Acer: Microsoft Surface 'Negative For The Whole PC Industry'

Shortly after Microsoft announced its upcoming Surface tablet, there was speculation that it might sour the company's relationships with OEM partners. Statements from an Acer spokesperson indicate that's definitely the case. The spokesperson told Bloomberg, "On one hand Microsoft is our partner, but on the other, Microsoft’s move makes them compete not only with us but all PC makers. We think that Microsoft’s launch of its own-brand products is negative for the whole PC industry." The company is reportedly considering whether or not they want to keep relying on Microsoft's software products.

Comments

Cue the apologists

[Anonymous Coward]

You will get a ton of MS apologists on this story telling us how the PC makers have "failed" Microsoft and how MS had no choice but to blaze the trail. This is bullshit. When Windows Vista and 7 were both released we were assured by MS and their hangers on that it was finally touch friendly and anyone that argued that it was just the same old crap was shouted down in comment forums all over the internet. When sane people pointed out the fact that even if you could manage to put up with desktop Windows on a touch screen you still had to put up with the heat and bulk of the x86 chipsets available they also were shouted down. The funny thing was that despite the echoing chorus that Windows was tablet ready, Windows tablet after tablet bombed. Ballmer in a case of extraordinary egg on face even headlined CES with another HP tablet dud. Where is it now?

Then something strange happened. Another company took an idea that MS had failed to execute on for a decade and ran away with the market completely. And now we hear that MS is coming out with its own gear because somehow the OEMs have failed. No. Microsoft failed the OEMs. How were they supposed to compete with the iPad with fucking Windows 7 on a sawed-off netbook? Get fucking real. Of course this wouldn't even be an issue if the internet echo chamber weren't once again running to MS' defense and pointing the finger everywhere but at where it belongs. MS has failed their partners. Fortunately for Acer et al, Surface in both its incarnations is fundamentally flawed. It doesn't know if it's an ultrabook or a tablet. Windows 8 is some kind of weird FrankenOS that doesn't know what it wants to be and WinRT is as sure a dud against the iPad as any number of $79 tablets hanging in blister packs in Walgreens.

So fear not, dear Acer but have fun posturing. MS has failed you before and they are failing themselves now.

Re:So?

[hairyfeet]

People won't buy android desktops anymore than they'll buy android netbooks, why? Because if it looks like a PC it had damned well better run PC software, aka windows software, or they will take it back!

This is why I wish the OEMs would sink some cash and back ReactOS, because whether anyone wants to accept it or not there are millions of programs out there that people want and they simply don't want your hardware if it don't run their software. Everything from that stupid little program that came with their camera to all the little funky printers and hardware to bookkeeping, there is just too much time and money invested for most to switch. And don't even bother bringing up alternatives, the cost to switch a user from program A to program B is simply too high and honestly a lot of the current FOSS software just don't cut it, no way you could replace QuickBooks with gnuCash, or some specialized inventory software with a simple spreadsheet, it just won't cut it.

But this is why you see MSFT royally fucked when it comes to ARM, because the sword cuts both ways. Why the hell would they want Windows if the device won't run Windows X86 software? Well as we can see from WinPhone the answer is "they don't" so as i see it the OEMs have one of TWO choices...1.-get something like ReactOS running so people can have their software on X86 while they can get out from under Steve "LOL I think I work at Cupertino! herpa derp" Ballmer or get out of X86 altogether and see how old Steve-O likes having to actually BE Apple and do the whole damned thing himself.

Because you can't just slap Linux or Android on an x86 box or laptop and sell jack squat, it just don't work. Dell has tried it, Walmart, Best Buy, Asus, they all tried it and found the exact same thing over and over AND OVER, folks try their software, software don't work, unit goes back. People don't know Operating systems from operating tables folks, that's a fact. I've seen it myself when it comes to netbooks which according to my customers are NOT general use computers but "baby laptops" and as such should run all the everyday stuff they want, only slower because babies are smaller and weaker than big people.

No different that how a tablet is a "big screen i poke and play games on" and a smartphone is a "phone that lets me Google" so too does the X86 desktop and form factor come with notions you simply aren't gonna be able to remove, instead they'll simply hate your guts and bring your units back en masses. Nobody wants to learn how to use Wine, Google for tricks and fixes, learn CLI, all they want to do is go "clicky clicky" and have the software install and go, that's it. that's all they want.

Personally I think the OEMs are getting upset over nothing, surface will end up on woot! at 80% off, Win 8 will be the new MS Bob as the butt of all the jokes, Win 7 the new XP, and hopefully Steve "I heart Apple herpa derpa!" Ballmer will finally flush enough Redmond money down the shitter the board gets his fat sweaty ass out of the big chair and brings someone with a fucking brain to run the company. Hell I'm a little shop owner in BF nowhere and I could run that fucking company better!