You may heard of the HP TouchPad, probably more recently with prices bottoming out at $99 for the 16GB model and $149 for the 32GB model – aggressively slashed from the introductory $499 and $599 price points. Running HP’s webOS, these handheld gems are fitted with 1.2 GHz dual-core processors and 1GB of RAM. Sporting a 9.7 in, 1024×766 pixel, LED-backlit display makes HD playback from Amazon’s video on-demand look rather gorgeous. Pointed at you is 1.3MP camera for use with Skype in the preinstalled Phone & Video Calls app. Holding the tablet in portrait, you’ll find internal stereo speaker to the left side and a 3.5mm stereo jack for headset / headphone / microphone towards the top left. The power button is naturally placed top-right with the volume controls just to the top, right side. The home button is positioned like most tablets, *cough* iPad. But unlike Apple’s tablet, you’ll find concealed in lower right corner… That’s right! An SD card slot! I find the faux placeholder difficult to remove and still there after crammed in by a FoxConn employee. Running the latest webOS 3.0.2, the capacitive multi-touch screen surfs through applications and internet very smoothly. I find browsing the internet more entertaining than Apple’s Sarafi mobile, as the Flash-enable browser makes viewing embedded video on CNN.com and CBS.com possible. Since most flash games are less than desirably, flash video playback seems to be one of the few leg ups on the iPad – the other, of course, being the price (if you can find one).
WebOS is a surprisingly good operating system. It’s more polished than RIM’s Playbook, hence email support, and likely to be sold to the high bidder when HP makes the move. But even though it’s a discontinued product, with short-term support by HP, it’s a steal for e-books, light web browser, and old fashion e-mail. Pursuing through the HP App Store you’ll find very few apps but the SNES emulator looks enticing if you can connect a Bluetooth controller, or a corded controlled through the micro USB port.
My original intensions were to buy the tablet for the hardware and install a ported version of Android. But playing around with webOS this past week, I find no need until Google releases source code for Honeycomb. The HP TouchPad will certainly tide me over until Amazon releases their reclusive 7” tablet later this year and possible a 10” early next year.
If you have an HP Touchpad, write me a note on your experience.
-Patrick
