華碩Eee PC 美最受歡迎耶誕禮

2008/12/30

【聯合報／記者祁安國／台北報導】

華碩Eee PC成為今年亞馬遜網站票選最佳的耶誕節禮物。（照片／華碩提供）

iPhone 這周進入美國平民百貨通路沃爾瑪(Wal-Mart)，而華碩的Eee PC也獲選亞馬遜（Amazon）最受歡迎的耶誕禮物。網購和平價百貨已不再是窮人的專利，美國的中產階級也開始光顧網購和沃爾瑪，尤其讓低價迷你筆電成為全球消費市場需求驟降後的中流砥柱。

美國亞馬遜 (Amazon)網站分布最新的統計資料顯示，銷售前10大PC產品類，平均銷售價位 (ASP)已低於400美元，其中華碩、宏碁就佔了8款，而OLPC及三星NC10則首次進榜。低價風潮席捲，連鮮少受價格市場衝擊的蘋果MacBook也被擠出榜外。

華碩電腦行銷總監林倩如表示，眾所矚目的耶誕禮物排行榜，被公認是消費性電子商品來年熱賣的重要指標，尤其今年各家科技大廠推出的 Netbook商品琳瑯滿目，競爭激烈程度可謂空前絕後。華碩推出的Eee PC，魅力依舊不減，連美國最具指標性的購物網站「亞馬遜」，也經由網友票選Eee PC 是最受歡迎的耶誕禮物，同時也獲得美國其他13個專業媒體推薦最佳禮物。

Netbook在這波經濟不景氣時刻，一樣大受消費者歡迎。（照片／華碩提供）

林倩如強調，華碩Eee PC以創新的使用價值及創新的設計概念，已經陸續征服全球市場，不僅被票選為今年母親節及耶誕節等年節送禮最佳選擇，也被富比士（Forbes）雜誌票選為年度風雲產品。

拓墣產業研究所所長陳清文表示，雖然經濟情勢更加險峻，但Netbook的衝擊較小，反而因支出縮減，低價產品獲得青睞，仍會有不錯的成長。具備低價和簡便性的Netbook是「破壞式的創新」，在2008年整體消費電子不景氣的一年，Netbook仍是市場的新星，預估有1200萬台的出貨量，明年將大成長至2725萬台，占整體筆電的出貨量18.2%，也是2009年消費電子業的關鍵產品。

拓墣產業研究所研究員曾筱軫估計，華碩為Netbook市場的先進，從2007年第四季推出後便獨占鰲頭，2008上半年獨領風騷，全年出貨將超過500萬台；2009年華碩Eee PC有機會突破1,000萬台。

【2008/12/30 聯合報】

Google師法蘋果策略 向電信服務業拆帳 壓縮手機代工毛利

工商時報 2008.12.31

吳筱雯／台北報導

     免費的不便宜？Google推出Android平台後，以免授權費作為號召，不僅吸引應用軟體開發業者加入，三星、摩托羅拉等手機知名品牌與新進業者，更紛紛都投入開發Android手機。不過業界人士透露，Google內部已經成立新部門，研擬如何向銷售Android手機的電信服務業者拆帳，對投入 Android平台的手機廠商來說，未來毛利率被壓縮情形值得觀察。

     Google一年多宣布推出Android平台時，以對手機品牌業者與應用軟體開發商都打著免授權費的招牌，相對於微軟對手機業者每支收取動輒20美元以上的授權費，以及微軟、蘋果對應用軟體開發商軟體上架時收取近5成的收入來說，Google幾乎快要被業界視為「義舉」，當時 Google甚至大器地表示，該公司的線上廣告營收不排除可以讓電信服務業者分紅。

     不過隨著全球經濟情勢一路走下坡，就算Google股價始終維持在相對高檔，因現金流量不夠豐沛，員工的耶誕節獎金取消、改送每人一支 G1，相較之下，蘋果打從iPhone上市以來，就堅守與電信服務業者拆帳的策略，每個月都可以從電信業者拿來白花花的銀子，讓蘋果帳上現金高達160億美元，是全球手上現金第二多的企業。

