Acer saying no to eReaders?

Here’s an interesting bit of news. Acer, one of the top manufacturers of computers today, has announced that it will drop plans to create an eBook reader device. It’s a market segment that might have its place this year if book distribution deals pan out, though it does get some competition from the recent onslaught of slate tablets being released.

I think Acer is biding its time since the ecosystem required for this market is still in the works. Unlike for netbooks, which basically just adopted regular desktop software, eReaders require content to be truly useful and publishers have been slow in making deals with gadget makers. This was probably what prompted Amazon and Barnes and Noble to just go ahead and make their own devices since they already had the content to sell.

Once a “store” is put into place, I’m sure manufacturers will flock once again to making eReaders. That is, if they open it up unlike what Apple did to iTunes, which is tied to their own devices. Its competitor Asus is making its own reader device though.

Acer also sells computers under other brands such as eMachines, Gateway and Packard Bell.

source Taipei Times