Laptop computer prices have come down and down.

Richard Shim, research manager at IDC, a San Mateo, Calif., firm that gathers market intelligence on the consumer technology market, says the decline has been at an average rate of $200 over the last four years. I can't think of any other consumer good that's knocked so much off its price.

But those fast falling days may be coming to an end. His prediction: Look for price cuts of half as much in the near future. The reason is that the raw materials in laptops such as nickel, cobalt and resin, have risen dramatically.

Computer-makers won’t be able to absorb the cost increases much longer.
The thing is, he’s not predicting laptop prices will go up. Just stop going down as rapidly.