Microsoft is placing on “troublesome” restrictions OEM production of the next generation of Windows-based PCs, according to Acer Executive J.T. Wang.

Speaking in Taipei Computex show, Wang has this to say:

“They really are decisive the whole thing, the whole process … all feel is very troublesome. “

It is difficult to know whether this will be something good or something bad for consumers. It depends what is more really behind the restrictions. If it gives users a consistent practice and protect the quality and also prevent platform fragmentation (and related problems that can cause updates) then this is a good thing.

However, if the restrictions may hobble the tablets to prevent them cannibalizing Windows sales (something we’ve seen Microsoft netbooks), then this is definitely not good for consumers.

We will have to wait and see how it plays, but it is odd for OEMs to pull Microsoft publicly like this.

[Update: this is not the first time, Acer has brought Microsoft-here's one example-a story of PC Pro John Honeyball from 2006, where Wong says for poor value for money offered by Vista Home Basic.

Thanks to John!]

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted more than a decade to helping users to get the most from technology.