HP TouchPad (16GB) Review

The good: The HP TouchPad uses Palm's unique WebOS interface and delivers Adobe Flash-enabled Web browsing, Beats audio enhancement, and impressive compatibility with third-party calendar, messaging, and e-mail services.

The bad: The TouchPad has a thick, smudgy design, offers no rear camera or HD video capture, includes a limited app selection, and its unique cards system of multitasking isn't as fully utilized as it could be.

The bottom line: The TouchPad would have made a great competitor for the original iPad, but its design, features, and speed put it behind today's crop of tablet heavyweights.

HP could have taken the easy way out. Like many computer manufacturers today, HP could have easily jumped on the Google Android bandwagon, lobbed out a Honeycomb tablet, and called it a day. Instead, through hard work and some key acquisitions (most notably Palm), it set out to create an entire ecosystem of mobile hardware and software that could truly rival Apple's.

The HP TouchPad is one result of this effort. In a tablet market that is more or less split between Apple and Google, the TouchPad offers a refreshing alternative with a distinctly different take on how these types of devices should work, and how users interact with them.

Priced at $499 (16GB) and $599 (32GB) with no option (yet) for cellular data service, the HP TouchPad isn't priced like an underdog. It has the app catalog of an upstart, though, with a selection of native tablet apps that numbers in the hundreds and around 8,000 WebOS apps in total.

Is the TouchPad the perfect option for those fatigued by the iPad's app-centric tablet, or did HP miss its mark? Let's have a look.

Design
While the TouchPad's WebOS software is inspired and unique, its design is quite the opposite. Half an inch thick and wrapped in high-gloss plastic, the TouchPad's look and feel share more in common with a kitchen cutting board than the svelte designs of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 or iPad 2.

To be fair, the TouchPad's construction feels solid and worthy of HP's reputation for quality. It's the thickness and choice of materials that's throwing us off. After a few minutes of handling, the slippery plastic backing feels like a plate at a pizza party.

The HP TouchPad looks the part, but the plastic construction doesn't feel great.

We suspect HP's choice of materials has something to do with the TouchPad's special Touchstone inductive charging dock ($79), which uses an electromagnetic field to transfer power through the back of the tablet. Still, a textured finish like the one found on the Asus EeePad Transformer, would have gone a long way to diminish the ick factor. Sorry to be so fickle about the TouchPad's feel, but there's no way around the fact that tablets are handheld devices. This stuff really does matter, and frankly, not harping on it would be a disservice to all the great tablets out there that get it right--from the iPad all the way down to the Barnes & Noble Nook Color.

HP does nail down some of the standard design elements, such as the dedicated buttons for screen lock and volume control, along with an ample (though somewhat invisible) home screen button. Two slim speaker grilles are found on the left edge, making them unlikely to be covered by your hand while holding the tablet in landscape view. A standard headphone jack is located on the top edge, and a Micro-USB port is located on the bottom for charging and syncing.

Related links: TechRepublic's business perspective
• HP TouchPad leapfrogs rivals in productivity
• Three areas where HP TouchPad trumps the iPad
• Teardown of HP TouchPad

The choice of using a broadly compatible Micro-USB port is both refreshing, and surprisingly short-sighted. With so many of today's tablets making use of their dock connections for video output and other accessories, HP seems content to leave those features for version 2.0. On the upside, it's very easy to find a replacement charging cable.

We should also note that the TouchPad lacks a hardware switch for the screen rotation lock. The rotation lock function can be activated using a simple pull-down menu, but given the device's sensitive accelerometer, a dedicated switch like the one on the Acer Iconia Tab or iPad would have been more satisfying.

Features
Beauty is more than skin deep, and those desperate for new flavor of tablet may be willing to overlook our aesthetic gripes. You want to know if the TouchPad can deliver the goods--so here you go.

In terms of hardware, the TouchPad runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 1.2GHz processor and comes with either 16GB or 32GB of RAM. There's no option for memory card expansion. The front panel is a 1,024x768-pixel resolution capacitive display blessed with multitouch and connected to a graphics chip capable of rendering 3D graphics. Your location can be approximated using the integrated Wi-Fi (802.11n), but no GPS is included (though later models with wireless cellular data may offer it).

