Acer Unveils Smallest Windows 8 Tablet

[mmadhankumar]

Acer Inc. unveiled Monday an eight-inch Windows 8 tablet computer, the smallest tablet to date running on Microsoft Corp.'s latest operating system, which will compete directly with smaller tablets from Google Inc. and Apple Inc.

Acer’s Iconia W3, which comes with a high-definition display and a detachable keyboard, was shown at a news briefing ahead of Tuesday’s official opening of Computex, Asia’s largest computing trade show. It lists for $379, a price that includes a preinstalled version of Office.

Microsoft’s touch-enabled Windows 8 has so far seen low penetration rate, partly due to the high-price devices. The software giant recently began offering hardware makers discounts for its Windows and Office software for small portable PCs and tablets, people familiar with the situation said. Microsoft and its hardware partners are hoping smaller devices with lower prices will stimulate demand.

Acer on Monday also launched a 5.7-inch “phablet,” or a tablet that can make phone calls, throwing in its contender for a product category popularized by Samsung Electronics Co. Other new Acer products include touchscreen laptops.

Acer is the world’s fourth-largest personal computer maker by shipments with a market share of 8.1%, according to market researcher IDC, trailing Hewlett-Packard Co. Lenovo Group Ltd. and Dell Inc.



Acer Unveils Smallest Windows 8 Tablet - Digits - WSJ