Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
Summary: Microsoft is placing 'troublesome' restrictions on OEMs manufacturing the next-generation Windows-based tablets, according to Acer CEO J.T. Wang.
Microsoft is placing 'troublesome' restrictions on OEMs manufacturing the next-generation Windows-based tablets, according to Acer CEO J.T. Wang.
Speaking at Computex trade show in Taipei, Wang had this to say:
'They're really controlling the whole thing, the whole process ... all feel it's very troublesome.'
It's hard to know whether this will be a good thing or a bad thing for consumers. It really depends what's behind the restrictions. If it's about giving users a consistent experience and keeping quality up, and also preventing platform fragmentation (and the associated problems that might cause with updates) then that's a good thing.
However, if the restrictions are designed to hobble tablets to prevent them cannibalizing Windows PC sales (something we've seen Microsoft do to netbooks), then that's definitely not good for consumers.
We'll have to wait and see how this plays out, but it's odd for an OEM to pull Microsoft up publicly like this.
[UPDATE: It's not the first time that Acer has publicly pulled up Microsoft - here's one example - a story by PC Pro's Jon Honeyball from 2006 where Wong complains about the poor value for money offered by Vista Home Basic.
Thanks Jon!]
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Talkback
Can we get more details on what is troublesome?
RE: Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
The details: Microsoft, for once, does not allow Acer (etc) to make garbage
It is the same as with Windows phones. Acer just did not used to it since the company does not produce phones.
Microsoft's approach copies Apple, yes, and it does not work perfectly every way (Samsung made trash of update experience for Windows phones), but, overall, it promises more consistent quality and user experience; lets see.
RE: Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
In other words, MS may well be asking OEM's to do some real work ;)
Yet another useless fluff piece
RE: Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
Probably similar to what they did with phones: minimum specs, certain form-factor rules, etc.
Acer, being the world's purveyor of the ultra-cheap, may be having trouble sourcing the parts that they need through their standard channels.
That the main problem...
So don't expect this babies to shine, considering they will compete against iPad 3 and Xoom 2.
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Talking through your hat again?
How the heck do you know how "everyone else" feels about it. You just flap your jaws as usual.
RE: Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
RE: Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
Acer was right about Vista sucking. They are probably right about this too.
RE: Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
Apple does it Google is doing it with Android
Part of Acer's reason why they are complaining is because they were one of the Asian OEM's that were not selected by Microsoft to take part in the early development testing of Windows 8. So they are seeking revenge by bad mouthing.
RE: Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
You are right, Microsoft see Apple's experience with the iPad (and to a lesser extent the Mac) as something it would really like. Microsoft have to work really hard trying to make an OS that runs of a whole gambit of differing devices. Yes, this is hard.
But if you look at it from an OEM perspective things aren't so rosy. Apple make the iPad, there are no OEMs to keep happy. Microsoft need the OEMs to make their devices, the question becomes: "if I can't change things about the device I'm making, how do I differentiate my device in the market?" The OEMs have been used to making machines of all different specifications and convincing customers to buy their system because of these differences. If all machines are the same (or basically the same) won't customers choose the cheapest? Isn't that a "race to the bottom"? The OEMs have already done this, they don't want another round of it. Sure Microsoft want to raise the standard and eliminate the shovelware on new systems. Fine say the OEMs, but who's going to pay for it, and where do our profits come from?
These are going to be difficult questions to answer.
RE: Acer: Microsoft hardware rules 'very troublesome'
It's kind of like NASCAR now where all the cars are identicle except for the paint. Imagine if that were true for all cars. Why would we need more than one manufacturer?
There are still opportunities
Its possible what Microsoft wants is, to just make the UI be what it is without any custom alternate UI like Android. Acer is probably saying, we have an alternate UI we believe is better than the Touch UI in Windows 8. Microsoft is probably not revealing much right now just build momentum. I believe Microsoft wants the software user experience to sell itself, yes, there can be some branding, but limited to what Microsoft wants.
PC makers faced the same problem in the 90s
You don't need to look at Apple to understand Microsoft's approach. Microsoft's conquest of the PC market in the 90s was based on requiring hardware vendors to conform to fairly strict guidelines in order to be allowed to sell Windows on their systems. This was one of the things PC vendors complained about in the USDoJ v Microsoft lawsuit (and one of the reasons Microsoft lost, since by the end of the decade Windows was clearly and overwhelmingly dominant).
As much as some of the PC vendors complained about Microsoft's control of Windows in the 90s, including their use of price discrimination to reward vendors who promoted the Windows platform and punish those who didn't, I'd imagine many of them would be quite happy to exchange their current margins for 1990s margins. In order to be successful, a platform arguably needs some degree of consistency across systems, which requires a leading firm to exercise control.
90s was based on...
-Mike
90s was based on...
-Mike
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