Comments on: HP TouchPad Announced

HP's Jon Rubinstein announced a new WebOS tablet called the HP TouchPad. TouchPad brings a 9.7, 1024 x 768 display along with a 1.3 megapixel webcam with video calling, b/g/n WiFi, 16/32 GB of storage running on a dual core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon CPU.

HP Touchpad

HP Touchpad

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Nice, but they lied.

LiveFaith @ 2/9/2011 12:37:04 PM # Q
Nice tablet with iPad bettering features, but once again corporate America can't tell the truth. What was all that about "ready to ship" and no more "announce but not deliver", and no more "in the coming months"?
Thanks HP, iPad will have you leapfrogged by the time this ships. The more things change ...
Pat Horne
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My kingdom for an SD slot

dagwud @ 2/9/2011 6:12:03 PM # Q
Ok, so I don't have a kingdom. If I get a TouchPad, I'm not getting an SD slot either.

The only reason I bought an M500 to replace my wonderful Vx was the SD card slot. I have yet to figure out why HP and Apple insist that tablet users will want to pay for data plans or tethering just to get access to their files.

(Well, I wouldn't pay for tethering. But my phone's rooted. I'm in the minority.)
--
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> Tx (2007) -> HTC Aria (2010)

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
Gekko @ 2/9/2011 6:13:54 PM # Q
RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/9/2011 6:41:32 PM # Q
Pretty much completely ignored the objection to requring wireless data, didn't you?
--
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> Tx (2007) -> HTC Aria (2010)
RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
Gekko @ 2/9/2011 7:04:50 PM # Q

what exactly are you trying to accomplish?

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
hkklife @ 2/9/2011 7:15:57 PM # Q
The usual "Old Palm" reasons appear to still apply to the "New HPalm" in response to any missing, reduced, or compromised feature:

1. Greed
2. Laziness
3. Arrogance

For #4, the old Palm's "lack of funds" is replaced by "Obvious Apple-mimicry whenever possible" (QWERTY keyboard & all-cloud mentality aside).

Example:
It's not cool to have removable batteries. It's not cool to focus on PIM. It's not cool to have a tap-counter. It's not cool to be able to operate a device with one hand. It's not cool to offer backwards compatibility. It's not cool to use industry-standard ports (proprietary cables help you build an "ecosystem', y'know?). It's not cool to have expandable storage. It's not cool to have a device not tied to carrier partners unless you have your own retail stores. It's not cool to have physical buttons.

I could go on and on but you get the picture....
Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->Verizon Moto Droid + Verizon Palm Centro-> Verizon Moto Droid X + Palm TX

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
LiveFaith @ 2/9/2011 7:26:04 PM # Q
I'm getting sick of the picture.
Pat Horne
RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
Gekko @ 2/9/2011 7:34:36 PM # Q

or just get one of these -

http://galaxytab.samsungmobile.com/

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
hkklife @ 2/9/2011 7:42:37 PM # Q
Personally, I'm holding out for the first Android Honeycomb device with decent specs to hit retail for $500 or below. I don't need/want/care about integrated 3G/4G WWAN. Just give me wi-fi and a decent screen and I'll be set. RIght now it looks like the Toshiba Tablet is going to be the one to beat but we still don't know anything about pricing or launch date. I can almost guarantee you it'll be delayed or launched prematurely with Froyo.

http://www.thetoshibatablet.com/

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->Verizon Moto Droid + Verizon Palm Centro-> Verizon Moto Droid X + Palm TX

Apple possibly moving iPad 3 to fall 2011 launch?
hkklife @ 2/9/2011 8:46:04 PM # Q
http://www.theipadguide.com/content/apple-moving-ipad-3-release-date-fall-2011/7176957

If that is the case, then TWO new iPads in 2011 will catch all of the competitors (HP, Moto, RIM, Samsung etc) flat-footed and absolutely be the death blow to all competing tablets.

It does make perfect sense to have the iPad refresh line up with the annual iPod refreshe as well. I could also see Apple segmenting the iPad in a way similar to the previous-gen iPod Touch and the last 2 generations of iPhone---have the entry-level model(s) be a carryover part or based on the previous-gen tech and have the pricier models carry the latest and greatest.

I definitely thought the iPad entry level $499 price was a stunner last year and by far the #1 reason for its success IMHO (though the widespread retail availability later in 2010 really helped too). One year later, no one has still figured this out (HP included). Guaranteed retail availability 60 days from announcement helps too. HP & Moto, please take notes.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->Verizon Moto Droid + Verizon Palm Centro-> Verizon Moto Droid X + Palm TX

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
jca666us @ 2/10/2011 4:01:39 AM # M Q
Hkk, two things:

I think HP is not trying to "be cool" with the touchpad, but trying to appeal to general consumers.

Considering HP's history, this sounds like a very bad idea.

