News

• Lenovo and Apple grew as bottom fell out of PC market in Western Europe

  PC shipments in Western Europe declined by 20.5 percent during the first quarter: The only vendors to see shipments grow were Lenovo and Apple, which returned to the top five.

• Acer's Q1 net profit up 55 per cent, but revenue down

  Acer said its net profit for the first quarter grew 55 per cent year-over-year, but its revenue continued to decline amid struggling PC sales.

• Amazon leaks evidence of first smaller, cheaper Windows 8 tablet

  Details of what could be the first smaller Windows 8 tablet leaked on Friday when Amazon briefly published a listing for an 8.1-in. Acer Iconia tablet.

• Acer waits for Windows RT 8.1 to make tablet decision

  Acer is waiting for the next version of Windows RT, due in the second half of this year, before deciding whether to release a tablet that runs on that OS.

• Acer introduces $169 Android tablet

  Acer has placed its bet in the tablet wars on low pricing, introducing a $US169 Android tablet with a 7.9-inch screen.

• Want the best tech support? Buy a Mac, says <i>Consumer Reports</i>

  Apple today again captured top honors in Consumer Reports' tech support ratings survey, besting other computer makers by a wide margin.

• Taiwan's PC makers focus on low-end tablets in search of growth

  As PC sales remain sluggish, analysts expect Taiwanese vendors Acer and Asustek Computer to try to seize today's changing tech market with low-end Android tablets, for which consumer demand is high.

• Acer reports net loss in Q4 from trademark write-off

  Taiwanese PC maker, Acer, reported a net loss in last year's fourth quarter, weighed down by a $US120 million write-off related to its Gateway, eMachines and Packard Bell product brands.

• Google Chromebook rolling out in more countries

  Chromebook devices from Acer, Hewlett-Packard and Samsung Electronics are rolling out Tuesday in six countries, Google said.

• A giant, tethered tablet: Acer shows its Android Display

  Acer's DA220HQL looks like a giant Android tablet, with its 1920 x 1080 pixel, 21.5-inch touch screen -- but you wouldn't want to carry it around.

• Acer goes ahead with Windows RT tablet for this year

  Acer plans to release a Windows RT tablet this year as it looks to aggressively expand its lineup of mobile devices, including smartphones.

• Lenovo winner as Western European PC market continues to struggle

  Lenovo was the only PC vendor among the top five that increased its unit sales during the fourth quarter, as the Western European PC market shrank by almost 12 percent year-on-year, according to market research company Gartner.

• Anti-cyber-bullying tool creator inks deals with hardware giants

  ProtectaChild, an Australian company that has built software which helps parents protect their children from cyber-bullying and online predators, has signed agreements with hardware giants Acer and Lenovo to help build sales of the tool.

• Acer shedding eMachines, preparing post-PC Gateway and Packard Bell

  Acer is trying to adapt to the slowdown in the PC market by shutting down its eMachines unit and refocusing Gateway and Packard Bell to offer new products that are "beyond the PC."

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  IDC latest to pile on OEMs for poor Windows 8 PC sales

  Shortages of touch-enabled Windows notebooks led to a steeper-than-expected decline in PC sales last quarter, according to research firm IDC.