Acer is hoping that the launch of Windows 8 stokes consumer demand, which Wong said is "really slow" at present.

"People are waiting for Windows 8 and new innovations," he said. "We still have high hopes for the end of this year and early next year that the momentum will come back."

Early next year the company also plans to sell computers running Windows RT -- an operating system with much of the look and feel of Windows 8 but that runs on low-power ARM processors rather than the x86 chips on which Windows 8 runs.

ARM processors are popular with tablet makers because of their low power consumption, but Windows RT won't be able to run Windows 8 software. Instead, software makers will have to offer RT-only versions of programs.

Acer originally said it would offer a Windows RT computer this year but then switched the launch date to next year. Wong said the launch was delayed due to company resources.