Acer bets big on Linux (because of Microsoft)

[LinuxMint-4]

(Could this be the tipping point in getting Linux out in the mainstream? This could be the first time that a major company has made such a bold statement against Microsoft especially after selling a lot of Windows machines in the past. I wonder what major company will follow next? I'd chalk this up as another big win.)



Acer bets big on Linux

Vendor shifts towards open source 'because of Microsoft'

Written by Iain Thomson


http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/22181 ... linux-hard

Gianpiero Morbello Acer

Acer has stated that it will be pushing Linux aggressively on its laptops and netbooks.

The company is already heavily promoting Linux for its low cost ultra-portable netbook range out later this year, but senior staff have said that Acer will also push Linux on its laptops.

Acer has already started selling Linux in its Media PC business but this should now spread, according to Gianpiero Morbello, vice president of marketing and brand at Acer.

"We have shifted towards Linux because of Microsoft," he said. "Microsoft has a lot of power and it is going to be difficult, but we will be working hard to develop the Linux market."

Acer sees two killer apps with Linux on computers: operation and cost. Its flavour of Linux will boot in 15 seconds compared to minutes for Windows, and the open source operating system can extend battery life from five to seven hours.

At the same time, the company expects that the price differential of Linux will make the offering attractive for consumers at the low-cost end of the market.

"Microsoft's operating system typically costs around £50 per unit," said David Drummond, UK managing director at Acer. "On a £1,000 PC that is peanuts, but on a £200 computer it is a major issue."

[LinuxMint-4]

(I wonder if these all will be Linux computers....)
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Acer 2009 low-cost laptop sales may reach 20 million

By Tim Culpan, Bloomberg


http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/as ... r-2009.htm

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Acer Inc., the world's third-largest computer maker, said it expects to sell seven million low-cost laptop computers this year, and 15 million to 20 million notebooks in 2009.

[diazamet]

"Microsoft's operating system typically costs around £50 per unit," said David Drummond, UK managing director at Acer. "On a £1,000 PC that is peanuts, but on a £200 computer it is a major issue."

But £50 ($97.52 at current rate) isn't peanuts if you don't want Microsoft's operating system

[greggh]

"Microsoft's operating system typically costs around £50 per unit," said David Drummond, UK managing director at Acer. "On a £1,000 PC that is peanuts, but on a £200 computer it is a major issue."

If I were Acer I would want to immediately fire any managing director that thinks £50 on a £1,000 PC is peanuts. Since when did an additional 5% cost per unit become "peanuts" on a not so high margin product to begin with?