As iPad batters netbooks, Acer to refocus
Since the launch of the netbook killing iPad, Apple’s been eating Acer’s lunch. Now, someone other than Gianfranco Lanci will be eating lunch in CEO’s corner office.
Why? CENS reports that former Acer chairman Stan Shih says the company will be changing direction.
That is, Acer has been pushing netbooks to drive unit volume and market share, and the iPad pretty much killed those plans. The company has seen unit volume fall two quarters in a row and margin fall below 2 percent.
Now, Shih says Acer will be following Apple’s lead and putting profits first — good luck with that.
So, why is the Fairer Platform covering Acer’s troubles? Well, last Summer Shih said that Apple products are like “mutant viruses” and I’ve been gleefully documenting Acer’s mounting troubles ever since…
What’s your take?
When a company CEO makes such boldly disparaging statements about rival’s products, he should stick to his guns and prove he is right. Shih should just keep trying to push netbooks to prove that consumers are really aching to get back to using netbooks. If he merely copies Apple and starts building tablets then he’s showing that Apple was right and he was wrong.
Why these executives believe that consumers are in love with Windows netbooks is beyond me. Most netbooks are just cheap junk. They were designed to use the cheapest components money can buy. Slow processors and lousy displays and crappy plastic cases. Why the Wintards think netbooks are so great must be because of how cheap they are. Fortunately many consumers like the simplicity and feel of the iPad and it’s selling very well despite not being as fully featured as a netbook. Netbooks can do many things, but most of them done poorly.
I live in Taiwan and Taiwan is still in love with Windows because many companies here just blindly follow Microsoft instead of opening their own road to innovation. The best Windows OS may work well on good hardware, but most hardware made to have Windows run on it just sucks!. As you know good quality comes at a price that some people and companies don’t want to pay. They will have to pay in the long run.
A few days ago Microsoft announced they will invest more in Africa. Why? Because they don’t know better and will buy cheaper Windows made and supported products!?
James
WDEVN
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