Starting out in 1976

Thirty-year-old Acer Inc. has lived up to its name which apparently is a Latin word for a tree that is big, robust, strong, everlasting and present in all continents.

Stan Shih, Taiwan PC industry icon and Acer founder, recalls how in 1976, he and three other colleagues thought of doing something to be part of what was then a brewing PC revolution.

"We were four young engineers with some knowledge of microprocessors who banded together so we don’t miss out on this industry revolution. Acer took a relatively step-by-step, short-term approach to grow. In the early 1990s, we took a major engineering effort and arrived at a competitive position," says Shih during his speech at the dinner banquet to celebrate Acer’s 30th birthday.

Still a major stockholder and company adviser, Shih, who has retired in 2004, also mentions how he has always regarded research and develop-ment and marketing as competitive tools for success not just for Acer but for Taiwan’s IT industry as well.

Acer has its major R&D facility in Taiwan and keeps a smaller R&D team focused on mobility in the US. In 2001, Shih decided to outsource Acer’s manufacturing operation to concentrate on R&D and branding which has long focused on a "local touch, global brand" approach.

"I’m happy to see Acer doing much better than before and that I’m still the single largest shareholder," Shih says.

Shih attended the celebration along with his wife and the mayor of Taipei city, Ma Ying-Jeou, a keen IT advocate. – Alma Buelva