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!