Microsoft announced its Surface tablet in June, and immediately questions were raised about how other PC makers felt about Microsoft launching their own branded PC tablet product. Today, the head of one of the biggest PC sellers, Acer, clearly feels that Microsoft should pull out of this market.
The Financial Times reports quotes Acer CEO JT Wang as saying:
We have said think it over. Think twice. It will create a huge negative impact for the ecosystem and other brands may take a negative reaction. It is not something you are good at so please think twice.
He added, "If Microsoft is going to do hardware business, what should we do? Should we still rely on Microsoft, or should we find other alternatives?"
Oliver Ahrens, Acer's senior VP and president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, was quoted shortly after the reveal of the Surface that he didn't think it would be successful. However, he added that Acer, the fourth largest PC maker worldwide, still has plans to release four or five Windows 8 products in 2012.
Other top PC companies, such as HP and Lenovo, have been pretty silent about their feelings about Microsoft's Windows 8 tablet. However, in a recent interview with Neowin, Frank Azor, the general manager of Dell's Alienware division, had this to say about the Surface:
Microsoft is an important partner to Alienware and Dell and Dell will be delivering a full portfolio of Windows 8 tablets – and other products -- later this Fall. I think the Surface sets a bar for all of the tablet manufacturers out there to beat and I have no concern in Dell’s ability to do so.
Source: Financial Times
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