HP to Produce More TouchPads? Don't Call it a Comeback! (Seriously, Don't)
It turns out all you need to do to dethrone Apple's iPad is launch a $500 tablet with modern hardware, discontinue the device, and mark it down to $99 (or $149 for the 32GB version). Hewlett Packard did exactly that and now owns the hottest selling tablet on the market, only the OEM failed to anticipate such rapid demand for a prematurely defunct device. Finding a marked down TouchPad at this point in the game is mostly an exercise in futility, and those who've been waiting for HP to receive a final shipment from one of its warehouses have been wearing out their F5 keys.
Well, we have some good news folks. If you're on the brink of giving up, don't lose hope just yet. HP has committed to manufacturing a final batch of TouchPads before moving on for good.
"Since we announced the price drop, the number of inquiries about the product and the speed at which it disappeared from inventory has been stunning. I think it’s safe to say we were pleasantly surprised by the response," HP said in a blog post. "Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware, we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand. We don’t know exactly when these units will be available or how many we’ll get, and we can’t promise we’ll have enough for everyone. We do know that it will be at least a few weeks before you can purchase."
So there you have it. Don't call it a comeback, because it isn't. The TouchPad is still obsolete, at least in terms of active production and support. However, kudos to HP for deciding to build a few more devices, assuming the OEM doesn't jack up the price or hand them all out to internal employees.
If HP retains the $99/$149 price tag(s), we suspect the new batch will sell out just as quickly as the current models. To keep on top of the situation, add @BrynaaHP and @MarkatHP to your Twitter feed for live updates.
Well, we have some good news folks. If you're on the brink of giving up, don't lose hope just yet. HP has committed to manufacturing a final batch of TouchPads before moving on for good.
"Since we announced the price drop, the number of inquiries about the product and the speed at which it disappeared from inventory has been stunning. I think it’s safe to say we were pleasantly surprised by the response," HP said in a blog post. "Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware, we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand. We don’t know exactly when these units will be available or how many we’ll get, and we can’t promise we’ll have enough for everyone. We do know that it will be at least a few weeks before you can purchase."
So there you have it. Don't call it a comeback, because it isn't. The TouchPad is still obsolete, at least in terms of active production and support. However, kudos to HP for deciding to build a few more devices, assuming the OEM doesn't jack up the price or hand them all out to internal employees.
If HP retains the $99/$149 price tag(s), we suspect the new batch will sell out just as quickly as the current models. To keep on top of the situation, add @BrynaaHP and @MarkatHP to your Twitter feed for live updates.
