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Acer Pulls Back From Windows To Focus On Android and Chromebook
SmartAboutThings writes "More bad news for Microsoft: Acer is apparently rethinking their Windows strategy, planning to offer fewer Microsoft products and focus more on products delivered by Redmond's rival Google, in the form of Chromebooks and Android devices. This comes after Acer's second-quarter earnings call, where the Taiwanese company posted a surprise second-quarter loss, having unexpected lower sales and rising expenses. Acer's change of plans comes not long after Asus' CEO announced that the company would no longer make Windows RT products until Microsoft proves there's real demand."
Microsoft really dropped the ball with RT. That is the problem. They really should have added some PC Compatibility for some legacy systems. Sure you don't need to go back to windows 95 apps. But being able to run any .NET applications may have made it useful.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
This is a well known negociation strategy to get better deals from Microsoft. Remember when Dell threatened to go AMD-only?
Acer is a big laptop OEM, especially in emerging markets. What are they going to put in them? A browser OS? Really?
Basically they need something, anything to compensate for disaster that is windows 8, until MS comes back to reality. MS can carry over the dry period with it's MS tax and other parts of its business, OEMs not so much.
It's not so much lack of learning as desperation to keep the revenue flow going in the current market.
Considering they were profitable with those, they have learned.
I just bought an Acer C7 Chromebook for my 5-year old son. He uses it to watch YouTube videos. My wife liked it so much, she has taken it over and I'm buying another one.
99% of what she does in through the browser. Actually, make that 100%. There isn't anything she uses the computer for that doesn't have a web interface. Stick AdBlock Plus in Chrome and you have a machine that boots from cold to fully ready in 7 seconds, with a fast, clean browsing experience w/Flash and PDF support. (And the only time it boots from cold is when there is a full Chrome update that requires a restart.)
Chromebooks are fantastic devices for what 80% of the population does with computers. For $199 it was by far and away the best thing out there.
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
One of Microsoft's biggest fears from the late 90s was that the web browser would become more important than Windows and instead of just being an application, it would become the platform. If only Microsoft had been nimble enough to change their strategy in the past 15 to 20 years...
Every time I read a story about the failure of win8\RT I am greeted by an involuntary image in my mind of Balmer piloting the Hindenburg, and the disaster that followed. It amazes me that he is still in charge.
Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
So they are pulling out of one pointless OS (WinRT) and focus an another even more pointless OS (ChromeBook).
When will they ever learn?
The reason why they are focussing on the chromebook is because its selling. In fact its the fastest growing part of an otherwise lackluster PC Market. The fact that it loosens Microsoft Grip on them is a massive bonus.
Or they should've priced it like the Kindle Fire. Dumb price for a limited product. No .Net is fine, simply because Metro is completely consumer oriented, but you have to price it for consumers
....Microsoft employees were spotted moving chairs out of CEO Steve Ballmer's office.
This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
For reasons most of us don't understand (myself included) the Chromebook is apparently selling like hot cakes, with some manufacturers finding they sell more Chromebooks than all their Windows laptops put together.
And if you think that doesn't make sense, you're in good company, but you only have to look at sales of a device of an even more crippled laptop*, one that doesn't even have a keyboard and requires use only of applications (themselves even more stripped down than normal) that the manufacturer approves of, that costs more than many regular, full sized, full spec'd, laptops, to understand that the market doesn't always produce winners that nerds like you and me see as obvious.
* Four letters, first is lowercase. Rhymes with "Sad".
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Nonsense! All of those users are just installing ChromeOS as soon as they get the machines home. And switching to Emacs instead of Word.
which is totally what she said
Most people don't need fully kitted out laptops any more than you need an amphibious tank, or your own private GPS satellite network..
which is totally what she said
Those all qualify as grandmas.
CLI paste? paste.pr0.tips!
They are cheap, that really is it.
If you put them in dev mode and install a better OS they are quite decent. I may buy a pixel just for the display.
Why?
You can put the thing in dev mode and do whatever you want. You can even install another OS. So you get a $199 laptop meaning no great loss if it gets dropped or destroyed by the kid and he gets a great first computer.
