Acer poised to beat Dell, become number two PC maker

Interesting piece in the New York Times today about Acer -- the company is about to ride the tidal wave of netbooks and other el-cheapo computers straight to the number two spot on the PC sales chart. That's a big deal -- no non-US company has ever made it so high -- and it's interesting that the strategies Acer took to get there are the same things Dell's been trying to do lately: it's heavy on low-cost, stylish laptops and netbooks, it keeps inventory extremely lean, and it relies on an extensive set of retail partnerships in Europe. What's more, the Aspire One has been the best-selling netbook for a while now, and we'd say Acer's way out in front of the CULV thin-and-light race with the Timeline -- in fact, we'd say the only open question here is whether the company can take all this computing success and translate it to something worthwhile in the smartphone space. Based on what we've seen so far, we've got our doubts, but we'll see what those super-secret Android sets look like before we place our bets.

[barc0de @ Jun 28th 2009 11:09PM]

I could easily believe *Asus,* after all, they actually put some really awesome stuff out to market. But Acer? I guess I've just been turned off from them by seeing all the crummy laptop models on display and bought by unsuspecting friends/co-workers, but then, I suppose every company has their fair share of lower end crapola they spew out to the masses.

[greg @ Jun 29th 2009 12:20AM]

yea, acer's are crummy. I have a 1 year old one and its falling apart. The worse thing about it is the power adaptor makes a high pitch buzzing even when the computer is off. I have to physically unplug it to make it stop.

Dells is a lesser evil. My 3 year old Dell looks like crap but its still kickin strong

[Matthew C @ Jun 29th 2009 12:59AM]

Agreed. The only acer product I trust is their monitors, and even those I avoid when possible. There are just too many cases of their craptops dying. Dells, on the other hand, are tanks, despite their lack of a true bios and annoying construction methods.

And really - I agree that if one company had a chance, it would be asus. With the eee line, I'd think they would have grown the most,

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 29th 2009 1:12AM]

Never! Asus is horrible. Their EEE line is a puddle of confusing crap, their desktops and midrange notebooks are fugly and boring, and their gaming laptops look like they were designed by a toddler. Their only good lineup is their luxury ultraportables with the aluminum trim and leather accents.

[cowabungaCarl @ Jun 29th 2009 1:18AM]

I have to disagree with the above commentors. I have an Acer that 4 years old and still going strong. In fact, I've never had a single problem with it these four years. It hasn't even frozen up on me once. Based on my experience with Acer, and the low cost, I would definitely consider buying another Acer.

[Robot Overlord @ Jun 29th 2009 1:38AM]

cause we all know how opinion = fact

[andres @ Jun 29th 2009 1:52AM]

i for one welcome our robot overlord

[Mr. 14 @ Jun 29th 2009 3:48AM]

The first couple times I saw the title of the article, I though it WAS Asus...

[Patriks7 @ Jun 29th 2009 4:15AM]

That's how they get so many sales... their crap falls apart within a year...

[Alan Strangis @ Jun 29th 2009 9:57AM]

Acer has had more shelf space in major retailers than Asus (at least here in Canada). You can find Acer laptops and netbooks in Best Buy and Futureshop, and apparently even Wal Mart.

I don't think I've ever seen an Asus branded product in Best Buy Canada, and they certainly don't sell EEE PCs online. Acer was smart in getting their products out to major retailers and for cheap.

At one point the HP mini cost almost 50% more than the Aspire One for the same processor, and came with a smaller hard drive and less USB ports. It's still priced about $100 more, and though it is a NICE netbook, paying more for less rarely wins over most customers.

[Sisyphus @ Jun 28th 2009 11:10PM]

Does this mean "Acers suck" will be now be the #2 poll option worldwide?

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 28th 2009 11:10PM]

Dear Mr. Erik Shirk,

Before you post, I recommend that you discard of any plans to post on this post or on this blog altogether. Go to TUAW, there are people like you there.

I would like to remind you that we are the internets. You cannot win this war.

Sincerely,
Lando Calrissian

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 28th 2009 11:28PM]

I think he's gone...

