Microsoft’s decision to produce Surface tablet is a “Dilemma,” says Acer CEO JT Wang

Microsoft enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Acer but those relations
has showed some deterioration after Microsoft’s decision to produce surface tablets; a decision to compete Apple but it has made long-time PC partners unhappy as is said by Acer CEO JT Wang in an exclusive interview who is unhappy of Microsoft s the Surface goes on sale later this month.

Wang said: “They are doing something to kill the whole ecosystem. They have all this cash. They could kill everybody,” as the Surface will compete with Acer’s Iconia tablet.

As of June 30, Microsoft had some $63 billion in cash and cash equivalents. PC makers such as Acer, Hewlett-Packard and Dell have long used Microsoft’s Windows operating system as the software platform on which to build their machines. All parties benefited greatly from the arrangement, which led to lower computer prices and the global spread of Microsoft’s software, making it the world’s dominant PC software maker.

The rise of smartphones and tablets — a movement led by Apple with its iPhones and iPads — has shaken the global PC market. In July, Microsoft reported its first quarterly income loss. Now the company is jumping into the tablet market with Surface.

“Maybe they think they need to do something aggressive to compete with Apple and not rely on brands like Acer,” Wang said as he arrived at San Francisco International Airport from Taipei on EVA Air Wednesday afternoon. “It is a dilemma.”

There are now three competing computer ecosystems — Apple’s Macintosh and iOS, Android and Microsoft’s Windows — Wang said.

“This is a new paradigm,” he said. “It is unique in 30 years of PC history.”