The Dotcom bust ten years ago caught the semiconductor industry with their pants on the ground (yeah like the American Idol looser)
When global demand for chip stopped, the chip industry scaled down on the manufacturing. Thus creating a spike in the prices now and also in the future. Market expectations are that the chip shortage will drive prices up through 2012. Good for the industry not so much for consumers. Expect to pay more for everything that has a chip in it. Computer memory, mobile phones, etc. Prices for gadget such as iphones and itouch will likely bottom out at a higher dollar compared to similar trends over the past 15-20 years.