Did HP just kill the tablet market with their WebOS?

[Dangerer]

I thought the iPad had a much lower build cost than other manufacturers... mostly because of the great supplier contracts that Apple has in place. With that, they may be able to build a smaller tablet that's far cheaper (say $250-300).

I agree and I think $250-300 is right around the right price I would pay for a quality tablet. I don't expect Apple to release one in that price range though since that would put it in the same price-range as their iPod Touch.

 

[Nintendesert]

I know that this 99 and 149 price range made me pull the trigger. 599 and 499 is too expensive for a little dinky device like a tablet. To hell with that. What it's done is drive down my expectations of what these companies can sell them for, I'm tired of the large margins Apple enjoys on these.

 

[Scarpozzi]

We probably would have bought an iPad 2 or 3 (for the wife), but because of this sale, I picked up 2 Touchpads so my wife and I can both have one. I figure @ $185 total, it's worth the risk of us not using it and we can ultimately sell one of them if they turn out to be too slow or never get Adroid OS.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I just got an iPad 2
Because I'm: better than you


.... I like poetry

 

[sdifox]

I just got an iPad 2
Because I'm: better than you


.... I like poetry

more like you are a bigger sucker :sneaky:

 

[bfdd]

I know that this 99 and 149 price range made me pull the trigger. 599 and 499 is too expensive for a little dinky device like a tablet. To hell with that. What it's done is drive down my expectations of what these companies can sell them for, I'm tired of the large margins Apple enjoys on these.

they are losing tons of money with every sale, such a steal. Compared to all the others I have spent a day with it ranks pretty high. If you thought the iPad was heavy you would feel the same about this and even though it has a plastic shell it feels quite durable. The screen is super responsive, blows pretty much every android tab away and easily as good as the iPad. Screen is bright and crisp, but the gui does do a weird thing with certain fonts that just doesn't look right. So far I am incredibly impressed. If they had been able to move these at 250-300, they would have the first real iPad competitor imo. The gui just blows everything else out of the water.

 

[0roo0roo]

The lowend market just got destroyed. And forget the Android Honeycomb tablets. Sales were poor before but now Tegra2 Honeycomb tablets are dead. Samsung and the retailers will end up with million plus "10 Honeycomb Galaxy Tabs. There's going to be bloodbath in Android honeycomb tablet market and things can snowball quickly. I really think even Apple will be effected by this. This was intentionally done by HP.

no chance, the folks going for ipad 2 aren't even thinking about these pads, which is why they failed. that these got dumped at firesale prices has zero effect on the apple market. these things are slow and now a dead end with no support, how is that enticing for ipad buyers?

as for setting pricing expectations, nope either, the competitors have had a hard time lower pricing against apple, the only way to match these prices is to do the same, burn your company and lose a ton of money, so claims about apple over pricing are pretty far off. the only thing that could be affected a little are the android tablets for the very very casual buyer who was barely interested in those either....i mean the really cheap folks that would never spend more than 200....those aren't customers that would be lost to begin with, they never were. everyone else would rather get a no hassle honeycomb tablet.

 

[bfdd]

I don't know where you are getting slow from. This thing is snappy as hell. Not to mention I am posting this from it as we speak through the browser not a forum app. Why? Because there is mo need for it I can use this site to the fullest on this device.

 

[rudder]

It's calculated HP has burned through ~300,000 of these things this weekend.

As far as it killing other tablet sales, yeah, for right now, but honestly $99 is impulse buy territory, and a lot of folks will be disappointed in them, the reviews aren't good. Look for them to show up used for $75 soon, most won't port Android to them, most won't tweak them to make them a bit faster. They may well decide they want a better tablet come Christmas time

And people on ebay will be telling their friends how they got a $399 touchpad for $250! They always seem the last to know.

 

[Nintendesert]

they are losing tons of money with every sale, such a steal. Compared to all the others I have spent a day with it ranks pretty high. If you thought the iPad was heavy you would feel the same about this and even though it has a plastic shell it feels quite durable. The screen is super responsive, blows pretty much every android tab away and easily as good as the iPad. Screen is bright and crisp, but the gui does do a weird thing with certain fonts that just doesn't look right. So far I am incredibly impressed. If they had been able to move these at 250-300, they would have the first real iPad competitor imo. The gui just blows everything else out of the water.

I was just able to get a few at Amazon for $99 so I'm looking forward to playing with it. I read some of the tweaks and overclocking things you can do with it that makes the tablet fly. For $99 it made a good gift too.

 

[goog40]

I don't know where you are getting slow from. This thing is snappy as hell. Not to mention I am posting this from it as we speak through the browser not a forum app. Why? Because there is mo need for it I can use this site to the fullest on this device.

Have you spent any considerable time using an iPad? The difference in responsiveness is night and day when scrolling through a webpage. I put them side by side scrolling the same page at the same time and it's no comparison. The iPad scrolls in a fluid movement, while the Touchpad is choppy. For $99 it's an absolute steal, but let's not get carried away.

Also, from a physical standpoint there's a pretty big difference in size and weight. More than 50% thicker and almost 25% heavier. This might have had a chance if it was released a year ago versus iPad 1, but you have to question the sanity of HP in expecting anyone to buy these when it was initially priced the same as an iPad 2 and hitting the market 4 months later with little app support.