I believe the recent move that makes Office accessible to Android (even if it is a cloud version and a wrapper) is very significant.
The Microsoft crew knows that Android will at least be a major contender for OS share and maybe even beat them. I think they are starting to get ready for a world where Windows isn't the automatic choice by the corporate zombie crowd and it will be just as viable to give your non-power users an Android-based desktop. They are smart enough to know that the possibility for that is there.
Give the graphic designers a mac. Give the business power users a Windows 7 PC. Give your secretary an Android Desktop. Give a geeky workers that need raw power a Linux box. Well get closer to giving everyone the correct tool for the correct job.
Having just bought a (Samsung) Chromebook, I think you ought to try one. It's considerably cheaper than either a real laptop or a (full size) tablet. Unlike cheap laptops, it has an 8 hour battery life, can't get a virus and boots in 10 seconds. Unlike a tablet, it has a 13 inch screen and a typeable keyboard. It has a ton of hidden functionality if you figure out how to access it. Yes, it only runs a browser, but I can get my email in a browser, edit documents/spreadsheets/presentations in a browser, access Evernote and similar services, etc. It won't replace my main computer, but it works great as a travel device.
"Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
Isn't it slightly breathtaking how Microsoft has put more than a decade into CLR/CIL and all the .NET framework stuff, theoretically putting themselves in a surprisingly good position for multi-architecture support (given a software ecosystem dominated by proprietary applications from loads of independent vendors and substantial demand for legacy support: Linux and BSD do multi-architecture better; but only for situations where 'just ship the source, stupid' is considered viable, and Apple's 'if it were legal, we'd personally execute anybody who produces software compatible with OS versions older than the one we currently ship' approach allows them to bludgeon the ecosystem into compliance; but isn't a matter of technical sophistication), and then utterly fucked up their foray into ARM?
what if your kid hates programming and anything like it and wants to focus on the liberal arts?
my ipad might not have the paper specs but i can use it on the train to work and on the couch COMFORTABLY
apps like Pulse and flipboard you don't need a keyboard
Why are you giving them free press.
Because in difference from the far too frequent slashvertisments this actually is news for nerds, stuff that matters..
"I have downloaded hundreds and hundreds of records, why would I care if somebody downloads ours?" Robin Pecknold
Then they'll most likely never earn enough to pay for all the DRM protected content they wish to consume.
some PC Compatibility for some legacy systems.
I actually want more than that... why can't they make almost-full compatibility? Apple did it at a time when they were a much smaller company. Sure, higher-performance x86 apps would suck on ARM, but the UI wouldn't need to be emulated. Maybe they couldn't get Office to run well or something and decided against it. Maybe they were in a rush. Or maybe they just totally misread the market.
There is little reason to buy an RT tablet until the ecosystem improves, and now it looks like the partners are bailing before the ecosystem will have a chance to grow. Thing is, they could have had an instant ecosystem with emulation.
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
Most people don't need fully kitted out laptops any more than you need an amphibious tank, or your own private GPS satellite network..
An amphibious tank, connected to my own private GPS satellite network? Awesome, where do I sign up?
Microsoft were simply short sighted in their attempt to overtake the iPad. However, its sheer size and bulldozed-like marketing will more than offset any past failure. I predict a new version of RT will soon be shipping which will deal with problems the initial tablet encountered. Unless of course, they keep running with their blinders on.
Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the author.
Then you get him a toy grill and a latte machine so that he can prepare for his future career flipping burgers or being an under paid "barista".
Is there any hacker functionality, or is it mostly a web browsing and content consumption computer?
Problem like price will be dealt with with clearance of unsold hardware. Woot has already has some cheap Windows tablets recently.
Problems like features/software that people want for professional use(or power user use) won't be dealt with either if how they treated WP7 is any indication
I predict a new version of RT will soon be shipping which will deal with problems the initial tablet encountered.
From what I understand, the problems associated with Windows RT cannot really be fixed via a new version.
Marketing this product as "Windows", which confused the market place. A true lack of applications. A completely locked-down hardware device. Being extremely late to an already saturated market. These are all reasons that RT failed to gain much traction.
