PASIG CITY, Philippines -- Computer maker Acer has finally entered the low-cost notebook market in the Philippines with its new Intel Atom-powered notebooks, executives said.

The new Acer notebook is positioned to attract users wanting a portable and light notebook that is also Internet ready. It runs on the Linpus Linux Lite operating system.

The new Aspire One notebook, which was launched with a host of the company’s latest products in Manila, will cost P18,800.

Manuel Wong, Acer Philippines general manager, said the company wants to explore the low-cost notebook market in the country where Acer has not been present.

"It's a new segment that we are entering. It's totally new for us," Wong admitted, as he stressed that this notebook will run on Intel Atom, the latest processor designed for Netbooks, a category coined by Intel.

Wong said the challenge for Acer is not lowering the cost for notebooks but adding features that would still make its product attractive.

Intel Atom, he said, is designed for low-power consumption.

"Since this is a new segment for us, this will open opportunities for us. With this, we hope to penetrate untapped markets in the country," Wong said.

The company also launched a powerful gaming machine that looks like a mechanical "predator" armed with moving parts and liquid cooling system instead of the traditional, fan-based cooling systems for desktop computers.

The new Acer gaming desktop is priced at P138,900.

"From having a small machine, we also have a giant machine," Wong said, referring to its gaming PC.
Acer is entering the gaming market because it intends to offer a range of choices, including niche markets like high-end gaming, Wong said.