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Acer's creator Stan Shih calls iPad, MacBook Air "short-term phenomena"

by Steven Sande Aug 5th 2011 at 4:00PM

The founder of Taiwan-based PC manufacturing firm Acer, Stan Shih, seems to be doing some wishful thinking out loud these days. He recently commented that the "fads" for ultrabooks and tablets are "short-term phenomena," urging notebook component suppliers to innovate and make more value-added products.

That isn't keeping Acer from coming out with their own competitors to the iPad and MacBook Air. Acer is mounting a competitor to the iPad in the form of a 7-inch Iconia tablet that should be hitting the market soon at a US$345 price point. A look at the company's product lineup for the U.S. shows an Aspire TimelineX notebook with a 1-inch "ultra-slender" design.

Shih did tip his hat to Apple, noting that Apple has been successful with the iPad through outside-the-box thinking that other notebook manufacturers should emulate.

Shih also commented that consumers want "products with low price and convenience," seemingly ignoring the fact that current competitors to the iPad such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, HP TouchPad, and BlackBerry PlayBook all seem to be having problems gaining a footing in the tablet market.



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The founder of Taiwan-based PC manufacturing firm Acer, Stan Shih, seems to be doing some wishful thinking out loud these days. He...
 

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31 Comments

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Jakob Rogalski

More value added products huh? Maybe they should work like this:

http://www.itouchandfail.de/unbedienbar/dual-screen-touch-laptop-in-aktion/

You were saying?

August 08 2011 at 2:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iPhone Developer

LOL!
This is really funny!!
I had my Acer, I used it for sometime together with Mac, I also have an iPad as a personal user, I can say that Apple's products are one of the best if not the best.
Maybe, this Shih needs to have tried using even just one of the many Apple's gadgets.


http://jinibot.com

August 07 2011 at 1:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Blueshound

Sorry to tell the old fellow, but he's wrong. My 2 year old prefers the iPad over the laptop. It's more mobile for her and the screen actually does something when she touches it. I guess a touch screen laptop would work but I still think that a tablet type device will be in her book bag when she goes to school.

August 07 2011 at 11:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ousley

Some CEOs will say anything to please investors. This guy's characterization of the iPad as a "fad" is like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg declaration that the iPad is not mobile. Funny stuff.

August 06 2011 at 12:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jarrett Zerkowski

Who the hell wants an Acer anyways? Just Saying... I think id take an old Packard-Bell over a piece of crap Acer

August 06 2011 at 10:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nicolasrivera

Stan Shih, i see this short term phenomena has made you son envious you have to say such things, like if any body cares what you have to say.

Acer, to day, has absolutely nothing to offer that comes even close to what apple products appeal so much to BILLIONS of people.

So Mr. Stan Shih, go back to the carehouse and finish that checkers wont you......

August 06 2011 at 8:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mr Lizard

He's wrong. Consumers aren't looking for a low price, they're looking for the best experience.

Build something awesome and people will pay the premium for it. If the first thing on Acer's list of priorities is 'make it cheap' then they're already forced to use low quality components and poor design choices.

August 06 2011 at 5:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Mr Lizard's comment
Ousley

Well said!

August 06 2011 at 12:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kww117

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Everyone forgets that being cheap is the easy way out - and all you become is a commodity. Provide something with value and you'll find that your consumer will gladly pay a premium. It's easy to sell a commodity but the real skill comes when you try to sell something that is higher priced than the competition AND you're successful. Apple has been able to do this.

'Nuff said...

August 07 2011 at 1:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eideard

So, uh, sounds like he's thinking of merging with Sony.

August 05 2011 at 11:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Barney

I am Chinese from Taiwan long time ago and living in the U.S. And I REALLY feel that this guy is like MANY others from Asia that are so culturally narrow minded. Obviously this guy has NO CONCEPT that Acer is and always will be
a low-end supplier and will never be a world class top tier company.

August 05 2011 at 7:47 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
tethernaut

Bah. Silly tablets and flimsy netbooks are this year's Zhu Zhu pet. Mainframes are where it's at.

August 05 2011 at 7:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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