ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

The now-famous Mac vs. PC ad campaign not only stole customers but tweaked Microsoft’s corporate ego unmercifully. OK, Bill’s ego, too.

Not that Microsoft is petty or vengeful, but it’s "I'm a PC" ad campaign has to remind you of the sibling that insists upon doing to you exactly what you did to them, always insisting, "Got you back! How do you like it?’

Now Microsoft is putting video kiosks just outside the front door of Apple stores. In Birmingham, UK, Microsoft staff hang outside an Apple shop, asking customers to stop and record their "I'm a PC" video in this "retaliation"” kiosk.

Go Last laugh is Apple’s: Metadata shows the ads are made on a Mac

Intel created Linux-based Moblin OS for devices that run on Intel Atom microprocessors.

Now the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs will jointly establish a center to develop and promote Moblin OS for devices such Atom-based mobile Internet devices, netbooks, nettops and in-vehicle-infotainment systems.

If it works, this agreement with the government will give Taiwan makers a viable option to Vista (or XP). Given the sales ramp of internet devices, Moblin could soon be most popular OS after Microsoft. From WIN-TEL to TAI-TEL, time will tell.

Go Moblin

The worldwide NAND flash memory will see a 14% fall in revenue to $12 billion in 2008, down from $13.9 billion in 2007, predicts iSuppli. This year would be the first time ever WW NAND flash revenue declined on an annual basis.

And next year will be the second time as global NAND flash memory will decline by another 15% in value. Driving prices down are retailers as nearly 80% of the chips sold each year end up in personal media players, storage cards and USB flash drives.

Go Flash Memory Remembers Better Times

Gartner says PC shipments in EMEA hit 28.8 million units in Q3, a 25.9% increase from last year. Sure, you have to credit cheaper mini-notebooks for a re-shaping of the market leaders.

For the first time since HP bought Compaq, HP lost its No. 1 PC position in EMEA. Acer took first by selling netbooks and selling into telco retail channels across W. Europe. Acer sold 20.6% of shipments in the region, and HP accounted for 18.7% in Q3.

"What do you have to say, HP?" HP launches a new Mini 1000 that uses the Atom processor. Analysts predict this $399 (in USA) device will start a price war in netbooks that will only end with $100 price points. Should be an industry rule that a PC price point has to be at least as big of a number as the Model Number.

Go HP Mini 1000
Go Gartner’s Q3 PC Analysis