Acer plans expansion

Vendor to focus on server and desktop PC business in attempt to emulate notebook success

Acer UK will attempt to expand its server and desktop PC business in a bid to emulate its notebook success, according to the firm's new managing director, Paul Cook.

The vendor has focused on notebooks for the past few years and has made good progress. Last week, IDC named Acer as the EMEA region's second-biggest-selling notebook vendor for the third quarter of this year.

"The next round of investment will be used to drive server and desktop demand," Cook said. "We have less than a five per cent share of this market in the UK and there is potential for growth."

Acer will go to market in the same way for servers and desktops, he added.

But Gartner analyst Ranjit Atwal said selling desktops and servers is very different to notebooks. "They are more difficult because unlike notebooks it is not a growing market," he said.

Tony Kingston, marketing manager at Acer VAR Deverill, said: "All kinds of firms are making desktops, so prices are lower. And with servers, customers are loyal to a brand."