Portable PC Battery Shortages Incoming

Last month, a destructive fire at an LG plant in South Korea sent inventories of batteries up in smoke at about the same time the demand for notebooks and portable PC’s went up.  A senior executive at Simplo Technology admits the shortages of Lithium-Ion batteries are badly affecting portable PC sales and will do so until Q3 of 2008.  Most likely these shortages will affect the smaller portable PC manufacturer’s as battery manufacturers have to fulfill contract quota’s with their bigger accounts.  But with this technology rat race who can tell if it will affect all laptop manufacturers in the near future.  This could possibly drive up portable PC sales this summer in addition to the rising fuel and transportation costs.  The Inquirer reports.