Connect with us

Mobile

Long Live HP’s TouchPad…With Windows 8!?

Published

on

HP’s TouchPad was officially declared dead in late summer when the company ran a fire sale and had listed the tablet for just $99, putting the fate of its much lauded webOS operating system, acquired along with Palm, in question. However, the TouchPad hardware itself may not be dead after all, and its fate may be revived under new CEO Meg Whitman, perhaps replacing webOS with Windows 8.

According to Fox News, HP insiders say that the world’s largest computer maker is testing Microsoft’s Windows 8 Developer Release on some TouchPad tablets. As Windows 8 now supports ARM processors, a first for Microsoft as the company has historically relied solely on the x86 architecture utilized by Intel and AMD, the move would be feasible on current-generation TouchPad slates. At this point, it’s still too early to tell if HP will release TouchPad devices in the future with Windows 8, or if it will build new generations of Windows 8-powered TouchPad tablets with stronger processor performance.

HP had decided to can the TouchPad only after a few short months of the device being available on store shelves. At the time of release, the iPad-like pricing didn’t spur strong demand, but HP discovered that the $99 price point had prompted more sales and resulted in HP deciding to make more inventory of TouchPad available to consumers.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    10/26/2011 at 5:22 am

    Can someone explain the logic of HP producing new hardware at a loss? Assuming this loss is realistic.

    • Scotty Braun

      10/26/2011 at 6:48 am

      HP had a ton of left over parts to make more touchpads.. so I guess instead of losing money on the parts, atleast make some money an fill the orders until their parts supply ran out.. Thats why they only were able to take limited numbers at the end of the fire sale

      • Anonymous

        10/26/2011 at 8:26 am

        Also, HP reportedly had to fulfill their contract with the factory or pay a penalty. I guess making more pads was the better option.

  2. Dale Strauss

    10/26/2011 at 6:19 am

    HP has current Windows 7 convertible tables (HP 2760p, tm2) and slates (500), so no surprise they would look at an “iPad size” tablet computer. A recent Boston Consulting survey says 42% of users want such a device. Dell is already teasing its slate device (Win7 with Win8 upgrade), and Samsung has its slate on the market. There is no reason to assume they have to do it at a loss.

    • Anonymous

      10/26/2011 at 7:40 am

      Thanks, the does make, “Some,” sense, if it cuts their incipient loses.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.