In fact, from what I understand, the hardware itself is not terrible though WinRT is a love or hate thing.
Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master.
It's right next to the Surface RT display.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
Emacs??!?!?!?!?
LaTex is the bees knees!
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
Carewolf: "The Chromebook is a failure!"
Tupe: "No, the Chromebook sells quite well"
You: "No, they're not buing a Chromebook, they're buying 'that $199 laptop'"
Which would be the Chromebook right? So they're buying the Chromebook, which means that someone is selling it, right? Which means it's selling, right?
So what, exactly is the point of a tone that indicates that Tupe was wrong?
Or is your complaing "They are buying it wrong!!!!"?
For the last 20+ years, companies have made hardware for whatever Microsoft was making, because it was the gravy train.
Now all of a sudden they're realizing they're footing the bill to make products focused around Microsoft stuff, and that isn't always working for them if the stuff Microsoft is making nobody is interested in. In fact, it has become a liability in some instances.
The manufacturers have more options these days, and if the Microsoft products aren't selling, they can make more money by focusing on the Android and other stuff.
So Microsoft really needs to pay attention, and learn that they need to better understand what it is people want and why -- because there is increasingly not as much certainty that a MS product will sell, and if you're sitting on your laurels collecting revenue from OS and Office upgrades, you will get overtaken.
Their tablets aren't doing stellar, their phones aren't nearly as popular, nobody seems to like Windows 8, and they've pissed off everybody with the XBone -- and while they may be entrenched in corporate environments and likely to stay there, at the consumer level, they seem to be foundering.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Aaahh.. but they never specified WinRT in the article, now did they? The articles were referring to full-blown Win8.
And you really can’t blame Acer for not sticking with Windows 8, as the company has put on the market a good number of different-sized tablets, laptops, hybrids and even all-in-one PC units. -- from the article
Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master.
Those cheap laptops are totally unsuited to lap time on the couch. They are heavy, hot on your legs, and have a crappy battery. Many also have a loud fan if you dare to do something like play a game. In my experience, the durability is also bad and constant couch time is hard on things like cheap screen hinges. With an iPad, you can surf all night on the couch and still have enough juice to fall asleep in bed reading. (I have a Kindle - not quite as nice, but same argument applies).
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
Unless of course, they keep running with their blinders on.
Like refusing to reinstate the start menu on Windows 8.1 and forcing that metro crap instead of listening to their customers?
They could fix this so easy and fast, but they don't because they are bull-headed and know what their customer wants (or, at least, think they do.)
If there is a mouse / keyboard, use the Win7 UI.
If there is a touchscreen and no mouse, use the tiles.
Regardless of the above, put a radio button in the control panel to easily switch between the two.
I just fixed Windows 8.
Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
Yeah, when you go from 0.1% to 0.3% of market share, that's 300% growth, which far outstrips everyone else. Ask Microsoft how they feel about being the "fastest growing part" of the smartphone business since Windows Phone 8 also shares that particular title.
Note: I am not disparaging ChromeOS or Chromebook with this post, I'm only pointing out how useless the term "fastest growing" is when applied to a platform that has been on the market for like 18 days (sarcasm).
Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
...simply because Metro is completely screwed-up, and because of that you have to price it way lower to attact any interest in it.
FTFY
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
"Back when Ellison was pushing for the Network Computer( NetPC) over 10 years ago it was a desktop appliance and WinTel was able to counter it with cheap hardware and discounted licensing and marketing programs which effectively killed it"
..
.. yup, it would be crazy to Intel define this .. the only urgent issue I can think of is defining how it boots, if we let Intel do this in a proprietary way we're screwed .. Note the flag below on the NetPC. we need to get cranking on this. I know it is difficult to do a spec until the sw work is crisply defined but having Intel draft this spec and take it to the industry will cause up more headaches in the long run if we don't get out in front." link
Intel was pushing the NetPC and it was Microsoft that acted to kill it
--
"do you have a list of issues on this topic? we have a conference call with them (intel) re NetPC today at 9, and pending your response we can bring them up or try to stave off a little, but the latter isn't really a good choice - we're running out of time, as everyone is painfully aware.
