Memory Squeeze Narrows Maker Access

Rising DRAM prices are prompting single‑board computer makers to reprice products and introduce intermediate SKUs (Raspberry Pi 4 3GB at $83.75) rather than supply full configurations, shifting costs onto hobbyists, schools and small IoT builders. That squeeze can slow grassroots innovation, make STEM hardware programs more expensive, and nudge developers toward larger vendors or cloud/edge alternatives. — If memory shortages persist, they will reshape who can afford to build and learn with physical computing — with consequences for education, small makers, and decentralized edge computing.