Acer chairman JT Wang thinks Apple’s growth in the PC market is coming to an end, and that Windows-based PCs are ready to take off again thanks to the introduction of ultrabook laptops.
According to DigiTimes, Mr. Wang sees Apple, Microsoft and Google as the three major platforms in the PC market with Microsoft as the clear leader. He expects sub US$700 ultrabook prices will kill Apple’s momentum, however, and that Google’s Android OS will be a flat performer.
Assuming Intel’s ultrabook spec will be the PC market’s savior could come back to haunt Mr. Wang since prices for the laptops are expected to be in line with, or higher than, Apple’s MacBook Air lineup.
Mr. Wang has also predicted earlier this year that iPad marketshare would drop up to 30 percent. Despite his expectations, iPad demand isn’t waning, and Mac sales have been increasing steadily for several quarters while PC sales have been on the decline.
For now, it looks like Mr. Wang is hanging his hopes for renewed PC market growth on an unproven laptop market segment with a price point that, at least for now, manufacturers can’t realistically hit. Presumably he has his lucky rabbit foot handy for just in case.