【英语科技】宏碁推出平板电脑 明年即将上市

As the rise of Apple Inc.'s iPad and other tablets threatens its low-cost laptop business, computer maker Acer Inc. unveiled plans to begin selling its own line of tablets next year.

The world's second-biggest PC maker by shipments said Tuesday it will release in February a tablet running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows software with a 10.1 inch screen.

Acer will also release two tablets using Google Inc.'s Android software in April, one with a 7-inch screen and one with a 10.1-inch screen.

In addition, executives at the Taiwan company unveiled a portable computer with two touchscreens dubbed the Iconia Touchbook. The laptop opens to reveal a second touchscreen in place of a keyboard. The product will be launched in the U.S. and some European countries in December and will retail for $1,499.

Acer, which had unveiled plans for tablet-style machines in May, is the latest company to jump into the increasingly crowded tablet market after Apple's iPad, released in April, attracted strong consumer demand. Samsung Electronics Co., BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. and Hewlett-Packard Co., have also announced plans to introduce tablets.

Jim Wong, an Acer senior corporate vice president, said he expects 40 million to 50 million world-wide tablet unit sales next year, with hopes Acer will gain 10% market share.

For two years, Acer has relied on netbooks -- tiny, low-priced laptops -- to propel growth. The company's products, especially its Aspire One, proved so popular, Acer vaulted over Dell Inc. to become the No. 2 PC maker behind Hewlett-Packard.

But worries have emerged that the popularity of the iPad and other tablets could eat into netbook sales. After tripling to $14.3 billion in 2009, netbook sales are expected to slip nearly 2% this year, according to research firm IDC. In 2011, the market is expected to shrink further.

Acer didn't provide details about pricing for its tablets during its product event in New York. But in an interview after the event Jenda Chen, director of product management at Acer America, said the 7-inch Android tablet will likely sell for $399 to $499, while the larger Android model will most likely be priced between $399 and $649.

On Tuesday, Acer also unveiled a smartphone with a 4.8-inch screen running on Android and an application store that will sell programs for laptops, tablets and smartphones.

随着苹果公司（Apple Inc.）iPad和其他平板电脑的崛起威胁电脑制造企业宏碁（Acer Inc.）的低价笔记本电脑业务，宏碁推出明年开始销售其自身平板电脑的计划。

Reuters宏碁周二展示了有两个触摸屏，没有键盘的Iconia Touchbook。宏碁周二宣布，将于明年2月推出运行微软（Microsoft Corp.）Windows系统的平板电脑，屏幕尺寸为10.1英寸。宏碁是按出货量计全球第二大人个电脑（PC）生产企业。

宏碁还将于明年4月推出两款使用谷歌（Google Inc.）Android系统的平板电脑，一款屏幕尺寸为七英寸，另一款为10.1英寸。

另外宏碁高管还推介了名为Iconia Touchbook的双触摸屏便携式电脑。这种笔记本电脑在一般安置键盘的地方设置了第二个触摸屏。这款产品将于今年12月在美国和一些欧洲国家推出，零售价将为1,499美元。

宏碁已于今年5月推出平板电脑计划，这是4月份苹果推出iPad后最新一家即将进入竞争越加激烈的平板电脑市场的企业。iPad吸引了大量消费者需求。三星电子（Samsung Electronics Co.）、黑莓手机生产商Research In Motion Ltd.以及惠普（Hewlett-Packard Co.）也宣布了推出平板电脑的计划。

宏碁高级副总裁翁建仁（Jim Wong）说，他预计明年全球平板电脑销量将达到4,000万-5,000万台，希望宏碁将占有10%的市场份额。

两年来宏碁一直依赖体积小、价格低的上网本来推动自身成长。该公司产品，尤其是Aspire One非常受欢迎，宏碁已超越戴尔（Dell Inc.），成为仅次于惠普的全球第二大PC生产企业。

但人们担心广受欢迎的iPad和其他平板电脑可能侵蚀上网本销售。根据研究企业国际数据公司（IDC）的数据，2009年上网本营收增加两倍，升至143亿美元，但今年料下降近2%，并预计该市场2011年或许将进一步萎缩。

在纽约举行的产品介绍会上，宏碁没有透露其平板电脑的定价细节。但宏碁美国产品管理经理Jenda Chen会后接受采访时说，七英寸Android平板电脑售价可能是399-499美元，尺寸稍大的Android平板电脑售价很可能介于399-649美元。

周二宏碁还推出了一款运行Android系统的智能手机，屏幕为4.8英寸，同时该公司还推出了应用软件商店，将销售用于笔记本电脑、平板电脑和智能手机的程序。