The iPad is "the bane of computer-memory makers, worsening the industry’s losses as consumers choose the hand-held device that uses about 75% fewer of the chips than a typical laptop," according to a "Bloomberg" report (http://macte.ch/1Xhwj).

Elpida Memory, Hynix Semiconductor and other makers of dynamic random-access memory, the most common chip in computers, lost a combined $14 billion in the past three years, according to "Bloomberg" calculations. The article says that "as the faltering global economy and Thailand floods curb PC production, some DRAM manufacturers may not have enough money to mimic Samsung Electronic’s profitable diversification into specialty chips for smartphones, tablet devices and servers."

Personal computer shipments were hit last quarter by the popularity of tablets like the iPad, according to the Gartner and IDC research group. The former says computer shipments climbed 3.2% to 92 million units, compared with an earlier projection for 5.1% growth.