Another feature missing from the TouchPad is a rear-facing camera. Now, we take the camera criticism with a grain of salt, since the idea of capturing photos or videos on a tablet still feels absurd, even under the best circumstances. Still, it's nice to have the option, and it's one more spec the competition can point to.

You do get a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front, but good luck finding a use for it. Even with the stock messaging app synced with our Skype account, it was unclear how to initiate a video call. A task as basic as taking a self portrait seems impossible using only the preinstalled software. Our vanity may never recover.

To more practical matters, the TouchPad's core features revolve around the five main apps tucked in the home screen dock. These include the Web browser, e-mail, messaging, photos, and calendar.

The TouchPad's Web browser is clean and capable, but it is surprisingly not the standout feature we were hoping for. It's based on the WebKit engine common to most modern browsers and includes Adobe Flash compatibility right out of the box. Videos on YouTube play with no extra app required, and most Flash-heavy sites display with none of the missing plug-in icons we're used to seeing on the iPad. That said, the browser itself feels a little slow to load pages and we've seen Flash integration and playback handled better by devices like the BlackBerry PlayBook. Common browser preferences, such as pop-up blocking, cookie and JavaScript disabling, and cache clearing are all available from an intuitive pull-down menu. Missing are the bookmark folders, private browsing modes, and bookmark syncing found on iOS and Android.

The TouchPad's ability to triage e-mail is one of its standout features. During setup, the TouchPad prompts you to enter any and all of your e-mail accounts, including Gmail, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo, and more.

The TouchPad is an impressive tool for e-mail.

A three-pane view follows, which allows you to view your accounts, e-mail list, and e-mail preview all in a single view. E-mail replies pop out of the three-pane arrangement as a new window floating above your inbox, where it can be addressed immediately or toggled behind your inbox to deal with later. It's a distinctly different approach to e-mail than you'll find on the iPad, and one that better resembles the desktop computer method of multitasking and window juggling. For us, it's a natural fit, and composing e-mail and managing multiple inboxes feels intuitive.

Thank you :
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/hp-touchpad-16gb/4505-3126_7-34499289.html#reviewPage1
http://techalife.com/news/HP-TouchPad-%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81-1-%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%8E%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%89-%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A1-499
http://www.thaiware.com/news/news_detail.php?id=653&title=Tablet%20%B9%E9%CD%A7%E3%CB%C1%E8%C1%D2%E1%C5%E9%C7%201%20%A1.%A4.%20%B9%D5%E9%E0%BB%D4%B4%B5%D1%C7%20TouchPad%20%E3%AA%E9%C3%D0%BA%BA%20WebOS%20%A8%D2%A1%20HP
http://newsinabox.net/1569/new-hp-touchpad-pro-and-cons.html
http://www.widemagazine.com/content_detail.php?cont_id=994

http://www.siammono.com/hp-%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7-touch-pad-wifi-%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97/android/

Get an Acer Iconia 10-inch Android tablet for $299.98

Been eyeballing a tablet? There are some pretty spiffy new models hitting the streets right now, most of them powered by Android Honeycomb. Alas, prices start at around $400--less than what you'd pay for the low-end iPad 2, but still pretty steep.

If you have a Staples store near you, you can save $100 on nearly any tablet using this printable coupon. Yowza! That translates to some of the best tablet prices anywhere.

For example, the Acer Iconia A500 10-inch Android tablet sells for $399.98, but when you stroll in with your coupon, you can walk out with it for $299.98 (plus sales tax, natch).

Update: Just got back from Staples. I'm sorry to report the Iconia A500 sells for $449.98 in-store, so unless you find a store manager who's willing to price-match and honor the coupon, $299.98 isn't an option for that model. Also, I was told the Nook Color is technically an e-reader, not a tablet, so that's a no-go. Best bet without a doubt: the Dell Streak (see below).

Update #2: As always, readers are smarter than I am. It's possible the in-store price I saw on the Iconia was in need of updating. In other words, it should have been $399.98. In any case, I'm informed that Staples stores will indeed match Web-site pricing (unless it's an online-only deal, which this isn't), so the $299.98 price for the Iconia is still on!

Likewise, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer costs $399.99, but it drops to $299.99 post-coupon. Or how about this: the Dell Streak 7-inch tablet, normally $299.98, for $199.98? Of course, you can always splurge on something like the $499.98 Motorola Xoom, taking it home for an unheard-of $399.98.

