Acer Windows RT Hardware Depends On Microsoft's Surface Performance

If you were thinking of continuing your Acer collection of computers with a Windows RT tablet, you'll likely have to wait at least until next year while the manufacturer delays their plans and waits out the Microsoft Surface wave. With the Surface RT, reviewed by SlashGear just this past week, Acer is seeing a situation happen that includes items like Microsoft's Times Square launch and is keeping their own efforts a secret for now. Acer's own President has made it clear this week that they aren't stopping research, but they are putting Windows RT-toting hardware on hold.

As Acer President Jim Wong told Reuters this week, "Originally we had a very aggressive plan to come out very early next year but because of Surface, our R&D development doesn't stop, but we are much more cautious." He also made it clear that they'll be delaying not just until 2013, but nearer the second quarter of the year rather than the first. This is not that much of a difference for some consumers, but certainly a change for interested investors.

"Originally our plan was Q1, but now I don't think it will be earlier than Q2. I don't know what's next, what Microsoft will do. We are watching how Surface is doing ... How is RT accepted by customers, how Microsoft is aggressive on RT and on Surface, we don't know... We want to see." – Wong

Imagine if the rest of the Microsoft partners did this with their own hardware, waiting until the Surface Pro was released before they put out any sort of touchscreen device running Windows 8. Such a thing would force Microsoft to put their own hardware out early – never a great moment for a tech company no matter how you spin it. At the moment though it does appear that Acer is the only business stopping up production in light of the Surface RT.

Wong did note that he recalled Lenovo and ASUS bringing forward Windows RT tablets at $599 USD price points before Microsoft revealed their own $499 Surface machine. Their response was, of course, to make slight changes that allowed for slightly lower price points. Now continues the war of prices, we must judge, rather than destruction of hardware amalgamations. Prepare yourself for the inexpensive quality PC!