[Icello @ Jun 29th 2009 12:27AM]

@Lando Calrissian:
I like your user name. But please do not assume that just because someone doesn't like Acer means they like apple. And in the smartphone space, if you say anything bad abou the iPhone, it doesn't mean that you're a WinMo fanboy. Or vice versa.
I for instance, hav a MacBook and love it because I think OS X is beater then Vista or XP, and slightly better then Win7. But I think it would be even nicer if I could get a Dell or HP computer with OS X.

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 29th 2009 1:16AM]

Well I'm sure you contribute to the discussion, but Erik is just a troll.

[Quix @ Jun 29th 2009 1:40AM]

Ah, the Engadget commenter mob. Where pro-Apple, anti-Microsoft commentary will not be tolerated.

Well played, tools, well played.

Astroturf Different.

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 29th 2009 2:27AM]

@Quix

You do realize that you're an Apple troll as well, right?

[Kelmon @ Jun 29th 2009 3:21AM]

I'm sorry but you do not have the right or position to request that anyone does not post here. If find it particularly dumb that you apparently do not want someone to comment but yet are effectively inviting them to do so. Either you are not the quickest of cats or you are attempting to start a flame war and I honestly cannot decide which it is.

[Godsfaith @ Jun 29th 2009 1:29PM]

Lando! Cause he is a gangsta.

[Alex @ Jun 28th 2009 11:11PM]

Don't know why Dell is hemorrhaging market share so badly. I have always been extremely satisfied with Dell's customer service.

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 28th 2009 11:22PM]

Ever tried Lenovo service? Oh snap it's damn good. The "A" key on my brother's T61 broke and they sent out a new keyboard and got it to him in 8 hours. From the service center in Oregon to my house in Southern California.

[SNP @ Jun 28th 2009 11:25PM]

I'll be impressed if they can do next day from earth to Cloud City...

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 28th 2009 11:31PM]

Well they can use a time machine to travel back to the era when Cloud City existed, they could technically deliver it to you before you call to have it replaced. I've never requested service to my vacation home in Cloud City, but I use my time machine to travel back and forth between my home in So. Cal and my vacation home in Cloud City.

[TomTom2007 @ Jun 28th 2009 11:44PM]

Lando, you pimp!

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 28th 2009 11:50PM]

Damn straight! The life of a space pimp is a difficult one.

[Greg @ Jun 29th 2009 1:54AM]

Lando Calrissian: Time Gigolo.

(http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=217484&title=timing-time-gigolo)

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 29th 2009 2:16AM]

Dammit, Greg! I told you not to tell anyone!

[redcard @ Jun 29th 2009 2:35AM]

Lando, 3 posts about some troll who hasn't even posted. And you think you're the clever, insightful commentator? The one who judges a multinational's customer service on 1 experience?

You're having a laugh

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 29th 2009 2:51AM]

@redcard

I've had many experiences with Lenovo support, and they've been very quick to solve the problem or offer to send a replacement for free. Apparently I'm not the only one that feels this way...
http://www.i4u.com/article17896.html
How else am I to judge a company's support? Should I take a poll with a sample size of 100,000 people? Really, people judge support services based on their one or handful of experiences with them, that's how it works for people, and Lenovo has always made a good impression for everyone I know, as well as everyone in my family.

[Mark II @ Jun 29th 2009 2:51AM]

In this topic redcard fails to understand what 'comment deletion' means.

Also, some Acer machines are good. Others are horrible.

[kadajawi @ Jun 29th 2009 6:10AM]

Dell replaced my laptop display within one business day after I told them it blacked out 3 times during the last 2 months. I don't know how to beat that...

Acer on the other hand want you to send in the laptop to replace the keyboard, which will probably take 3 weeks, instead of sending the owner and IT admin a replacement keyboard. On a notebook 3 times as expensive as my Dell.

Also I've seen many Acers fall apart. So if people rather buy Acer than Dell, then screw them. Ok, no need to ask for that, the notebooks will make sure the job gets done.