     也因此，Google似乎有意向蘋果看齊。業界人士表示，Google內部已經成立新部門，研擬如何與銷售Android手機的電信服務業者拆帳，頗有向蘋果看齊的味道，業界人士並透露，蘋果硬體銷售、軟體上架費與電信服務業者拆帳一把抓，對整體收入的影響不大，可是一旦Google也決定向電信服務業者收取費用後，電信服務業者勢必將壓低Android手機採購價格，對手機製造商來說，ASP與毛利空間都可能被壓縮，原本已經賺不多的手機製造商，投入Android陣營也不見得日子比較好過。

2008.12.31

Apple欲廣泛應用觸控螢幕技術 早於2007年6月申請專利

鉅亨網編譯吳國仲．綜合外電
2008 / 12 / 29 星期一 22:43

根據 《Bloomberg》報導，美國消費電子產品大廠 Apple Inc.( AAPL-US)已針對一項軟體提出專利申請。此軟體將允許使用者在觸控螢幕上以「橫移或縱向移動」的方式操控電腦與手機。

根據美國Patent and Trademark Office(專利商標局)所公佈之資訊，Apple的系統使用者將可透過在螢幕上移動─不用按鍵─來進行插入空間、換行等文字處理動作。

研究機構NPD Group 11月曾表示，Apple iPhone 3 G上市不到3個月的時間即超越 Motorola Inc.(MOT-US) 的Razr成為第 3季最熱銷手機。該款手機的套點即在於觸控式螢幕，不但可由手指點擊與橫移的方式操縱，還兼具虛擬鍵盤功能。

依據 Apple的專利申請書中指出，這種新形態的操作方式，甚可延伸應用至桌上型電腦、筆電、個人數位設備以及音樂播放器等。

Apple係於2007年6月公佈申請這項專利，並要求於遞交申請後的18個月內不得對外公佈。Apple發言人Amy Bessette目前尚未對此消息作出評論。

Yahoo、英特爾對網路電視寄予厚望

ZDNet新聞專區：Stephen Shankland 2008/12/30 17:32:02

Yahoo的Widget Channel電視與影片裝置軟體，顯示一個通往YahooFlickr照片分享網站、股價和廣告的連結。英特爾、Yahoo和其他伙伴將在CES 2009展示這項技術。

Yahoo與英特爾的成功都要歸功於個人電腦的使用普及，但兩家公司希望1月在消費者電子展（CES）發表的產品，能讓他們在網路上的擴張，向外延伸到電視。

Yahoo與英特爾結盟吸引了若干重要的製造和內容伙伴加入，希望能為數位生活角色較弱的傳統電器，增添新的智慧功能和互動性。

但兩家公司的目標究竟是什麼？對Yahoo而言，Widget Channel是容納照片瀏覽、使用各類網路社交服務、觀賞YouTube影片，或進一步觀看電視節目的平台，而藉此，Yahoo可以賣出更多廣告。對英特爾而言，則是跨入一個微處理器通常較便宜、效能與電力需求較低的產業。

Yahoo的Connected TV計畫副總Patrick Barry表示，公司有信心這些產品會成功，因為他們設定的授權門檻「非常低」。他說：「我們不把它設定為少數高階電視才有利基產品，我們要打入主流。我們預見2009年可以順利滲透消費者電器公司的產品。從2010年開始，你會看到網路連線的消費者電器產品成為主流。」

僅管努力多年，以PC為家庭媒體中心的願景仍為實現。但英特爾，受創於Viiv品牌的慘敗，一直認真看待這項挑戰。該公司甚至派出旗下首席人類學家，研究民眾如何使用電視。換句話說，英特爾順應現實，而非強推其構想。

英特爾使用者經驗主任、人類學家Genevieve Bell表示，民眾使用電視的方式與PC不同。一般家庭會一起看電視、討論他們看的內容。另一項差異是，電視必須是簡單、可靠的。但她指出，要把網路帶進電視，「你不能只是把它變成PC。」

