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Acer: Windows 8 devices not cheap, will rival pricey Apple

Acer's chairman says that Windows 8 devices will be pricey enough that they will be more suitable for "developed economies" like North America.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor
Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.
Brooke Crothers
Acer Aspire S7 should arrive with Windows 8 this fall.
Acer Aspire S7 should arrive with Windows 8 this fall. CNET Asia

With all the Windows 8 hoopla at Computex, it's easy to forget that Microsoft's next operating system isn't a price panacea for consumers.

Acer Chairman JT Wang said Wednesday that the initial crop of Windows 8 devices will be pricey enough that they will be more suitable for "developed economies" like North America where "where purchasing power is strong," according to a report in Taipei-based DigiTimes.

And that means they'll have to be competitive with anything Apple has on the market in the September-October time frame when Windows 8 is projected for release.

A crush of new Windows 8 ultrabooks, hybrids, and tablets is expected at that time.

"Windows 8 needs to be as successful as Apple in the higher-end of the PC market," Wang said.

Apple is expected to refresh its MacBook line with a MacBook Air-like 15-inch model, among other models. The new MacBooks will likely have Retina-class displays and Intel's new "Ivy Bridge" silicon.