HP never got around to releasing the 7-inch version of their TouchPad tablet, the HP TouchPad Go, after they decided to stop producing webOS tablets and sold the original TouchPad tablet off at a discount.
Now it would appear that one of the 7-inch HP TouchPad Go tablets has appeared on eBay, which you can see in the picture below, although the listing has now been pulled from eBay.
According to the guys over at the digital reader, the tablet was pulled from eBay after a trademark complaint to eBay, probably from HP.
Background of the HP TouchPad Go
The HP TouchPad Go was intended to be a smaller, more portable version of the original HP TouchPad, which featured a 9.7-inch display. The 7-inch TouchPad Go was designed to compete with other popular tablets of the time, such as the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Google Nexus 7. It was expected to offer similar functionality to its larger counterpart, including the ability to run webOS, HP’s proprietary operating system. The TouchPad Go was rumored to have a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 1024×768 resolution display, making it a powerful device for its size.
The Demise of webOS Tablets
HP’s decision to discontinue the TouchPad line and webOS tablets came as a surprise to many. The original TouchPad was launched in July 2011, but by August 2011, HP announced that it would no longer be producing webOS devices. This decision was part of a broader strategy shift within HP, as the company decided to focus on software and services rather than hardware. The remaining TouchPad inventory was sold off at significantly reduced prices, leading to a brief surge in popularity as consumers rushed to purchase the discounted tablets.
The TouchPad Go, however, never made it to market. Despite being fully developed and ready for production, HP chose not to release the device. This decision left many tech enthusiasts and potential customers disappointed, as the 7-inch tablet had generated considerable interest.
Legacy and Impact
The brief appearance of the HP TouchPad Go on eBay serves as a reminder of what could have been. The tablet’s design and specifications suggested that it could have been a strong competitor in the 7-inch tablet market. Its webOS operating system was praised for its intuitive interface and multitasking capabilities, which set it apart from other mobile operating systems at the time.
While the TouchPad Go never saw a commercial release, its legacy lives on in the form of community-driven projects and continued interest in webOS. Enthusiasts have kept the spirit of webOS alive by developing custom ROMs and software updates for existing devices. Additionally, the open-source nature of webOS has allowed developers to experiment with the operating system and adapt it for use on other hardware.
The story of the HP TouchPad Go is a fascinating chapter in the history of mobile technology. It highlights the challenges and uncertainties that companies face when bringing new products to market. Despite its untimely demise, the TouchPad Go remains a symbol of innovation and the potential for what might have been.
Source Slashgear
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