One Last Chance at an HP Touchpad

http://pr.bby.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=24...378&highlight=

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Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) today announced that beginning online Tuesday, Nov. 1 and in-store Nov. 4, customers can get the HP TouchPad for the low, low price of $149.99 with the purchase of an HP or Compaq Laptop, Desktop or All-in-One computer1.



The HP TouchPad is designed to work like you do, so you can accomplish more, and connect, play, surf and share more easily. provides the ability to seamlessly move back and forth between apps without losing your place while automatically grouping similar activities together. The HP TouchPad webOS operating platform and comes with 32 GB of storage space.



Best Buy is advancing growth of the tablet category by combining the most tablets under one roof2 with a shopping experience that allows customers to easily try and compare devices. These devices are emerging as priorities on holiday gift lists, as more consumers consider how each can contribute to a faster, easier or more mobile entertainment, work or connections experience.

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So.....when BB said they had sold out of the pads during the firesale, they were lying. Instead, they wanted to do a bundle for the holidays. Hmmmm....

FWIW, received the following email from HP about an 1-1/2 hours ago:

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Dear _________,

Making sure customers have a positive experience when they purchase our products is a priority for us. In some cases, limited inventory makes it challenging to fulfill all customer orders. As you signed up for updates on the HP TouchPad, we wanted you to know that we are officially out of stock. Some retailers will have some stock available, but our online inventory is depleted.

Thank you for your interest in this product and the feedback you provided. Your input plays a critical role in defining our product roadmap and will help us continue to bring innovative products to market.

Sincerely,
HP

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Yes....the touchpad saga is nearing it's end....except for Ebay scalpers still trying to sell some. Glad I got one....but what a chore. Meg Whitman has done away with any idea of a Toucpad 2 with WebOS....but is looking at some sort of new HP tablet running Windows 8.

I'm done with my brief tablet craze.....and I still think they are toys. But a cheap windows-based tablet in a couple years....and I might take another interest. ;)

I agree. Windows 8 on a tablet would be interesting.

The $99 HP TouchPad Firesale is Back This Weekend!
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/HP-...pad,14208.html

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TechCrunch cites an internal HP mail that says starting Sunday, December 11 at 6:00 p.m. Central time, 16GB and 32GB Touchpads will be available via HP’s ebay store (under 'laptops'). However, there is one catch: They're not brand new devices. Instead, HP is selling refurbs to those willing to shell out either $99 or $149 for the tablet.
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Also announced today....HP is going to make WebOS open source......

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavi...s-open-source/

Bit of a relief for Microsoft. :)

This could be interesting...

iOS is closed to anyone but Apple.....which left Android the only option for competitors (other than MS). Now....could we see Samsung and Asus slapping Web OS on tablets? WebOS will only flourish as open source if someone makes hardware to run it....

Personally....I don't care for many parts of WebOS on my touchpad. I hope that open sourcing will inspire someone to port a browser that is worth a damn....because WebOS browser is pretty much useless. Firefox on WebOS? I'll be on that like hair on a gorilla.....

ZDNet: WebOS is doomed to fail
Roger Cheng, CNET News | December 9, 2011 12:40 PM PST
http://www.zdnet.com/news/webos-is-d...o-fail/6332869

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WebOS's core problem: the lack of consumer and developer interest. If HP doesn't care enough to support WebOS properly, why should anyone else?
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The company did write off $3.3 billion to cover exiting the WebOS business, which is probably the best illustration of its thoughts on its value.
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WebOS, meanwhile, is getting dumped into the open, which many technology experts consider a last-ditch attempt at reviving the platform before it goes off to die.

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OTOH, WebOS may have a chance simply because it’s not Google.

<-shrug-> :)

http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/09/hps...blets-in-2013/

So basically.....HP dumps WebOS into the open source community and is counting on them to develop it. Then they install it on future hardware....

Not a bad strategy......let others do the work for free rather than pay your own developers. ;)

Right?

Their main strategy may be to try and look good no matter what happens. If WebOS takes off, HP looks like a hero. If it fails, at least they tried.

Being a little disappointed with WebOS, I was seriously considering porting Android to my touchpad....even with the small risk of bricking the device. But I think I will wait for a few months and see where this open source thing goes now. I am hoping for major changes (like Firefox and improved file management) and not just a bunch of useless, time-consuming apps. Angry Birds....I'm looking at you......

I'm with you ... wait and watch.

Maxx... now that you've had the device for a while and having gone through the whole ordeal, and I do mean ordeal, LOL, to get it would you still have done so now knowing what you know and having had the thing to use?

I'm only asking in the admittedly small chance I may have the opportunity to get one at the 99 dollar price :).

I have come to the conclusion that tablets in general are not for me. I only turn it on about once or twice a week. I feel good that it only cost me $99 to learn this fact as opposed to $500, though. :D

Is it worth $99? As tablets go....yeah it's a good bargain. The device performs as advertised. If you have a use beyond the initial novelty....then snag one. Personally, if I need to go mobile, I take either my laptop or netbook.

I'm just an old fashioned electronics guy I guess.... ;)

BTW....I followed the big Ebay sale on another forum where thousands of people were trying to get the refurbs. It only lasted about 20 minutes and HP sold about 5,000 units. Ebay checkout crashed and HP slapped a $19 delievery charge on them. Lots of upset people....LOL

It brought back memories when I was in the firesale fight months ago. This time I got to sit back and watch the craziness.... :D

Sure am glad I didn't have the urge to try and snag one. :)

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What I can't hardly wait for is "Windows to Go".

Running Windows from an external USB drive with Windows To Go
http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/BUILD/BUILD2011/HW-245T

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Windows To Go is a new feature in Windows 8 that enables enterprise administrators to create USB drives containing complete, managed Windows images that users can use to boot and run Windows on any Windows 7 or Windows 8 capable computer. Windows To Go makes it possible for employees to use a managed device whether they work from home, a client office or in a free seating environment. The video session discusses Windows To Go, its hardware requirements and building compatible and complementary software.

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