We heard a while back that Best Buy had over 200,000 HP TouchPads which they were looking to return to HP, and then last week HP dropped the price of the HP TouchPad to just $99.
This lead the HP TouchPad to be sold out everywhere as people scrambled to get their hands on the $99 tablet, but what happened to all those TouchPads that Best Buy were sending back to HP?
It looks like they may be headed back to Best Buy, according to the guys over at Gizmodo, who have received information from Best Buy employees, and they will still go on sale for $99 when they go back into the Best Buy stores. We suspect they will sell out very quickly.
The HP TouchPad Frenzy
The HP TouchPad, initially launched to compete with the likes of Apple’s iPad, struggled to gain traction in the highly competitive tablet market. Despite its promising hardware and the backing of a major tech company, the TouchPad failed to capture the interest of consumers. This led to a significant inventory of unsold units, prompting Best Buy to consider returning over 200,000 units to HP.
However, the dramatic price drop to $99 changed everything. The new price point created a frenzy among consumers who saw an opportunity to own a tablet at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. The sudden surge in demand led to the TouchPad selling out almost instantly across various retailers.
What’s Next for the HP TouchPad?
The return of the HP TouchPad to Best Buy stores at the $99 price point is expected to generate significant interest once again. According to sources from Gizmodo and Tech Crunch, Best Buy employees have indicated that the tablets will be available for purchase soon. Given the previous rush, it is anticipated that these units will sell out quickly.
For those who manage to get their hands on one, the HP TouchPad offers a range of features that make it a worthwhile purchase even today. It boasts a 9.7-inch display, a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, and runs on the webOS operating system, which was praised for its intuitive interface and multitasking capabilities. Although webOS is no longer actively developed, the TouchPad community has kept the device alive through various custom ROMs and software updates.
The story of the HP TouchPad is a fascinating case study in the tech industry. It highlights how pricing strategies can dramatically alter the market perception of a product. Initially seen as a failure, the TouchPad became a hot commodity overnight, demonstrating the power of consumer psychology and market dynamics.
The HP TouchPad’s journey from a struggling product to a sought-after gadget underscores the unpredictable nature of the tech market. As Best Buy prepares to reintroduce these tablets at the irresistible price of $99, it will be interesting to see how quickly they disappear from the shelves once again. For tech enthusiasts and bargain hunters alike, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Source Gizmodo, Tech Crunch
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