Microsoft who will tonight deliver an overview of their new Windows 8 structure has said that they are set to restrict the number of computer hardware makers that can manufacture a Windows based tablet.The company said that they will only partner with five select chip manufacturers to develop a Windows based tablet platform. Among those companies are Intel, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments.
Last month Google said that they were set to restrict access to their Android OS to a select group of manufacturers.
The restrictive move by Microsoft is seen as a way to speed up the process of getting their tablets to market.
Analysts claim that it will limit the number of companies that will be able to release tablets based on the mobile Windows platform. Plus, it’s unclear what hardware makers are paired up with which chip makers.
At Comdex yesterday a lot of Taiwanese companies said that they have been excluded.
The chip makers will have to work with one development partner initially but can then scale out to other hardware makers, the person added.
Acer President Jim Wong said that he’s concerned about Microsoft’s restrictions.
“The industry does not belong to Microsoft, and it does not belong to Intel,” Mr. Wong said. “It belongs to all participants. They cannot make the decision for all of us. That is the problem.”
Acer, the world’s second-largest personal computer maker by shipments is struggling at the moment after reporting a 20 percent downturn in sales.
In April, Acer cut its second-quarter PC shipment forecast to a 10 percent decline from the previous quarter, compared to prior expectations for flat shipments, citing business restructuring, inventory adjustment and the seasonal slowdown of the PC industry.
