Mobile
Amazon Hints at HP TouchPad’s Release Date
Rumors are swirling around the release date of the HP TouchPad, the company’s first webOS tablet, as HP has still yet to confirm the launch date. However, a search on Amazon reveals an advertisement for the tablet, saying that “HP will release the sleek and sophisticated webOS-empowered TouchPad on July 17th, 2011.
Recently, displays and shelf space for the TouchPad have been seen at retailers ranging from Walmart to Best Buy. The tablet was also demoed in detail by partner SanDisk at the Computex trade show.
A previous leak suggested that the TouchPad may launch in June at WalMart and in July at select other retailers. Recent leaks suggest that the 32 GB TouchPad model may come in at around $600 for a WiFi-only edition. HP may decide to release a 16 GB TouchPad tablet for a lower entry price point, perhaps around the $500 price to better compete with the similar capacity WiFi-only iPad 2, which also comes in at a starting price of $500.
When launched, the slate will have to compete in a crowded market with other Android tablets, the market-leading iPad, and also RIM’s webOS tablet. Additionally, Microsoft is also revamping its tablet efforts with Windows 8, where glimpses of the new interface was shown at Computex and at the All Things Digitial Conference.
Since acquiring Palm, HP seems confident in webOS and is putting its marketing muscle behind the platform. The company is saying that future PCs, notebooks, and printers will ship with webOS on it.
Via: Engadget
dalestrauss
06/09/2011 at 12:32 pm
“Second verse, same as the first…” I don’t understand how all these tablet manufacturers, even with what they feel are better/faster/different features than the iPad think they can compete at the same price points as Apple. “iPad” is noe synonymous with “tablet” much like iPod=MP3 player, so competitors have to face the competitive reality of “why should I buy X when I can get an iPad for the same price.”