14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is no longer a software company, as it also builds its very own hardware, but long-time partners aren’t quite pleased with this change.
Acer CEO JT Wang said in an interview with SilliconBeat that Microsoft is actually trying to “kill the whole ecosystem” with the Surface tablet, as some other hardware companies across the world may be seriously affected by the new device.
Basically, Microsoft’s Surface will rival with Acer’s Iconia tablet and Wang is afraid that the Redmond-based firm is so powerful that it could “kill everybody.”
“They are doing something to kill the whole ecosystem,” Wang said. “They have all this cash. They could kill everybody,” he added pointing to Microsoft’s $63 billion (€48 billion) in cash.
Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer said in a letter sent to shareholders that his company has successfully turned into a devices and services firm and can no longer be named just a software developer.
The company will unveil its first tablet, dubbed Surface, on October 25 in New York, during the press event that will also bring the world the new Windows 8 operating system.
The Surface tablet will be running a special Windows 8 version and will represent Microsoft’s first bet in a world dominated until now by Apple and its very own iPad.
The Surface has often been considered an iPad killer, with pricing rumors even suggesting that Microsoft’s device would be priced in such a way that it could challenge Apple’s tablet.
“Maybe they think they need to do something aggressive to compete with Apple and not rely on brands like Acer,” Wang concluded.