The iPad claimed another victim in August.
Hewlett-Packard discontinued its flagship tablet, the HP Touchpad, and its operating system, webOS, after sales failed to meet expectations. A mere six weeks after the tablet was launched, prices were slashed from $399 to $99 for the 16GB model, and $499 to $149 for the 32GB model.
The decision was met with criticism across the Internet. Gadget website Gizmodo.com said the “world’s largest PC manufacturer quit,” and they should have fought back.
“Throwing in the towel six weeks after you release a product that you almost got right doesn’t cut it,” said Brent Rose, editor for Gizmodo, said. “It just shows a lack of alternative.”
But at $99, consumers may much prefer the Touchpad to Apple’s and Google’s alternatives. When the price was reduced, the HP Touchpad became an overnight sensation, topping Amazon’s best-sellers list for electronics and completely selling out at Best Buy.
So much traffic was directed at HP’s website, their servers buckled and several people who thought they had ordered a Touchpad received a cancellation e-mail.
Touchpads at brick-and-mortar stores also sold out quickly, with none available at Walmart, Target or Office Depot by the afternoon of Aug. 20.
While the buzz about HP’s decision is still all over the Internet, some students hadn’t heard about the cancellation of the Touchpad.
When speaking about tablet computers in general, Angela Leblanc, kinesiology sophomore, said she thinks they definitely have some advantages.
“It’s nice to be able to draw diagrams into your notes,” Leblanc said, “But in my opinion, the advantages and conveniences of tablets don’t outweigh the disadvantages of not having real ports or