By Eva Dou
TAIPEI---Acer Inc.'s (2353.TW) chairman said Monday that
Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) low-power operating system Windows RT
won't be "so influential anymore," and the firm has not yet decided
if it will launch an RT tablet.
It will be difficult for Windows RT, Microsoft's version of
Windows 8 based on ARM Holdings PLC's chips, to overcome the lack
of compatibility that the full Windows 8 version has, J.T. Wang
said an interview with The Wall Street Journal ahead of Computex,
Asia's biggest computer trade show that kicks off Tuesday.
"We would like to be realistic. We have not decided if we want
to launch that, to start mass production," Mr. Wang said.
Well known for its low-cost notebook PCs, Acer has struggled
more than its peers in the PC market as the tide turned toward
mobile devices. It has seen its market share erode globally,
although Microsoft's recent support for its partners in marketing
and high-end product development for Windows-based products has
helped Acer offer more affordable devices.
Acer's PC shipments will continue to decline this year from last
year, although Mr. Wang said he expects to do better than the 7.8%
decline that IDC forecasts for the global industry. With tablet
shipment tripling, the world's fourth-largest PC maker by shipments
hopes to keep revenue at least flat with last year, or marginally
higher, he said.
Around 55 percent of the year's revenue will come in the second
half, he said.
Mr. Wang is hopeful about the growing demand for touchscreen
devices. He said 30%-35% of Acer's laptops will have touchscreens
by the fourth quarter. Within three years, he expects virtually all
computers to have touch functions.
Earlier Tuesday, Acer launched a 5.7-inch "phablet," or a tablet
that can make phone calls, throwing in its contender for a product
category popularized by Samsung Electronics Co. Other new Acer
products include touchscreen laptops.
Acer's priority is to "focus on profitability" and it is not
interested in acquisitions for the moment, Mr. Wang said.
Write to Eva Dou at Eva.dou@wsj.com
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