they didnt realy caught flat, they knew their yoy growth rates and demands. NO AI company had that future demand so certain for all hardware they have. they could easily lock years of ram supply for next years extra demand, becausw they already have cash too, but instead they went after few % margin there or whatever. they now enjoy it
Are you suggesting that they knew there would be an extreme increase in RAM prices and did nothing because paying more would help their margin?
not exactly. I mean they saw increasing ram prices + they knew their demand. They did almost nothing for what months and year or more now? Lack of actions cost us a lot more than apple probably. They are happy to sell at few times more expensive ram, but here I'm thinking they could have great edge, they wasted it with all cash in hand.