Microsoft is apparently taking cues from Android, as the company is attempting to micromanage manufactures in order to produce a tablet that can contend against the mighty iPad 2.
Unfortunately it seems as if one company is not too thrilled about being controlled, and is already voicing their displeasure to the press.
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is putting “troublesome†restrictions on makers of processors used to run the coming Windows tablet-computer operating system, Acer Inc. (2353) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J.T. Wang said.
“They’re really controlling the whole thing, the whole process,†Wang said at the Computex trade show in Taipei without identifying the restrictions. Chip suppliers and PC makers “all feel it’s very troublesome,†he said. (Bloomberg)
Acer (as well as other manufactures) are probably upset that Microsoft isn’t allowing them to customize the tablets in order to help differentiate them from the sea of Windows tablets that will hit stores in the not so distant future.
However the last thing Microsoft needs is to have their tablet end up being a flop (like Xoom), so it’s in Acer’s best interest to be micro managed as a successful Windows Tablet will help push the company to the forefront (or at the very least help them gain a foot hold in the US).
It’s still unclear what the price will be for Microsoft’s iPad challenger, but hopefully their Windows Tablet will not only match iPad 2’s “inexpensive price,” but battery life as well.
Originally posted on May 31, 2011 @ 5:09 pm