Acorn shoots itself in foot

ACORN has run into serious problems with its Electron computer.

With retailer orders, according to Acorn, over the 150,000 mark, the company has been able to do little else than supply a trickle of demonstration models to dealers in the two months since the Electron was launched. Software, too — the 12 titles announced with the Electron — is nowhere in sight.

This, despite claims earlier this year by Acorn’s joint managing director Chris Curry that the delays and production problems which characterised the early days of the BBC machine would not befall the Electron.

Even WH Smith, the only. High Street chain to be offering the computer, has received but a few machines. A WH Smith spokeswoman said: “We are having to disappoint customers — we are not able to supply demand. What we have had has sold out and while we are expecting more deliveries, the amount will still be well below demand.”

The problems all appear to stem from serious production difficulties at Astec in Malaysia, at present the only Electron manufacturer.

Acorn has quickly looked for alternative manufacturing sources and has found Hong Kong manufacturer Wongs and South Wales AB. Electronics.

Unfortunately, the first Wongs Electron will not come until the end of November and AB will not get going until early 1984. So, it seems the situation is unlikely to improve before Christmas and, unfortunately, many of Acorn’s orders from retailers are conditional on their being fulfilled before Christmas. In the words of one industry source — Acorn would appear to have shot itself in the foot.

“There isn’t a problem with manufacture — they just can’t make enough,” explained an Acorn spokesman. “The production line target is 25,000 a month. As they ramp up to that, there is no way that they will clear the backlog.”