 

[Ichinisan]

We probably would have bought an iPad 2 or 3 (for the wife), but because of this sale, I picked up 2 Touchpads so my wife and I can both have one. I figure @ $185 total, it's worth the risk of us not using it and we can ultimately sell one of them if they turn out to be too slow or never get Adroid OS.

How did you get 2 for "$185 total?"

 

[lupi]

How did you get 2 for "$185 total?"

when they first went up with the new price on hp's site, you could also use some of their coupons on your order.

 

[Powermoloch]

while people complain that the touchpad is slow, but getting a device that can browse ONLINE including flash for 100 bucks + change is an absolute steal. Considering the material used at the expense of HP Lol

 

[fatpat268]

I said I didn't want it a while ago... well I caved when it popped up on amazon.

:\

 

[Modelworks]

they are losing tons of money with every sale, such a steal. .

They aren't losing anything. That is about what it cost them to make. I can buy all the components in bulk and it comes to about the same cost. When you hit the 10K+ qty for parts , things like touch screens become $5 items.

 

[Modelworks]

I know that this 99 and 149 price range made me pull the trigger. 599 and 499 is too expensive for a little dinky device like a tablet. To hell with that. What it's done is drive down my expectations of what these companies can sell them for, I'm tired of the large margins Apple enjoys on these.

It really would surprise people if they knew what the cost was on a lot of the things they buy. I never would pay over $200 for an ipad or other tablet, there just isn't enough hardware there to justify it. When you break it down into the parts and what they cost in bulk it doesn't add up to a 300% markup.

 

[goog40]

They aren't losing anything. That is about what it cost them to make. I can buy all the components in bulk and it comes to about the same cost. When you hit the 10K+ qty for parts , things like touch screens become $5 items.

Hahaha, wow. I guess that explains the $100 million loss HP took to clear out their inventory

 

[Modelworks]

Hahaha, wow. I guess that explains the $100 million loss HP took to clear out their inventory

They didn't lose anything. If you think that HP would choose a $100 million loss when they have no need to you need to take some business classes.

I have bought electronic parts in bulk for over 10 years for corporations. It gets ridiculous how cheap things are when you buy in large quantity.

 

[0roo0roo]

They didn't lose anything. If you think that HP would choose a $100 million loss when they have no need to you need to take some business classes.

I have bought electronic parts in bulk for over 10 years for corporations. It gets ridiculous how cheap things are when you buy in large quantity.

i'm sure they lost plenty. if they were that cheap to make the apple competitors would have a much easier time competing.

 

[goog40]

They didn't lose anything. If you think that HP would choose a $100 million loss when they have no need to you need to take some business classes.

I have bought electronic parts in bulk for over 10 years for corporations. It gets ridiculous how cheap things are when you buy in large quantity.

Oh okay. So HP lied to their investors by telling them they would lose $100 million when in reality they aren't losing any money on the Touchpads. That makes much more sense. Thanks for the lesson Mr. Buffett.

 

[Narse]

I remember reading somewhere that the Touchpad cost HP more than 200 to make. I will see if I can find a link.


Edit, was more than 200.00

16GB 306
32GB 328


http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/07/03/isuppli.gives.hp.touchpad.an.early.cost.breakdown/

 

[Capt Caveman]

I don't know where you are getting slow from. This thing is snappy as hell. Not to mention I am posting this from it as we speak through the browser not a forum app. Why? Because there is mo need for it I can use this site to the fullest on this device.

Snappy? You mean having to wait for an app to open on the Touchpad? When on an iPad, the app instantly opens up?

 

[bfdd]

Have you spent any considerable time using an iPad? The difference in responsiveness is night and day when scrolling through a webpage. I put them side by side scrolling the same page at the same time and it's no comparison. The iPad scrolls in a fluid movement, while the Touchpad is choppy. For $99 it's an absolute steal, but let's not get carried away.

Also, from a physical standpoint there's a pretty big difference in size and weight. More than 50% thicker and almost 25% heavier. This might have had a chance if it was released a year ago versus iPad 1, but you have to question the sanity of HP in expecting anyone to buy these when it was initially priced the same as an iPad 2 and hitting the market 4 months later with little app support.

I don't know what you are talking about, the speed is blazing fast compared to the lot if android tabs I have used and similar to the iPad. The ui is significantly better and I don't have to have a neutered web browsing experience. I would never pay 500 for a tablet, but I would have paid 250 for this. I don't think any tablet is worth 500. Btw still rocking over 40% battery life and someone has had their hands on it all day. My rooted nook color has terrible battery life so this is a nice change.

 

[Modelworks]

I remember reading somewhere that the Touchpad cost HP more than 200 to make. I will see if I can find a link.


Edit, was more than 200.00

16GB 306
32GB 328


http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/07/03/isuppli.gives.hp.touchpad.an.early.cost.breakdown/

The prices in that article are wrong.
right now prices for the processor are $11 not $20. The screens are $29 not $68 , flash is $11 not $23. Looks like the prices they quoted were 1K units and HP isn't buying in that small amounts.

I added up before deciding on whether to buy one and came up with 16GB cost of $89 and 32GB cost of $128. Hp isn't dumb and didn't just pick those prices out of thin air. They know what their cost was and selling at less than cost would be actionable by stockholders when they had no reason to other than changing company focus.