By Luke Westaway on 8 August 2012
Acer boss JT Wang told the
Financial Times that the Taiwanese company had given Microsoft the stern
warning.
"We have said, 'Think it over. Think twice,'" Wang intoned,
possibly waggling his finger in an authoritative manner. "It will create a huge
negative impact for the ecosystem and other brands may take a negative
reaction."
Rather than worrying about whether shoppers will take to
Microsoft's own-brand Windows 8 tablet, Acer seems a bit more concerned with
whether Surface could shove Windows kit built by other companies (let's say
Acer, just for example) out of the limelight.
"If Microsoft is going to
do hardware business, what should we do?" said Wang, whose company, one of the
biggest computer makers in the world, builds some decent Windows laptops , and
the Aspire S3 ultrabook . "Should we still rely on Microsoft, or should we find
other alternatives?"
Tough talk, and I'm sure there are other Windows
partners feeling snubbed by Microsoft's decision to craft its own hardware. But
having seen so many Android partners -- including Acer -- failing to make an
impact in the bitterly fought tablet war, I can understand why Microsoft wants
to take matters into its own hands.
Google seems to be thinking along the
same lines, having recently released its own-brand (and excellent) Nexus 7
tablet < . Although built by Asus, Google is doubtless hoping it can use its
recognisable name to persuade shoppers to take a chance on a non-Apple
slate.
Microsoft is rocking the boat, but could building its own tablet
sink the software giant? Or sail the Redmond-built ship toward a brave new
horizon? Send me your predictions in the comments or on our Facebook wall .
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