As to a new iPad launching in Sept., it makes sense from the perspective that apple likes to diversify technology it adds to their iDevices.

Retina Display is not available on all iPhones apple currently sells. All devices have different amounts of memory, and different CPU speeds.

Two different iPads, one retina, the other non-retina, also makes perfect sense.

I figure we'll see a high-end iPad - with a retina display as a bro option.

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/10/2011 7:59:52 AM # Q
"what exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

I'm not sure why it would be hard to understand. I want to be able to access quantities of data that can exceed the internal storage capacities of the device. And I want to do so without having to pay to transfer my data from some online storage space.

It's not that complicated.

Wi-fi is not always available, and even with my rooted phone, downloading of multi-megabyte files is slow. I've got better things to do with my time than wait for downloads.
--
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> Tx (2007) -> HTC Aria (2010)

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
Gekko @ 2/10/2011 9:07:58 AM # Q

give me a specific example.

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/10/2011 9:28:13 AM # Q
A specific example is unnecessary for understanding my opinion. I'm not asking you to share the opinion, neither am I asking for your validation.
--
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> Tx (2007) -> HTC Aria (2010)
RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
Gekko @ 2/10/2011 9:37:49 AM # Q

just as i suspected.

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/10/2011 9:58:11 AM # Q
It's probably not "just as (you) suspected," but that's not my responsibility, either.
--
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> Tx (2007) -> HTC Aria (2010)
RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
jeffhoward001 @ 2/10/2011 11:49:18 AM # Q
I think the HP TouchPad will do fine without an SD slot, as long as the feature set is at or above the next Droid or iPad tablet. After using Droid based devices, I can honestly say that WebOS has some pretty appealing features over Droid, and developers seems to like the protection of the tiered SDKs.

I also think there is a substantial user base out there that is tired of Apple & MS products that have been waiting for something good from alternative an OS like Droid or WebOS. So we'll see...

All that said, I agree that the lack of an SD slot is too Apple'esque. It's the same totalitarian "we know what is best" attitude that Apple users seems to just bend over and take. I've never really understood it, but I'm also not an Apple fan, so... For all of Microsoft's faults, at least they listen to their customers. Possibly to the point of fault by focusing too much of features, and not enough on stability. I think WebOS will compete to the niche of the features & flexibility of Droid/Windows devices, with the stability of the iOS. If they can pull it off, I think they'll pull some market share.

- Jeff
Tungsten T --> Palm TX --> TX & Centro (Good combo so far!)

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
hkklife @ 2/10/2011 12:02:28 PM # Q
Out of the current and coming crop of next-gen tablets (Playbook, TouchPad,iPad, Xoom) only the Android Honeycomb-based Xoom (and whatever comes after it from Toshiba etc) has a removable memory card slot and it won't be accessible at launch, as it'll be enabled in a future ROM update). Definitely a growing trend amongst the new tablet designs, sadly. And from what I have seen thus far (admittedly not that much), Apple and Google will still probably lead WebOS in built-in features and definitely in add-on apps and functionality.

As much as the lack of removable storage bothers me, the lack of a user-replacable battery irks me even more. I'd hate to drop $500-$900 on one of these snazzy new tablets and have its battery crap out and have to send it off to be replaced.

You can buy a brand-new Acer netbook with a Win 7 Starter, 10.1" 1024x600 LED LCD, 1GB DDR3, a removable li-ion battery, a 160gb HDD, a SD card slot, 802.11b/g/n, a webcam, and 3 USB ports for $200ish. To not be able to get at least the removable battery and the memory card slot on a $500-$800 tablet is simply unacceptable.

Also, IMO there is STILL a market for devices running an OS that is more flexible/open than iOS but not as fragmented or as unreliable as Android. Sadly, it doesn't look to be WebOS or anything else currently available. Microsoft continues to be a non-starter in the mobile world.

Right now I am just desperately awaiting Android 3.0 and beyond, as that seems to be the best bet for my needs. I am so sick of Android 2.2 and below I don't know what to do anymore.

Ideally, Nokia would have bought Palm last year and combined the best bits of MeeGo with WebOS. At least we would have gotten solid hardware out of it.
Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->Verizon Moto Droid + Verizon Palm Centro-> Verizon Moto Droid X + Palm TX

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
gmayhak @ 2/10/2011 12:31:08 PM # Q
Right! (what Pat & Kris said)

Kris, iPad battery is replaceable, just takes a little effort. You can get one for $100 and install yourself or these guys will install it for $125 total.
http://www.digiexpress.us/Replacement-Battery-for-iPad_p_244.html
I really doubt you would need to replace it before you move on to another device, My first generation iPod Touch has been chugging along for over 2 years and still going strong although I do have a replacement battery and back cover for when it does crap out.