數十年來，民眾已經習慣電視節目插播廣告。Widget Channel技術為Yahoo開創了新的領域，僅管Barry說公司不會倉促在這個新介面加入廣告。他表示：「我們有廣告社群很大的支持，但我們現在以消費者為重心。你會看到，我們一開始會使盡全力讓消費者開心。廣告主也瞭解這一點。」Yahoo終究會提供廣告，並且將採取開放的態度，讓其他人一起分享該平台的利益。

Widget Channel技術是根據Yahoo2005年收購Konfabulator取得的Widget Engine軟體，它能讓開發者製作各種應用程式。

Bell表示，英特爾從該技術的初步測試中得到一些經驗，包括民眾不喜歡出現在螢光幕左側的Widget Channel控制列，他們寧願把控制列放在畫面底部，經常出現字幕的地方。此外，民眾希望有簡單、顯著的按鍵可以關閉和啟動Widget Channel，沒有人願意再多出一支遙控器。

英特爾就民眾對未來電視的期望，作了一次調查，結果大致可分成以下幾類：

‧可即時提供重要資訊，如出門觀賞球賽之前察看天氣狀況。

‧可與其他人聯繫的工具，另一種形式的社交網路。

‧能讓民眾進一步參與正在觀賞的節目，例如指出節目中某個演員的其他作品，或搜尋、評比和分類內容。

但只有少數人希望電視具備完整的網路瀏覽器，或佔據空間的鍵盤。

Yahoo對這個市場也有同樣的發現。Barry表示，電視領域成功的創新，大都以螢幕大小、影像畫質和平面螢幕技術為主。「但消費者電器產業尚未真正探索……網路所提供的連結性。」（陳智文譯）

How Acer Became The Top Netbook Maker

December 27, 2008   -   Tom Greer
Filed Under Acer Aspire One, Asus Eee PC, Dell Inspiron Mini 9, HP Mini-Note, Lenovo IdeaPad S10, MSI Wind Netbook, ULPC Market |

Acer Aspire One

Back around the middle of this past year, the netbook marketplace really began to buzz as the launch dates of the second-generation netbooks were nearing.  MSI was garnering a major chunk of the mind share, with the Wind Netbook receiving rave reviews.  Meanwhile, Asus was busy announcing new Eee PC models at a dizzying pace.  Acer was preparing to introduce the Aspire One; however, while the reviews were favorable, it was getting a lot less buzz.

Fast forward to now (year-end) where the Acer Aspire One is king of the netbooks.  How did they do it?

The simple answer has two parts:

1. Acer did a great job designing  a product that met customer’s wants and needs.
2. They made a few “right” moves in marketing the Aspire One
3. They didn’t make any mistakes and watched while their competitors floundered

The Right Design

Aspire One's Display Has Wide Viewing Angle

Acer simply made the right choices when designed the product.  Here are my perceptions of what they did right:

• 9-inch Display:

  MSI got a lot of favorable press for the 10-inch display on the Wind U100 netbook - as did Asus for the Eee PC 1000-series.  But the resolution on the 9 and 10-inch screens are the same (1024x600), so the only advantage is bigger.  But that also means more expensive.  As a result of lower manufacturing cost, Acer has been able to price their product significantly lower than the comparable 10-inch models.

• 10-Inch Keyboard

  The keyboard (and case) of the Aspire One is about the same size as the MSI Wind and the Eee PC 1000-series netbooks.  It is larger and much more usable than the Eee PC 900-series (which have similar 9-inch screens).  The keyboard provides great tactile feedback.  Most importantly (at least to me), the shift keys are full size and in the right place - which makes touch typing on the Aspire One a breeze.

• 3-Cell Battery (at launch)

  Acer introduced the Aspire One with a 3-cell battery.  When a global battery shortage severely restricted the availability of the 6-cell batteries that Asus and MSI were using, the 3-cell design allowed Acer to fill the pipeline when their competitors (particularly MSI) struggled.

