Recently, HP decided to discontinue the TouchPad tablet. In a surprising move, they also dropped the price of the TouchPad down to $99, which led to an overwhelming demand for the tablet. The device quickly sold out everywhere, leaving many potential buyers disappointed.
HP was clearly taken aback by the enthusiastic response to the price drop. Recognizing the high demand, they have decided to produce one last run of TouchPad tablets. These will be sold at the same $99 discounted price as before, meaning HP will incur another financial loss on this final batch of TouchPads.
Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware, we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand. We don’t know exactly when these units will be available or how many we’ll get, and we can’t promise we’ll have enough for everyone. We do know that it will be at least a few weeks before you can purchase.
The TouchPad’s Journey
The HP TouchPad was initially launched in July 2011, featuring the webOS operating system, which HP had acquired from Palm. Despite its innovative features and user-friendly interface, the TouchPad struggled to compete against market leaders like Apple’s iPad and various Android tablets. The initial high price point and limited app ecosystem were significant factors contributing to its lackluster sales performance.
However, the drastic price reduction to $99 turned the TouchPad into an overnight sensation. Consumers who had previously been hesitant to invest in the tablet were now eager to get their hands on it. The sudden surge in demand caught HP off guard, leading to the decision to produce one final batch to satisfy the unmet demand.
What Made the TouchPad Special?
The HP TouchPad was notable for several reasons. It featured a 9.7-inch display with a resolution of 1024×768 pixels, making it ideal for browsing, reading, and media consumption. The device was powered by a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor, which provided a smooth and responsive user experience. Additionally, the TouchPad came with 1GB of RAM and was available in 16GB and 32GB storage options.
One of the standout features of the TouchPad was its webOS operating system. WebOS was praised for its intuitive user interface and multitasking capabilities. The card-based system allowed users to easily switch between open applications, making it a favorite among tech enthusiasts. Despite its potential, webOS struggled to gain traction in a market dominated by iOS and Android.
The TouchPad also included features like Beats Audio for enhanced sound quality, a front-facing camera for video calls, and support for Adobe Flash, which was a rarity among tablets at the time. These features made the TouchPad a well-rounded device, even if it didn’t achieve commercial success initially.
You can find out more information about the last run of TouchPad tablets over at Wired. As soon as we get some more information on when they will be available, we will let you guys know.
Source Wired
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