Interview with Jerry Kao, Acer COO, at Computex 2026: “I think the MacBook Neo may help the industry”

Acer turned 50 this year, but the founder’s mission still resonates for Jerry Kao. “From day one, our founder [Stan Shih], his mission is that we want to bridge the gap between technology and people,” he told TechFinitive at Computex 2026. “Sometimes cost is the most important thing.”

This conversation came after I asked about the impact of the MacBook Neo on Acer, and in particular whether the Acer Swift Air 14 – an all-metal $599 laptop announced at the show – was his company’s answer to this threat.

“I won’t say this is the answer. The reason why everyone is talking about the MacBook Neo is that actually because somehow a very famous brand brings its product to a price point where it has never happened before,” Kao said. Later adding: “Even without the MacBook Neo, we still focus in that direction [cost], and I think the MacBook Neo may help the industry.”

In particular, Kao thinks that the x86 Windows world of laptop makers are thinking about “how to bring metal to a more stable price point”. There will still be a role for plastic laptops, but at sub-$500 prices.

Read our verdict on the MacBook Neo for business

Making Windows simpler

In recent months we’ve also seen Microsoft admit that it made Windows too complicated. Executives have spoken of its K2 initiative to make Windows simpler to use, while the concept of Copilot+ PCs barely got a mention at Microsoft’s Build conference.

So, does Kao believe that Microsoft is right: that it needed to make Windows simpler? “I’m not speaking bad about Microsoft, but I think it helps. The MacBook Neo grabbed a lot of market share, so Microsoft needed to do something. I’m not going to rate it one to ten, but definitely better than zero.”

There is also the eternal problem of linking other “computers” – your phone and tablet in particular – with your Windows PC. Something that Apple does seamlessly, while Microsoft continues to struggle, I suggest.

Kao agrees. “Up to now, I don’t see anything [from Microsoft or PC vendors] to compete with Apple. However, I think one thing we can expect [to compete] is the Googlebook.”

Google vs Apple ecoysystem

For those unfamiliar, Google announced the Googlebook last month. It’s meant to be the evolution of the Chromebook, “designed for Gemini Intelligence and perfectly in sync with your Android phone” to quote Alex Kuscher, Google’s Senior Director, Laptops & Tablets.

There is a strong link “in the Apple world, from ear buds to the watch to tablet to PC to VR” said Kao, although he points out that it’s not perfect. As they use different OSes, you still need to have some translation tools.

“But Googlebooks will be different, starting from watch to phone to tablet to PC to their Car Go, it’s all Android. So theoretically speaking it should be a good experience, but I should say that until now we don’t know.”

Acer’s business offering: strengths and weaknesses

Sticking to the here and now, I asked if Acer there had been a subtle switch of focus for Acer. Was it now targeting businesses and organisations in a way it hadn’t before? As exemplified by the TravelMate P6 14 AI (2026), which is certainly the best business Acer laptop I’ve laid my hands on.

“Overall, I should say Acer, in the past few years, our strongest growth has been from education and government,” said Kao. “For example, Chromebook, I think, is the overwhelming dominant [force] in US for the education market. Also Chromebook, in either Asia Pacific or in European countries, we are also market leader in terms of education segment.”

All of which has led to growth for Acer. “But I need to be honest, for high-end enterprise we have more and more business coming, but relatively compared with our competitors, I don’t think we’re good enough.”

Here, I agree with Kao. Compared to Dell, HP and Lenovo, it doesn’t have the worldwide support infrastructure in place – or the range of products – to roll out Acer laptops into huge Fortune 100 companies. But, to be clear, he’s not talking about small and midsize businesses, where “we are strong”.

Acer and sustainability

I’ll end this article with my opening question for Jerry Kao: whether Acer, which was one of the first PC manufacturers to focus on sustainability with its Vero series, was going to keep its focus? Especially in light of the fact that there were seemingly no new Vero products on the way.

“Let me put this way first. I should say, with the overall economic environment right now compared with three years or four years ago, the emphasis on sustainability is less.”

However, he’s keen to point out that Acer continues to put a lot of effort into “thinking more about what we can do to protect the environment”. He also believes that Vero has made a difference: that when Acer introduced the Vero there were no PCs with PCR plastics, but now it’s everywhere.

Not just in Acer products, but across the industry. To the point that what made the first Acer Vero laptop special, its use of PCRs and repairability, is now “just par” for modern-day laptops.

That means there’s no point labelling a Acer Swift or Predator laptop as a Vero product, Kao believes. With the corollary that the brand name “Vero” is semi-retired, although he says “I won’t say it’s the end [for Vero]. Once there’s something we think is to a different level of today’s sustainability product, then we’re going to name it Vero again for that specific product.”

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