The coupon is limited to in-store purchases, and there's no guaranteeing which models your local Staples will have in stock. I'd call first before making a trip--and if they have what you want, ask them to hold it for you.

One other thing: the coupon isn't good for Kindle or Nook e-readers (though it doesn't specifically exclude the Nook Color, which would be awfully sweet at $149), or for the HP TouchPad.

The coupon is valid through July 30, but with savings like this, I suspect Staples stores will quickly sell out of most of their tablet stock. If that happens, ask the manager about a rain check. And see if you can finagle that Nook Color for $149, because that would be just plain awesome.

Bonus deal No. 1: Couldn't get the store to sign off on the $149 Nook Color? Here's the next best thing: Barnes & Noble is selling refurbished Nook Colors for $199 shipped. B&N's refurbs look and act like new, and they're covered by a full one-year warranty.

Bonus deal No. 2: How about a couple new lowest-price-ever deals from Apple? You can get a refurbished Mac Mini for $469, or a refurbished MacBook Air for $749. Both prices include shipping and a one-year warranty.

Find more deals, coupon codes, and bargains on CNET's Shopper.com.

Thank you:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13845_3-20081008-58/get-an-acer-iconia-10-inch-android-tablet-for-$299.98/#ixzz1SjpS2bSo

Jon Rubinstein sends message to HP staff; Addresses TouchPad reviews

In an internal email sent out to HP staff, Jon Rubenstein (Senior Vice President and General Manager, Palm Global Business Unit) has reached out to his employees to address a growing concern from the reviews of the HP TouchPad (read ours here), reviews that say the device is too slow and laggy, that the number of apps available just aren't enough, and that the hardware is not up to par with the competition. But it's those same reviews, he says, that line up with what HP believe is true and talk about "signs of greatness" for the device (from David Pogue at New York Times).

It is clear that HP, all the way up to the former CEO of Palm (and beyond) are reading the reviews from people in the tech world, and Rubenstein let his staff know that OTA updates are on the way soon to address a majority of complaints that are found in those reviews. At the end of his memo he compared the review of the TouchPad and webOS 3.0 to another company that he is very familiar with; Apple's Mac OS X received the same criticism from the same critics just 10 years ago, and now the company is on top in a way that is nearly unreachable. Rubenstein says, HP's webOS is in the same position now, and has a lot of greatness ready to push it forward.

Click through the break to read the entire email from Rubenstein. With the amount of effort that has been poured into marketing and building the tablet device (which was started one year ago), we'd like to think that Rubenstein's words will ring true over these next few weeks. Though, there's no doubt about it, we'd love to see these updates come sooner, rather than later.

Team,

Today we bring the HP TouchPad and webOS 3.0 to the world. The HP team has achieved something extraordinary – especially when you consider that it’s been just one year since our work on the TouchPad began in earnest. Today also marks the start of a new era for HP as our vision for connected mobility begins to take form - an ecosystem of services, applications and devices connected seamlessly by webOS.

If you’ve seen the recent TouchPad reviews you know that the industry understands HP’s vision and sees the same potential in webOS as we do. David Pogue from the New York Times says “there are signs of greatness here.” (I’ve included links to David’s review and others below.) You’ve also seen that reviewers rightly note things we need to improve about the webOS experience. The good news is that most of the issues they cite are already known to us and will be addressed in short order by over-the-air software and app catalog updates. We still have work to do to make webOS the platform we know it can be, but remember…..it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

In that spirit, Richard Kerris, head of worldwide developer relations for webOS, reminded me yesterday of the first reviews for a product introduced a little over ten years ago:

"...overall the software is sluggish"

"...there are no quality apps to use, so it won’t last"

"...it's just not making sense...."

It’s hard to believe these statements described MacOS X - a platform that would go on to change the landscape of Silicon Valley in ways that no one could have imagined.

The similarities to our situation are obvious, but there’s also a big difference. Like David Pogue, our audiences get that webOS has the potential for greatness. And like me, they know that your hard work and passion, and the power of HP’s commitment to webOS, will turn that potential into the real thing

Team,

Today we bring the HP TouchPad and webOS 3.0 to the world. The HP team has achieved something extraordinary – especially when you consider that it’s been just one year since our work on the TouchPad began in earnest. Today also marks the start of a new era for HP as our vision for connected mobility begins to take form - an ecosystem of services, applications and devices connected seamlessly by webOS.