• Both Linux and Windows Versions at Launch

  At launch time, Acer offered a choice of  either Linux or Microsoft Windows.  In addition, they packaged the Linux version with solid-state drive storage and the Windows version with a traditional hard drive.  These combinations proved to be what customers wanted.  MSI promised a Linux-version of the Wind, but delayed its arrival repeatedly.  I don’t believe I have ever seen a Linux-based Wind for sale in the USA.

The Right Marketing Moves

Acer has also made several great marketing moves with the Aspire One.  Here are my views:

• Product Launched At The Right Time

  Acer introduced the Aspire One in mid-July, and was one the first of the second-generation netbooks.  Asus and MSI were launching their new Intel Atom-base netbooks around the same time.  Dell, Lenovo and HP were very late to offer Atom-based netbooks.

• Product Available At Launch

  While Acer did not generate a huge buzz in advance of the Aspire One.  They delivered product when they said they would.  While MSI was missing promised launch dates and then down-grading their product, Acer was busy filling orders.  Personally, I was waiting for an MSI Wind to replace my Eee PC 4G Surf.  I finally gave up waiting and settled for an Aspire One.  I have been delighted ever since.

• A Simple Consistent Product Image

  Acer offers the Aspire One in a number of different configurations, however, Acer’s marketing has created a single image of the Aspire One.  When someone talks about the Aspire One, you know exactly which netbook they are speaking.  This proved to be a competitive advantage against the Asus Eee PC.

• Agressive Pricing

  Acer priced the Aspire One very competitively to start, introducing the Linux version in mid-July at $379 in the USA.  Then they got aggressive.  At the end of August, only 5-6 weeks after the launch, Acer cut prices on the Aspire One dramatically.   For example, the list price on the Linux version was cut from $379 to $329.  This caught everyone else flat-footed.   It also killed the 7-inch netbook niche.  Spending $299 for a 7-inch model no longer made sense.

Flawless Execution While Competitors Floundered

Acer has executed all of the above flawlessly.  There have been no serious mistakes to note.  That is not true for their competitors.

• Asus Misses With 901-Series

  

  Aspire One's Larger Case Compared to Eee PC 901

  Asus introduced the Eee PC 901-series as their first Intel Atom-based netbook.  Like the Aspire One, the Eee PC 901-series features a 9-inch screen.  However, the case is significantly smaller than the Aspire One.  As a result, the keyboard is tiny and most adults have difficulty using it.  Most buyers passed on the 901-series, opting for netbooks with bigger keyboards.

• MSI Can’t Deliver

  MSI planned to launch the Wind with a 6-cell battery; but could not procure enough.  After delaying the Wind’s introduction, the product was temporarily packaged with a 3-cell battery. This last-minute change  created chaos, forcing customers to wait months for a 6-cell version or accept a lesser-product.

• MSI Price-Gouges Customers

  Being unable to produce enough Wind Netbooks to meet demand, MSI took advantage of their lack of supply by raising the price of the Wind U100.  Buy.com had accepted pre-orders at the original price - the price increase forced them to cancel all of these pre-orders.  As you would expect, this did not please customers.

• Asus Introduces A Million Products Named Eee PC

  OK.  It just seemed like a million.  During the summer of 2008, Asus announced a new Eee PC models at a dizzying pace, confounding even the experts.  For example, here is a partial list of Eee PC models: Eee PC 2G Surf, 4G Surf, 4G, 8G, 701SD, 900, 901, 904HA, 1000, 1000H, 1000HA, 1002HA, S101, Eee Top and the Eee PC Box.  Customers were (and still are) totally confused by the plethora of different products called Eee PC.

• Late to Market with  Me-Too Products

  Dell, Lenovo, HP and Samsung all introduce Intel Atom-based netbooks late in 2008, missing the primary window of opportunity.  HP gained some early traction with its Mini-Note product line, but these became most well-known for their dog-slow VIA C7 processors.  All of these products have features very similar to the Aspire One, MSI Wind and Eee PC 1000-series.  All of these late netbooks are solid products, but they have failed to differentiate themselves.

