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Acer has never been particularly keen on the idea of competing with Microsoft in the hardware space, and apparently the Taiwanese manufacturer is still holding a grudge. In a recent interview with Tancent Technology, Linxian Lang, president of Acer's Greater China division, warned Microsoft that the hardware business is like "hard rice" and "is not so easy to eat." Say what?
It's very possible that Google butchered the translation, but the overall sentiment comes through loud and clear. Acer's message is that the hardware market is unforgiving, and that Microsoft would be better served to let its experienced partners do what they do best.
For the most part, Microsoft has done that, save for Surface and Surface RT. Windows 8 is a signficant departure from past OSes from Microsoft, and it's the first to try and truly unify the desktop and mobile experience. Some have argued that Microsoft perhaps paid too much attention to mobile and touch functionality, to the detriment of the desktop. Regardless, Microsoft is serious about its Surface strategy, no matter how much Acer continues to object.
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Keith E. Whisman
November 07, 2012 at 2:21am
So eating hardware is like eating hard rice. I'll keep that in mind and stay away from eating either. Properly cooked rice is actually pretty good with gobs of butter, pepper, and salt.
Strangelove_424
November 05, 2012 at 6:41pm
Am I the only one distracted by that disturbing, creepy, yet slightly erotic picture?
Happy
November 05, 2012 at 7:21pm
Nope, you're not the only one. I had nearly the exact same reaction to it also.
ss81bja
November 05, 2012 at 4:53pm
I think Microsoft is trying to make reference hardware with the Surface Tablets i.e. tablets which they think should contain the minimum specs to run Win8 Pro and RT properly to its full potential. I don't think they are trying to drive the competition out of business per se( some of them are Microsoft partners) but become sort of a flagship for Win8 on tablets for others to copy. Microsoft partners are misinterpreting its actions.
AMDfan64
November 07, 2012 at 10:50am
I think so too, when Nvidea or AMD release their reference cards, do we say they are trying to push out their partners? No. We say they are reference cards, that the other companies should look at for, err, reference. I see that Asus has all ready embraced that idea.
Warrior247
November 05, 2012 at 2:34pm
Acer CEO: "We’re Going to Stop Selling Cheap, Unprofitable Crap"
After reading that headline, we all know that...he lied!M$ thinks that the Xbox 360 tastes fine and the PC is so over. M$ knows hardware and knows how to intergrate their software within their family of products. I had (got stolen) an iPad 3 and the main thing that I wanted for it was a windows office program! The real deal. So this move is quite good for M$, especially since Acer had the same ambitions. Yep, they're officially scared.
Dexter243
November 05, 2012 at 2:22pm
And to be strat it is windows that is trying to play catch up the open and very friendly linux has devastated windows in the market other then pc and linux even wipes the floor with ios 3 to 1 and even just the other day steam announce it will start suporting linux as it believes befor long linux will start suporting more games as it becomes a more main streem option to windows and mac
Warrior247
November 05, 2012 at 2:37pm
Riiiight, and many Linux users dual boot windows why? Exactly, Linux ain't $heeeit.
gmvolk
November 05, 2012 at 3:25pm
In my opinion, until Linux comes completely under one roof, ie one developer doing 100%, it will never go mainstream. Every distro I've tried has come up with some problem or other to keep me from going the linux route and it's just too hard for an average user to find an answer. Linux has potential, but it will still be the power user that will use it. The average person, sadly, needs simplicity in their PC.
Warrior247
November 05, 2012 at 6:27pm
I don't use Linux and never will. It seems to be more of a anti-microsoft OS than anything else, but yet Linux users use Windows, go figure? But your last sentence says it all. NOTHING should be complicated about using a computer, nothing. It's whole reason for being is to simplify my task, not complicate it. If I want to type a letter and send it, the other party simply has to open it and read it, that's it. But he can't if he's using some bootleg program, or his PC is not updated with the latest version of "BS OS". It's stupid. A transaction that should be seemless isn't. This is what's killing the PC in the consumer space and people are tired of it. Simply "tap" the icon, open the program, do your business, tap again and it's gone. No opening "this" to get to "that", or tweaking any settings, or downloading this bootleg app or quick fix just so you can read something. The $h!t simply works! The PC has become a dumping ground of malicious software, hackers, thieves, ect and devs are way tired of it. The console makers and Apple have got it right, closed systems and the people that matter are taking notice. You're not just going to dump your $h!t here, it's gotta be approved, it's gotta work, and it's gotta be safe. Now that's all right with me!
