So Acer is complaining that surface is competing directly with them (and it is) and threatens that they’ll look at alternatives to Windows.

I can certainly see that they’d be upset, but what alternatives are there? Apple won’t license OSX and the general consumer isn’t interested in Linux (despite how rock solid it is now). So are they going to make their own operating system? Only sell Chromebooks?

Acer there isn’t an alternative, it’s an empty threat. You’ve been making crappy hardware for years and Microsoft got tired of you and the other OEM’s crapping up Windows. If you built nice computer without crapware on them Microsoft wouldn’t have to build it’s own hardware to compete with you. You’ve shown that you don’t have the best interests of consumers (and Microsoft) at heart.

Stop whining that Microsoft is building compelling hardware and you’re not. You’re choosing to build crap.