other words, the systems businesses and consumers typically buy are last in line for supply.

The expected impacts include:

• 3–15% price increases for PCs due to memory shortages

• 25–40% increases in some storage categories

• Extended lead times and tighter inventory availability

• Supply pressure expected for 12–18 months or more

We’re already starting to see the effects.

Why Prices Haven’t Spiked Yet

Right now, we can still find reasonably priced business-class computers in the $1,450–$1,950 range.

However, those systems are largely coming from existing inventory that manufacturers and distributors built up before the shortages intensified.

Once those supplies run out, new systems entering the market will reflect the higher component costs. That’s when prices are likely to move more noticeably.

Windows 10 Just Added Fuel to the Fire

There’s another important factor happening at the same time. Windows 10 officially reached end-of-support in October 2025. That means:

• No more security updates

• No more bug fixes

• Increasing security risks for organizations that stay on it

For many organizations, upgrading to Windows 11 requires newer hardware, since older computers often don’t meet the security requirements built into the new operating system.

That means a large wave of businesses are replacing computers at the same time, just as hardware supply is tightening.

It’s a classic supply-and-demand squeeze.

What This Means for Businesses and Non-Profits

If your organization has older computers still running Windows 10, you may want to review your upgrade plans sooner rather than later.

Waiting could mean:

• Higher hardware prices

• Limited availability of preferred models

• Longer lead times for equipment

Acting earlier could mean:

• Access to existing inventory at today’s prices

• Less disruption to your team

• Improved security and performance sooner

A Simple Rule for 2026

There’s an old saying in technology:

The best time to buy a computer was yesterday. The second best time is today.

Given the current supply pressures, that’s especially true right now.

If your organization already knows it will need new computers in the next 6–12 months, it may be worth accelerating those plans before inventory tightens and prices rise further.

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