If you want the HP TouchPad...

Image courtesy of HP's TouchPad order page







We'll start this off on a positive note, and probably end in a few warnings. Recently, the HP TouchPad has been all the rage in the tablet PC rumor mill. It was reported to have outstanding specs, a very pleasing display, and a unique Operating System (WebOS). With these amazing things in mind...

YOU CAN NOW BUY ONE FOR EXTREMELY CHEAP: 

• $99.00 for the 16GB version
• $149.00 for the 32GB version

Don't believe me? Check it out: 

HP TouchPad Order Page

Now, with that being said: 

The tablet's manufacturer is setting the market on fire with these things, BUT (Isn't there always a "butt" at the end of a good thing?) they are going to be discontinuing support for the device itself, as well as the WebOS platform, which means that tech support will be non-existent (Peggy?) and that the software will stop receiving updates. Now, for the real world people that couldn't write up a new home-brew version of the Android OS, and make it work with this: 

• The Tablet may work fine now, but you'll start to see things slow down eventually
• All of the features you enjoy at the moment will stop working sooner or later. For Example: 
• No more updated Applications (Except 3rd party) 
• No room for growth of the OS
• ...Or any new and cool features that you would get on the Android OS, any of the Apple systems, or BlackBerry OS

Now, for those of you who love HP (Don't feel bad, I used to, until they stopped supporting driver updates on an older laptop) keep in mind that this is on the first attempt that they have made to branch out of the Desktop/Laptop/Netbook standard market. This being said, they should have learned through others' mistakes what happens when you release a product without enough testing and optimization. When a company releases a tablet for $499, and drops the price by 80% three weeks later without any attempt at sweetening the pot for their early adopters, this is going to hurt brand loyalty. 

On the other hand, there are a few positives left in the world, as this means that tablet prices are going to drop. Even Apple will take the hit when another company sets the price range so low. Most android tablets cost about $149 now, with the better ones (Archos101, anyone? - More on that later) Costing in the $300.00 range. With apple's tablets showing up a couple hundred dollars more, this means that tablets that are not at the same level of luxury, but still considered competitive, apple is going to have to rely on their marketing and PR, which are both great, or lower prices to somewhere in the general range of the other higher end tablets. 

Who knows what's coming up next? With all the options out there, a mistake like this could be very dangerous for the company's reputation, and it's loyal customer base. 

For the full story, feel free to check out the archives at the link below (International Business Times Webpage): 

International Business Times


Thanks for reading!
~Dom