Gary
Tech Center Labs
www.talestuff.com
www.iTalentProductions.com

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/11/2011 4:03:20 PM # Q
" I am so sick of Android 2.2 and below I don't know what to do anymore. "

That's interesting, because my experience is a complete 180. I've quite enjoyed Android 2.2. Granted, I rooted and flashed a custom ROM. I can't imagine going back to my Tx, even though the PIM apps were better.


<br>
<small>PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> Tx (2007) -> HTC Aria (2010) </small>

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
abosco @ 2/11/2011 10:38:46 PM # M Q
I'm also curious what you need an SD card slot for. These things will likely be hitting 128 GB this year. What could you possibly be doing?

I tend to agree with Gekko. You don't need it, you're just accustomed to it, and you don't want to change.

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/12/2011 3:07:01 PM # Q
What am I doing? I'm in graduate school working on my dissertation. I'm looking to replace my laptop as my primary PDF reader. My article collection is a little over 6GB if you take it all together.

I'm also employed. I've got more PDF articles, documents and media clips that I use for work. But I don't need a laptop to access them. I do need about 25GB of storage for those documents.

Put these two things together, and I've practically maxed out the 32GB of the Touchpad. Telling me that devices will one day have 128GB is irrelevant to the storage limitations of the device in question.

I also travel for work, and I haven't even added any MP3s or movie files to the device, which I'd want to use while flying.

I live in an area where 3G data can be spotty and wi-fi is far from ubiquitous. Even if I wasn't in graduate school and, thus, a tightwad, I'm not sure I'd pay $100 a year to Dropbox for expanded service that I can't necessary access.

I get that my experience isn't yours. What I don't understand is why it seems to be so far beyond imagination that it's dismissed rather than acknowledged for what it is - my experience.


RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
mikecane @ 2/12/2011 5:39:16 PM # Q
Thanks for confirming what I've been seeing on my blog. People NEED PDFs on the tablets.

This post gets traffic every damn day since it was posted:

Google Books PDF Smackdown: NookColor Vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab Vs. iPad
http://mikecanex.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/google-books-pdf-smackdown-nookcolor-vs-samsung-galaxy-tab-vs-ipad/

Aside from what you have as your own PDFs, at some point you might want some from Google Books or the Internet Archive. I understand the need for mad storage!

At one point Toshiba I think had planned a storage device accessible via Bluetooth but they never did it. Someone is going to see a new need now for something like that.

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/13/2011 6:16:16 AM # Q
The laptop in the aforementioned post is a Thinkpad X60 tablet. But it's 3 pounds heavier than the Touchpad or even an iPad. I've tried using it as a PDF reader, and it's too heavy and too hot. Plus, I wish it had the multi-touch screen of the X201.

On the other hand, I can annotate PDFs on it, leaving myself notes for later. Unfortunately, I've yet to find a tablet-based PDF reader that includes that functionality.

In hindsight, that's likely a bigger issue for what I want to do than not having removable memory.

In either case, it's my opinion that local storage and instant access to my pdf collection is superior to keeping that collection online. (Of course, I do that, too, as a backup.)

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
Gekko @ 2/13/2011 7:29:58 AM # Q

you're so special. i wish i special.


RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/13/2011 11:14:00 AM # Q
You wish you were special. I wish the Touchpad had an SD card slot. Neither of us is going to get what he wants.

A possible solution for dagwud:
ChiA @ 2/13/2011 3:17:02 PM # Q
http://www.airstash.com/

You can think of it as being a portable SD card reader which doubles as a wifi media server.

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/13/2011 4:10:17 PM # Q
Chia - even if it's not a "solution," that's a pretty cool gadget. Thanks!

RE: My kingdom for an SD slot
dagwud @ 2/14/2011 7:14:02 AM # Q
Thanks, again. Chia. You got me thinking, and that got me checking Amazon.

Apparently, PNY makes an SDHC card reader that would provide removable storage - for iPads, at least. I hadn't been considering iPads, so I didn't know. But it does provide "hope" for other SD-less tablets.

http://www.amazon.com/PNY-zoomIt-Memory-Reader-iPhone/dp/B003WTU9I4

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Does GPS work on WiFi only model?

VampireLestat @ 2/9/2011 11:53:22 PM # Q
If GPS only works on 3G models, I'm out.
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Mediocre

jca666us @ 2/9/2011 11:58:04 PM # M Q
After a year, I think they still dropped the ball with the hardware, but the software has potential:

The wifi model is heavier and bulkier than the first gen iPad. Two complaints about the iPad: too heavy and too bulky.

Seeing demos of webos running show it running very sluggish compared to a first gen iPad - which has 1/4 the memory and a cpu with less than half the performance.

Two major failings for the touchpad: app catalog and ecosystem. As good as certain pieces of webos are, they are no substitute the Apple's hardware and software ecosystem nor for their 60,000+ quality ipad apps.

