> Seafreight takes 3 weeks You can put 8000 laptops in a 40 ft container @ a cost of $5K or 60 cents ea
That delay of three weeks is not without financial cost, be it the delay between purchasing parts and selling units, trend of components falling in price over time, or the risk of a competitor bringing a more attractive model to market. Sometimes you have the option of starting manufacturer earlier in order to meet a period of heightened demand, but perhaps you don't because components aren't available at the price you need.
The point, it's not one problem but a zoo of problems.