Happy
November 05, 2012 at 7:25pm
Yeah. That's the upside. But what about the downside?? Haven't you thought about what it will be like when any app that is critical of the US government gets mysteriously rejected from the app store? Or when you're not allowed to encrypt your software anymore with a third party encryption tool? Or when there's no secure deletion programs in the app store? The downsides of trading liberty for safety are obvious....you eventually end up with neither.
Warrior247
November 06, 2012 at 4:26am
This is a hollow argument. Apple with it's thousands of approved apps just proved that theory totally false. It can be there as long as it's "approved". No more dumping ground for anything goes, use at your own risk garbage. It's better for everybody that way. If you want to read anti government garbage, I'm pretty sure the internet will give you whatever thrill you're looking for. But if you're trying to make some sort of hate app and turn the surface into some nazi propaganda tool, then it should be rejected. Why pollute the enviroment for everybody?
r3dd4wg
November 05, 2012 at 12:22pm
"is not so easy to eat." Say what?
Acer is saying Microsoft is going to choke on their hardware business.
eastbayrae
November 05, 2012 at 12:04pm
Here's a clue Acer: make a better product and I will buy it. Such as your fine S7, I will be buying.
wolfing
November 05, 2012 at 10:54am
The days of Microsoft's monopoly are over. They're enraging everybody with their decisions.
minnow4
November 05, 2012 at 8:44pm
I call bs, Windows has 90% market share, that won't change overnight.
Dexter243
November 05, 2012 at 2:11pm
Never had a single second tier pice of crap from acer fail to date.
First acer computer i had was a 486dx 33
bigrigross
November 05, 2012 at 11:18am
Probably from someone who has never used their stuff.
I own the Aspire 3830TG and I get 7 hours of use doing general stuff on it and since it has a GT540M, I can play BF3, EVE, and Xcom without issue. Plus the laptop is sturdy and once I replaced the HDD with a SSD, it was really speedy. Also its a 13in laptop with a metal and plastic frame. Not bad for only 700 dollars. Its survived drops, cats laying on it, and a lightening strike. So before you call it second tier crap, the next laptop I buy will be this series next iteration.
wolfing
November 05, 2012 at 12:54pm
or someone who's used their stuff long ago, like myself. Some 13 or so years ago I purchased a couple of Acer laptops for the company. Both of them at different times started blowing smoke, and one of them killed their screen so that you had to apply pressure on different places every few minutes for it to come back.
Now, it's very probable that they got their act together since then, but I'm one that doesn't forget easily, haven't purchased anything Acer since then.
Engelsstaub
November 05, 2012 at 1:14pm
@ bigrigross: I've never owned an Acer product, but I have to admit I've nearly always (perhaps wrongly) dismissed their products as second-tier.
Pretty much every company has its "crappier" products. I think it's great you found one you're truly satisfied with. If there's a way you can express this to someone at Acer, that could use your positive feedback, you should. Too many people only register complaints through feedback channels. Consequently (I believe) many PC manufacturers are left without any feedback or idea of what consumers would really appreciate from them.
It must be truly difficult for PC laptop manufacturers to please a majority of the people with their offerings. PC users vary greatly in what they want and value. Many just want a laptop that works for two years at a very low price-point. Others, like yourself, value a reasonably well-made laptop with advanced specs and are willing to pay a fair price for such a computer.
bliomike
November 05, 2012 at 6:06pm
I have used 3 Acer computers (desktop, laptop, netbook) and helped two senior citizens set up Acer computers and have yet to have one problem with any of them.
froggz
November 05, 2012 at 9:58am
I don't see a problem on what Microsoft is doing. They are just setting the standard on how they want to see their surface market evolve into.