Pre announcing was probably the best HP could do. They need an immediate influx of developer support to make sure the touchpad isn't stillborn when it arrives, but this also ensures the impact of the device will be blunted by every other tablet device which has been announced and is arriving in a few months - in addition to the ipad2.

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HP TouchPad planned for June, priced at $699?

Gekko @ 2/11/2011 4:00:17 PM # Q

HP TouchPad planned for June, priced at $699?
By: Jonathan S. Geller | Feb 11th, 2011 at 04:13PM View Comments Filed Under: Exclusives

One of our sources has just provided us with new information surrounding the launch of the recently unveiled HP TouchPad. It's been communicated to us that HP is (or was — it's not clear if things have recently changed) planning on having the TouchPad in market before the end of June. We've also been told pricing should be $699; slightly less than Motorola's $799 XOOM. How does June and $699 sound for an HP TouchPad?

http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/11/hp-touchpad-planned-for-june-priced-at-699/


RE: HP TouchPad planned for June, priced at $699?
gmayhak @ 2/11/2011 6:22:29 PM # Q
To quote you, "they'll sell dozens"
Tech Center Labs
www.talestuff.com
www.iTalentProductions.com
RE: HP TouchPad planned for June, priced at $699?
hkklife @ 2/11/2011 8:26:34 PM # Q
Well, we need to know if that's $699 for a 16Gb wi-fi model or a loaded 3G/64Gb model. I would imagine it'll be the "equivalent" model to the Xoom--32Gb + 3G.

If you are going to be totally bats**t insane and drop big bucks on a tablet like that, the Xoom is a FAR better choice for $100 more:

-Higher resolution (1280x800--this is a huge one)
-Slightly larger screen (10.1" vs 9.7") yet a little trimmer in some dimensions
-TWO cameras (with the front one better than the TouchPad's) + 1080p video recording
-Tegra 2 SOC (much better support & CPU/GPU performance)
-Built-in barometer (hey you never know how that may come in handy!)
-Probably larger battery capacity
-Probably better aesthetics & build quality (soft-touch and not glossy)
-HDMI output
-microSDHC expansion slot + 32Gb internally (this is a biggie)
-Better ecosystem & apps around it + earlier availability

HP's Touchpad doesn't stand a chance unless it undercuts the iPad on the cheaper verions (ie the 16 & 32Gb wi-fi Wal-Mart & BB mass market specials) and then undercuts Xoom on the higher-end by at least $200, if not more.

It's looking already like the Xoom is gonna be the best tablet for the price is no object crows and the iPad/iPad 2 is the best midrange or budget tablet experience. If you want to go REALLY low for a "budget tablet" then a rooted $250 Nook Color running Froyo or Honeycomb is your best bet.
Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->Verizon Moto Droid + Verizon Palm Centro-> Verizon Moto Droid X + Palm TX

RE: HP TouchPad planned for June, priced at $699?
abosco @ 2/11/2011 10:43:06 PM # M Q
I fail to understand these companies. They all waited for Apple's tablet last year, and they were probably glad they did. A $500 price tag was unexpected. So they go back to the drawing board and create a new tablet to compete. And here we are, a year later, and they couldn't match $500?

I simply do not understand these companies.

RE: HP TouchPad planned for June, priced at $699?
mikecane @ 2/12/2011 11:17:46 AM # Q
Apple drove a hard bargain with components, probably locking in prices based on X-number of sales, with tiered discount levels.

HP has the muscle to do that too. And they shouldn't think webOS makes it somehow a premium product with that crappy shiny fingerprinty black plastic back. WTF were they thinking going with THAT?! It's the same crap plastic on their mini desktops. That back is just absolutely tasteless and cheap. You pick up that aluminum-backed iPad and you go, WHOA! And this is just $499? Classy!

RE: HP TouchPad planned for June, priced at $699?
gmayhak @ 2/12/2011 5:48:37 PM # Q
The 'old' HP would have known better! I think they were one of the first to use double injection molding on their calculator keys so they wouldn't have silkscreened text that would wear off and they always had textured surfaces on their products. Even those beautiful LED displays had non-reflective filters.
IMO CSSS (cheap shiny shit sucks).

Gary
Tech Center Labs
www.talestuff.com
www.iTalentProductions.com

Reply to this comment

Slide. Shuffle. Stack. Share.

mikecane @ 2/12/2011 8:49:02 AM # Q
RE: Slide. Shuffle. Stack. Share.
Gekko @ 2/12/2011 9:11:25 AM # Q
RE: Slide. Shuffle. Stack. Share.
mikecane @ 2/12/2011 11:07:54 AM # Q
Yes. And they sold more of that damn thing in a year than iPads, I think.

How many EVOs have been sold?

EVO who? LMAO!

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