Acer's CEO Jason Chen announced a significant price increase for laptops in the United States, set to rise by 10% starting in March 2025. This decision is attributed to the incoming tariffs from the Trump administration, which are expected to impact products imported after February. The Consumer Technology Association estimates that this price hike could cost U.S. consumers a staggering $143 billion, as 80% of laptop imports come from China. Major brands, including Apple, Dell, and HP, are likely to be affected, with Acer's high-end gaming laptop, the Predator Triton, seeing a price jump from $3,799 to $4,178.
The implications of these price increases extend beyond consumer costs, affecting IT service providers and their procurement strategies. As hardware costs rise, businesses may shift towards longer device life cycles, focusing on maintenance and upgrades rather than frequent hardware refreshes. This shift could also boost the refurbished and used hardware markets as companies seek to mitigate costs. IT service providers must prepare for pricing volatility and engage in discussions with clients about alternative solutions to navigate these changes effectively.
In addition to the laptop price hike, the podcast discusses the ongoing encryption battle involving Apple and the U.K. government's request for a backdoor into iCloud data. U.S. lawmakers have expressed strong opposition to this request, warning that it could compromise the security of American data and set a dangerous precedent for data sovereignty. The potential modifications to the 2018 Cloud Act could complicate data requests from foreign governments, raising concerns about localized data storage and compliance.
Lastly, the episode highlights new developments in the managed service provider (MSP) market, including CompTIA's launch of the CloudNetX certification aimed at senior IT professionals and ZofiQ's AI-driven solution for help desk efficiency. The podcast also covers Xtreme Networks' introduction of a consumption-based billing model for MSPs and AvePoint's new platform designed to enhance revenue streams for service providers. These innovations reflect the evolving landscape of IT services, emphasizing the need for adaptability and strategic planning in response to market changes.
Four things to know today
00:00 Sticker Shock Incoming: Acer Says Laptop Prices Are Going Up—And It’s Just the Beginning
04:09 Apple’s Encryption Battle Heats Up—Will Governments Force a Backdoor into Your Data?
06:46 CompTIA Enters the High-Level Cloud Cert Game—But Will MSPs and IT Pros Buy In?
Supported by: https://syncromsp.com/
Event: https://www.nerdiocon.com/
All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/
Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/
Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/
Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/
Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech
Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.