CE-Oh no he didn't! Part LXI: Acer chief says Japanese PC companies "the weakest today"
By Nilay Patel 
posted July 7th 2009 8:39PM
posted July 7th 2009 8:39PM
We're pretty sure we've heard Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci say PC industry consolidation resulting in fewer players and lower component prices would be a good thing before, but he dressed it with a side of smackdown today: speaking to the New York Times, he said that Toshiba and Sony's PC businesses would be the first targets, since "the Japanese for sure are the weakest today." Ouch. It's especially harsh since Sony just broke down and released its first netbook this morning after claiming that the low-cost machines were a downward spiral, but that wasn't enough blood for Gianfranco: he also said that ASUS and Lenovo need to "think long and hard" about remaining independent companies. Yow -- sounds like someone's planning to do a little shopping, don't you think?
Just have to comment in support of all comments noting the poor quality of Acer products, also because I'm 100% against this kind of high volume planned obsolescence type of company who basically just produce mountains of land-fill...
When Intel & others express concerns over whether Atom and similar systems are cannibalizing more profitable segments, shouldn't they be more concerned about this type of effect being brought about by Acer type products specifically, whereas Asus in fact created a whole new product segment with an exciting new value angle + the fun factor= yeah, it's the zaniness of Asus' innovations that sets them apart as the most innovative new consumer electronics player though they in turn can't compete with Macs 'cause the overall quality of Macs is a lot more mature. Now looking ahead to Intel's ability to value price 32nm products combined with the next interface speed jump(s), energy efficiencies and multi-media requirements that may begin to render 'netbooks' obsolete, I hope they'll market the full platform value to consumers and by doing so squeeze Acer out of the bottom end of the market!..
... also thinking that Sony missed the netbook-boat, maybe not but anyway I just wish they'de've stayed true to form in the face of being side-lined by the macro-economic climate by leading the consumer market into exciting new territory with their amoled in a vaio, which they easily might have. Every Sony I've purchased was at a pretty steep premium and without hesitation because of some brilliant new must have feature.
One final superficial critique of Acer is how similar, re~ pirated, do the time-line keyboards look like Olidata's?
All the technologies Taiwan lives on are from Japan.
Taiwan at best a cheap producing facilities.
i thought he was right.
I just went to Tokyo 2 weeks ago, i didn't even bother go to Akihabara, and that place used to be a-must visit (for me anyway) to check on laptops, computers, gadgets.
Really? is Lenovo at risk compared to Acer? I mean aren't thinkpads one of the best notebooks ever? I use a T400 and i'm absolutely positive that it is way better than any notebook Acer has to offer. Also, do people hate lenovo for their monotonous design? I think this minimalistic design looks much better than other notebooks and the build quality is second to none.