manager of Acer's new Consumer Products Division.
Next month, Acer will begin shipping a computer called the Consumer Network Computer, or CNC. This $500 unit is based on a 486 processor and is totally different from the much-publicized AcerBasic, an inexpensive line of PCs that are based on a 5x86 MPU from Cyrix, Lei says.
By the fourth quarter, Acer will roll out the so-called Kid's PC, a full-fledged $199 computer
for children. Based on Acer's own Intel-compatible 386SX processor, which was licensed from Intel, the Kid's PC includes a CD-ROM drive, memory, a simple input device, and, of course, built-in games.
Next year, the company plans to introduce a set-top box and a digital videodisc (DVD). It remains to be seen if Acer can succeed in these markets. But the company realizes that the PC is becoming a sophisticated home appliance.
Acer Will Introduce $199 PC