NC Attack Plan-"The NC is Dead"
"Halt the NC from making any noise in FY98. Though the NC has failed to live up to its early threat of mass PC replacement, we are actively tracking threatened accounts and monitoring and attacking the NC constituents (IBM, Sun, Oracle) with high level TCO and Windows messages. We are executing on a PR plan to expose the NC as "dead""
AccountKiller
Exactly! Apple named their mobile OS something totally different from their desktop OS, thus setting up expectations that they were the same and would run the same apps. Apple so dumb!
I drank what? -- Socrates
Nope, a bedpan and mop. Senior Care: the Job of Tomorrow!
I drank what? -- Socrates
> Even something like media consumption is far easier on an iPad -- you buy the movie from iTunes (or buy the physical disk which comes with the digital copy and download it like I do), and play it. You don't even need to know anything about file formats.
That only works so long as you stay inside the walled garden and only do the things that Apple wants you to do. The moment you add one home movie into the mix it becomes a total mess.
You are conflating crippled with easy.
Your example is not terribly interesting versus a desktop video player that "just works" regardless of the kind of media you throw at it. Powerful systems don't have to be hard. In fact they are more likely to be "easy" because they don't try to ignore obvious common use cases.
A capable system is far more likely to be easy than a crippled one.
A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
At least dont be Dusche-Bags and LOCK the bootloader/Bios. Give us linux dweebs a way to blow out the Chrome OS and install linux on it easily without a 20 second "ZOMG UR BookIZ Compromised!" warning on the screen...
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
So in other words, Microsoft did this.
I have seen many cheap laptops on on-line that run GNU/Linux natively for a hundred dollars or less. Admittedly they look like toy laptops, so the chromebooks seem overpriced for what you are getting. I suppose the Chromebook is targetted to those who think themselves not technologically sophisticated. I bought my first computer in 1996 (IBM Thinkpad, running Windows 3.11) and second one in 2006 (HP Running windows XP). The latter got infected fast enough. Initially, all I wanted was something to browse the web, listen to music/watch movies, and do word processing. When the machine got a virus, my high school aged brother installed Ubuntu. This was how I got into doing other things like audio editing, learning the command line, graphic design, business applications and more--all through opensource technology. Previously I thought this not possible because I could not afford the software and cracked ones were too unreliable. GNU/Linux opened the possibilities for me. So I am a bit concerned when people who consider themselves unsophisticated deliberately get a device that is so limited. More options should be availble should the user learn to want more from her machines...
"SO we bide our time, waiting for a purer kick to bloom and the future is still bleak, uncertain and beautiful" -GSYBE
Actually, as the people who found the first RT jailbreak noticed, the only thing keeping Windows RT from running ARM compiled applications (which you can create in Visual Studio, even!) is a policy that mandates that only Microsoft-signed executables can run outside of the WinRT environment. If Microsoft removed that restriction by changing a single registry key, all of that compatibility would suddenly appear. In fact, .NET apps distributed in PE form and compiled for Any CPU would be able to run without being recompiled at all.
The Freelance Wizard
Actually what they did was worse than not listen. The knew what people were requesting, but twisted it around violating the spirit of the request. In other words, they purposely snubbed their user base. They may as well have just hired a team of professional door-to-door salesmen to go around slapping everyone who uses Windows 8 in the face.
This is what I did with my recently purchased Samsung Chromebook:
1) Put in dev mode, very simple
2) Plug in a high quality 8 or 16GB SDHC card
3) Open crosh in a Chrome tab, and open a bash shell within that
4) Install crouton (XFCE) onto the memory card. Boot (it's simply chrooted).
5) Use Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Backspace to switch between the two OS's
I may have left out a minor step or two but it's a fully functional portable dev environment for under $200. Runs smoothly and has great battery life. The only caveat is getting certain packages compiled under the arm architecture, I had some hiccups along the way. But building major packages like postgres were fine.
Bottom line is that I wasn't expecting much and really only bought it as a lark, and only for its intended use as a browser-based OS. But because it's so lightweight and functional, I'm using it more and more each day for actual work. YMMV.