Asus says Windows RT is a failure, bows out

Taiwanese personal computer maker Asustek Computer Inc. said Friday it will no longer make Windows RT tablets, which run a version of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 8 for ARM Holdings PLC's (ARMH) chips, citing weak sales.

"It's not only our opinion, the industry sentiment is also that Windows RT has not been successful," Asustek Chief Executive Jerry Shen told The Wall Street Journal on the sidelines of its post-earnings conference.

Mr. Shen said Asustek will make Windows 8 devices solely for Intel Corp.'s chips, due to the system's backward compatibility that Windows RT lacks. Critics of Windows RT have said the operating system lacks enough applications to compete with Google Android or Apple's iOS.



He said the company took a writedown on its Windows RT tablets in the second quarter, but didn't give a figure.