when are hard drive prices going to drop?

[hobbit709]

They're still blaming the flooding in Thailand over 3 months ago. And just like the price of gas, the prices at the store doubled immediately.
I'm down to one unused 500Gb drive and a couple of used but good 320 Gb's.
I guess i'll have to raise the price i'm charging customers if I have to replace one.
I think it's ridiculous to pay triple for a 500 Gb drive than what iIpaid for a 2Tb last summer.

[phantom power]

1. My understanding is they will remain high into 2013.

The flooding was bad, and this year the SSD supply also took a hit from the Japan quake.

[HopeHoops]

2. In the greater scheme of things, they have all along. However...

...once SSDs become higher capacity for roughly the same cost, you can expect HD prices to go the way of DVDs (because of BluRay). SSDs don't weigh as much, are faster, and aren't the damage magnets that HDs are when dropped or bounced around. I've got SSD drive in my linux mini and I can easily hold it with two fingers while typing with the other hand. Open the lid and it is on.

What I find odd is that 1/2Tb drives are only about $10-$20 less than 1Tb drives, but 2TBs are a lot more expensive. Take note: we'll be having the same discussion about 500Tb and 800Tb drives in a couple of years.

[canetoad]

3. They seem to be returning to more sensible prices

Here in Aus. A bog-standard 1tb is around $100. Same price as two years ago. 500gb drives are still between $70 & $80; when you could pick them up for around $45 a year ago.