• Toshiba and Fujitsu Miss the Train

  Both Toshiba and Fujitsu dismissed netbooks as a fad and decided not to market any netbooks  (at least in the USA).  I expect that both ultimately will  join the party (both now sell netbooks outside the USA).   But these will also be me-too products that, like Dell, Lenovo and HP, will be primarily be  sold to customers who are loyal to their brand.

• AMD Implies Netbook Buyers Are Stupid.

  As long as we are counting missed opportunities, we might as well include AMD’s netbook debacle.  It was bad enough that the success of the Intel Atom processor took AMD by complete surprise.  But instead of recognizing their error and taking action to address their shortcoming, AMD’s executives repeated bashed and ridiculed netbooks.   I’ve long been a loyal AMD proponent, but their comments really upset me.  It seemed that they were calling me stupid.  I won’t forget that any time soon.

研究：Google在廣告伺服器市場獨占鼇頭

ZDNET新聞專區： Natalie Weinstein 2008/12/22 13:31:02

Google在廣告伺服器市場獨占鼇頭，此事不算太意外，不過微軟佔有率卻小得有點令人吃驚。

內容追蹤廠商Attributor分析了十月份7500萬個網域的廣告伺服器呼叫。而根據上週公布的資料顯示，Google（透過DoubleClick與AdSense）佔了整體市場的56.5%。

在其他競爭者方面，微軟佔了3.8%；Yahoo則落在Google之後，僅有9.7%。即使微軟與Yahoo能夠合併，兩者相加仍難以對Google造成撼動。

所謂的伺服器呼叫（server call）是指「某網站要求伺服器送出 廣告給讀者的那一刻」。該研究室分析網頁上會出現誰的廣告程式碼。

根據Attributor的數字，DoubleClick與AdSense是兩個差別極大的市場。DoubleClick佔領了大型網站市場；AdSense則多半是小網站居多。

但Google也不見得全是好消息。若比較Attributor今年一月的資料可看出，當時AdSense與DoubleClick相加佔了69.7%市佔率，如今則下跌了13%。

Google並非輸給微軟或Yahoo，而是其他業者，包括AOL與Revenue Science。後者今年十月首度以6.7%市佔率打進前五強。

Wal-Mart本周日開始販售iPhone 綁約2年售價197-297美元

鉅亨網編譯張正芊．綜合外電
2008 / 12 / 27 星期六 01:02

全美最大零售商Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT-US；沃爾瑪)周五宣佈，本周日便開始在全國2500家門市販賣A pple Inc.(AAPL-US；蘋果公司)推出的熱門智能手機iP hone，並公佈售價。試圖趕在年終前刺激消費電子產品買氣。

Wal-Mart販售的8G版3G iPhone搭配2年的AT&T Inc .(T-US；美國電話電報公司)合約，售價每支197美元﹔相同條件的16G版售價則為297美元。

稍早對手美國最大電子產品零售商Best Buy(BBY-U S；百思買)為了迎戰Wal-Mart低價競爭，已將今年iPho ne售價調降10美元。

分析師指出，Wal-Mart販售iPhone將招來更多客源，並擦亮其電子產品部門的招牌。今年來Wal-Mart已藉由提供更多空間及心力，展示Sony平面電視及Dell筆電等最新電子產品，成功提高該部門銷售量。

紐約Telsey Advisory Group分析師Joseph Feldma n指出：「像Apple這樣品牌的廠商，選擇Wal-Mart作為 Best Buy之後下一個銷售端點，別具意義。由於Wal-Ma rt的消費者代表美國民眾，他們希望買到最新的電子產品。這將有助iPhone走入主流。」

Wal-Mart及Apple股價今日早盤並未因此出現明顯波動，僅分別小升0.11%及0.6%。Best Buy亦小漲0.11%。