If you’ve seen the recent TouchPad reviews you know that the industry understands HP’s vision and sees the same potential in webOS as we do. David Pogue from the New York Times says “there are signs of greatness here.” (I’ve included links to David’s review and others below.) You’ve also seen that reviewers rightly note things we need to improve about the webOS experience. The good news is that most of the issues they cite are already known to us and will be addressed in short order by over-the-air software and app catalog updates. We still have work to do to make webOS the platform we know it can be, but remember…..it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

In that spirit, Richard Kerris, head of worldwide developer relations for webOS, reminded me yesterday of the first reviews for a product introduced a little over ten years ago:

"...overall the software is sluggish"
"...there are no quality apps to use, so it won’t last"
"...it's just not making sense...."

It’s hard to believe these statements described MacOS X - a platform that would go on to change the landscape of Silicon Valley in ways that no one could have imagined.

The similarities to our situation are obvious, but there’s also a big difference. Like David Pogue, our audiences get that webOS has the potential for greatness. And like me, they know that your hard work and passion, and the power of HP’s commitment to webOS, will turn that potential into the real thing.

Interview: HP says Apple is not TouchPad’s target

HP’s TouchPad tablet hits stores tomorrow, and while the device is being compared to Apple’s iPad 2, an HP executive told The Loop that’s not its target market.

In an interview with The Loop, Richard Kerris, HP’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, said that HP is focused on more than just the TouchPad.

“It’s not just about the tablet,” said Kerris. “It’s about the OS, the ecosystem and connecting devices like phones, printers, tablets and computers together.”

Kerris explained that once you setup a webOS profile, it’s always with you. Calling webOS “a true cloud initiative that’s functioning today,” he said that webOS’ Synergy will seamlessly sync calendars, emails, photos and other files, across all of your webOS devices.

“These are the subtle things, but they matter so much to individuals,” said Kerris.

Of course, Apple’s iOS 5 and iCloud will have the same types of features when it’s released in the Fall, but for now, webOS has this functionality as part of its core. Apple is also making other changes that webOS already does. For instance, the initial setup of the device.

“We’re the tablet that when you take it out of the box it doesn’t ask you to connect to something to get started,” said Kerris, referring to the need to plug in an iPad to a computer.

However, the early reviews were not glowing for the TouchPad. Responding to the mixed bag of reviews, Kerris said that the things mentioned will be fixed with over-the-air updates.

“As long as you have a plan, you’ll be fine,” said Kerris.

One of the advantages that Apple has over its competition is the developer community. However, Kerris said that interest in webOS has been high from new developers. In fact, he said, in the past 45 days more than 400 developers have attended one or two-day webOS workshops in California. Kerris noted that the workshops are already booked over the summer.

HP acknowledged Apple’s dominance in the tablet market, but said Apple wasn’t its target with the TouchPad.

“We think there’s a better opportunity for us to go after the enterprise space and those consumers that use PCs,” said Kerris. “This market is in it’s infancy and there is plenty of room for both of us to grow.”

HP’s views are totally different than most of its competition. From Android tablets to RIM’s PlayBook, tablet makers have entered the market with the intention of dethroning Apple.

HP seems to have a saner view of the situation.

“We think the world of Apple and have the utmost respect for their products,” said Kerris. “It would be ignorant for us to say that we are going to take it [the market] away from Apple.”

Of course, the another advantage that Apple has over its competition is iTunes. The integration of music, TV shows, movies, apps, books and other media gives Apple a lead in the market when attracting new buyers. But maybe not for long.

HP said they would also have stores that offer many of these media options to its customers.

If there is one thing that was clear speaking with Kerris it was that HP is focused on more than just launch day. They have a plan.

The company’s plan doesn’t just include the TouchPad, but will integrate printers, phones, computers and other devices, all running webOS. This will be the core of HP’s strategy going forward.

With a growing developer network and a high volume of shipping products, HP is looking towards 2012, 2013 and beyond, not at tomorrow or next week. Many companies, including RIM have already proven that short term goals don’t work, so it will be interesting to see how HP’s works.

While I haven’t used webOS 3.0, I have used older versions of the OS and liked it. This, in addition to its long term strategy, should be enough to give HP a strong position in market.