Acer Delaying Windows RT Plans to See How Surface Does
Acer says we won't see its RT line until at least Q2 2013.
When Microsoft announced the Surface, many wondered what kind of effect it would have on Redmond's partners. After all, computer companies are used to Microsoft being a software partner, not a competitor. Though companies have been announcing Windows 8 products all month, Acer said today that it's going to hold off on Windows RT devices and see how Microsoft's Surface RT fares.
Reuters reports that though Acer initially planned an early-2013 launch for Windows tablets based on ARM processors, the company has changed its plans, pushing the launch of such devices until at least the second quarter.
"Originally we had a very aggressive plan to come out very early next year but because of Surface, our R&D development doesn't stop, but we are much more cautious," Reuters quotes Acer President Jim Wong as saying. "Originally our plan was Q1, but now I don't think it will be earlier than Q2," Wong said. Wong later added, "We are watching how Surface is doing ... We want to see."
While Acer is happy to launch a Windows 8 line and hold off on Windows RT, Microsoft is sort of the opposite. Though the company has announced two versions of the Surface, the Surface RT and the Surface Pro running Windows 8 on an Intel chip, only the Surface RT is for sale. So far, the company is keeping quite about the Surface running a full version of Windows. No doubt it won't be nearly as cheap as the Surface RT. Stay tuned!

I think their Surface is fantastic hardware. It's much better than anything Acer has ever released. And what's more, it looks cool too. Which is possibly more important given that the general public are only interested in things that are cool or trendy.
a full keyboard is actually what has kept me from buying any of the tablets. I hate typing even short messages on my touch screen phone, so I wouldn't want to buy another touch screen device that would become my main source of media consumption. I also don't feel like any of the after market keyboards are really any kind of good solution to the problem. Microsoft is the first to come up with an elegant and acceptable solution IMO.
What else are these useless toys for?? Can someone enlighten me Please?
Ah trolls, you gotta love 'em. well, maybe not.
Office 2013 and full keyboard spring to mind.
I think their Surface is fantastic hardware. It's much better than anything Acer has ever released. And what's more, it looks cool too. Which is possibly more important given that the general public are only interested in things that are cool or trendy.
a full keyboard is actually what has kept me from buying any of the tablets. I hate typing even short messages on my touch screen phone, so I wouldn't want to buy another touch screen device that would become my main source of media consumption. I also don't feel like any of the after market keyboards are really any kind of good solution to the problem. Microsoft is the first to come up with an elegant and acceptable solution IMO.
Yeah, go ahead and pay for MS Office, tool.
This. I played with one the other day. The drawback: they keyboard is not the full width of a traditional 104 and is more in line with a laptop or ultrabook size. Just like with those keyboards your fingers get a bit scrunched. BUT that said - it works perfectly. I'm a huge touch typist and this thing makes touchscreens look like the jokes they really are.
Buying.
This is an arrogant and very stupid position you're in. Just because MS designed something and might compete, you're stupid for not getting into the game.
Cheers!
This is Acer we're talking about here. They're basically the redheaded stepchild of the mobile industry