Portmac North

Thoughts on HP Touchpad:

There is no doubt that 2011 will be “the year of tablets” pioneered with the iPad, and then followed by Android and webOS tablets (so far) looks that there will be a lot of options in the market. But one of them has captured attention like no other: The HP Touchpad.

This upcoming 9.7-inch tablet coming from HP-Palm could be the first real competitor for the iPad, mainly because (and unlike Android tablets) it has a more simple and polished user interface, Web Os has not only awesome capabilities, but also has better look and feel than Android honeycomb. The UI with cards and native multitasking really steps forward from what we have seen in tablets.

The Touchpad, has tremendous specs, with a 9.7 screen, Snapdragon dual core Cpu at 1.2 GHz and native Flash support, the touchpad not only positions itself above the industry standard iPad, but also above the other tablets on the market.

Web Os is very well implemented on the device rung smoothly, it also brings synergy and full integration with the Palm Pre’s ecosystem.

I have to tell that the touchpad came not only with great software and hardware, but also with a nice design. Compared to other tablets the touchpad is one of the best looking tablets, and in my opinion it only loses against the iPad (in terms of design)

Available until this summer, the touchpad will be facing a very crowded market, the upcoming android tablets leaded by the Motorola Xoom, and the second generation iPad, which will be some of the competitors, so we still need to see the reception of this device.

HP didn’t revealed any prices, but I expect to cost around 500-700 USD based on the 800 of the Motorola Xoom, but no one really knows.

So HP-Palm has really shown us something different today, the touchpad really is an awesome product which I expect to see soon, and see how it behaves with the new upcoming tablets.

For more information about the Touchpad visit: http://www.palm.com/us/company/events/