[meikaat @ Jun 29th 2009 10:18AM]

@ kadajawi: Huh? Maybe it's just my hangover, but your reply just made my head hurt. It's hard for anyone to take your words seriously when they can't understand them...

[JohnTitor @ Jun 28th 2009 11:15PM]

I think it's all temporary, that Acer's low cost stuff is getting consumers, once they realize Acer's build quality isn't up to par they will shift back to better companies when they upgrade in a few years. In the end I just hope Dell doesn't decide to go back to focusing on low-end crapware in response

[Shawn @ Jun 28th 2009 11:16PM]

Acer is Gateway... Gateway does not even honor their warranties!

[MeowR- @ Jun 29th 2009 12:18AM]

Wrong! Gateway is Acer's, so Acer is not Gateway.

[Enoch @ Jun 29th 2009 11:32PM]

I gotta give it Gateway for having some Kick A** gaming laptops.
They actually work like Alienware and don't break the bank.

[Kevin Niven @ Jun 28th 2009 11:34PM]

I will say Acer has much better customer service than Dell!

[SNP @ Jun 28th 2009 11:23PM]

What's the model above? Looks pretty good.

[Jagger @ Jun 28th 2009 11:35PM]

Because a company would put a picture of a shit stain notebook on the internet. Of course they make look good! They're in it for the cash--like everyone else.

[Jayayess1190 @ Jun 28th 2009 11:41PM]

That is the Timeline 4810, 14" model in the 8+ hour battery life Timeline series.

[SNP @ Jun 28th 2009 11:50PM]

Not bad for $600

[tehslax @ Jun 28th 2009 11:35PM]

I have recently bought the 18.4" laptop from acer. The price is very respectable and it is an above average build. They deserve it.

[thorn2200 @ Jun 28th 2009 11:38PM]

I've never understood what's so great about the aspire one. It has two SD slots, but anything else? Can someone enlighten me?

[Jayayess1190 @ Jun 28th 2009 11:41PM]

It is cheap, and sold in stores like Walmart.

[Excelsium @ Jun 28th 2009 11:45PM]

it does facebook and email, its a new cheaper pricepoint, looks decent, fits in a handbag, why else would a girl own a laptop?
sexist I know :p.

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 29th 2009 1:16AM]

It only comes in two flavors, 8.9" and 10.1", unlike (ahem) EEEs.

[kojo87 @ Jun 29th 2009 1:40AM]

im not sure. i own 2 EeePCs (701 and 1008HA) so im biased but i dont get it. fine netbook but im surprised people don't go for the HP since its a way more recognizable brand. but i love me some ASUS hardware. (is it supposed to be all caps or not?)

my brother has an Acer laptop and it feels cheap and i don't like the keyboard. but it has decent specs and only cost him $350. can hardly complain about that.

[Bobby @ Jun 28th 2009 11:47PM]

That picture is the Acer Timeline which seems to be a lot better than what they've previously put out. Most of the reviews I've read have given it 8 or 9 out of 10 and there's also been a lot of "Editor's choice" type things plastered on the reviews.

[Major4Play @ Jun 28th 2009 11:49PM]

I bought an Acer laptop 5 years ago and although I don't still own it (sold it to a friend) It is still running perfectly, never had a problem of any kind, the case is still perfect which shows better build quality than the Macbook that replaced it (just had a 2nd new case top fitted due to cracking)

I would definitely buy again considering that the Acer was £350 new and the Macbook cost nearly £800, especially since I can buy a 3 year Acer warranty for £45 and they come to collect unlike Apple, I have had to drive 20 miles to my nearest service center (just outside Edinburgh) 4 times now for cosmetic fixes, also on my 3rd magsafe, as unattractive as most PC laptops power bricks are at least they only cost £20 to replace, mag safes cost £65 !!

I am not surprised Acer have reached No. 2 after all my bitching about Apple I would buy from them again but one company I will never give my cash too again is HP they have the worst build quality I have ever witnessed!

[Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 28th 2009 11:55PM]

While Acer has had a bad reputation, I believe they are getting better but the reputation is still among them, they will have to work extra hard to dispel it.