Even at the $99 Price Tag, the HP TouchPad Fails to Impress
Aug. 23rd, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
A tablet-less friend of mine was one of the lucky few who scooped up a $99 TouchPad during HP’s liquidation weekend. But is the HP TouchPad a steal at $99? Here’s a quick little re-review on HP’s webOS tablet based on some solid hands-on play …
The Good (at $99):
- It’s a modern tablet with a modern web browser that does Flash.
- You can watch movies, read e-books and listen to your music on a nice 10-inch screen
- It’s cheaper than a 16GB iPod Touch, with many similar features
- Skype calls with just audio work great
The Bad (yes, even at $99):
- The TouchPad is prone to crashing and restarting itself for no reason. (This happened to me four times in 12 hours.)
- Lag is present everywhere, even with something basic such as using the Kindle app or switching the calendar view from monthly to weekly
- Skype calls with video are slow and full of pixelation
- The web browser lacks a basic scroll bar indicator
- Initial connection to a Wi-Fi hotspot took a solid 15 seconds
- The app store is small, with an even smaller selection of free applications
- It’s a discontinued device with little hope of future support
I agree, it may be a tad pessimistic. But after playing with the TouchPad side-by-side with my iPad 2, there’s honestly no comparison. The TouchPad has a plethora of quirks and hiccups that are quite simply awful. For example, if you accidentally create a blank photo album (e.g. “Vacation”) you cannot delete it on the TouchPad. You have to create the album as an empty folder on the TouchPad file system using a computer (e.g. new folder->”Vacation”). Then re-load the photo app, reconnect the TouchPad to the computer again and delete the folder you just made. Now it’s gone. Annoying. Other troublesome quirks include the inability to manage which backgrounded apps or windows should continue fully in the background. For example, If I put a browser window with a YouTube video playing into a card stack, it will continue to play, regardless of whether I’ve pushed the card to the back or the front of the stack. Flash videos will often cause the browser to crash, but the good news is you can turn Flash off. And this is really an incomplete list.
But, for someone like my friend who did not have a tablet at all, $99 seemed like a good buy. If your goal with the 10-inch tablet is to just browse the web and read, then you’ve found a really decent deal. But if you were looking to be productive in the slightest, look elsewhere. The TouchPad is not the tablet for working people or productivity-savvy individuals. Save your greenbacks and spring for something else, either Android or iOS, you’ll be happy you did.
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That was a truly awful review. Did you actually use it or did you already have your mind made up? To delete an album on your Touchpad it is a pretty simple process of clicking the edit button and deleteing your album. Nothing to it. And for your YouTube comment, do you not like the fact that the Touchpad actually multitasks without requiring to exit out of an application. I have not had a single issue with mine and I have used every tablet out there. If you’re going to write a review, at least put it through actual testing and not some biased run-of-the-mill review without even trying to figure the device out which is quite different than the iPad (which is what I assume you are using). Just saying….
Hi Erik,
Thanks for reading my review. I’m happy you enjoy your TouchPad. We have a lot of readers here who rely on their 3rd devices, so I try and steer them clear of what would be a hassle and what would be helpful. In my opinion, the TouchPad doesn’t meet the needs of a business professional.
I can assure you I used the TouchPad extensively. You seem critical of my comments on multi-tasking, but that seems more of a matter of preference, so I understand. But as far as the issues with the photo album, I can attest that there was no option to delete this malformed empty album.
As it serendipitously turns out, I learned today this is a bug with version 3.0 of webOS, which was fixed in version 3.02. But let me return to my argument: for a non-tech savvy individual, or a profession that needs a reliable device, this bug (among many others) can be frustrating right out of the box. (It’s well documented here: http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touchpad-tips-information-resources/288758-howto-force-remove-album-photos-app.html )
I have no reason to make up anything about the lag (which you didn’t respond to) or the fact that it rebooted for no reason multiple times, or the lack of a quality application library, or poor quality Skype video.
The bottom line is, for VARs, MSPs and ISVs, is that even at $99, the TouchPad is not a “must-buy” device.
It’s encouraging to see love and support for the TouchPad, it has some highlights, but there are too many things wrong with it for me to honestly recommend it to our readership, especially when there are much better options out there. (Galaxy Tab 10 and the iPad 2, to name a few)
I hope you see that in this sense, there was no bias. I have made it no secret that I was (and still am!) a fan of webOS, and you can find that sentiment in numerous webOS related blogs here at The VAR Guy.
Thanks again for reading,
-Dave
Sorry Dave, but I have to agree with Erik. It became apparent from your response that you hadn’t even applied the software update. I would suggest that you update the device, give it time to sync with all of your accounts, and then go back and use it for a few hours. Frankly, I totally disagree with your comment that “The TouchPad is not the tablet for working people or productivity-savvy individuals.” Again, I urge you to apply the update and compare the browser and email client to other tablets. Without the update, you might as well compare the device to an ipad that has never performed a software update.
Karl,
I understand and appreciate your criticism. I’ll reach out to my friend who owns the TouchPad and see if he can lend it to me longer. Last I spoke to him he told me that he had trouble applying the update within the TouchPad, with frequent errors of a lost connection, and was now having difficulties viewing his e-mail. They simply would not show any text after tapping on them. (He’s using GMail)
I still have to stand my ground. With or without software updates, the out of the box experience is not pleasant. Can’t say the same for the iPad. More importantly, are you saying that the iPad initially had this many issues on launch? On the contrary, a ‘non-updated ‘ iPad (which ran iOS 3.x) was not littered with numerous bugs on arrival nor did it require an initial fix to make it functional. This is a sign of sloppy planning on HPs part. There is no excuse for this, especially when this was HP’s moment to shine, stand out and compete. Nailing down the user experience and hardware to truly entice consumers is BEYOND critical when you enter a market you’re not innovating in, or offering something truly uniquely new and different.
(Let’s not forget the running webOS 3.02 bug list… http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touchpad/290035-official-webos-3-0-2-touchpad-bug-issue-tracking-9.html )
With a small application library and a likely diaspora of developers, again, I cannot recommend this tablet for business professionals. There is little hope down the road for continued support, both hardware and software side, that will make the TouchPad a worthwhile investment for a business professional who needs reliable, current and updated apps to make his or her day productive.
Issues I have had with lag, among other things, are not new, nor are they isolated. I understand many have an affinity for the TouchPad, so there may be some emotional attachment to the device, Palm and webOS, but consumers are not wrong when they vote with their wallets. If the TouchPad was good, even with version 3.02, why did it not sell after the initial drop to $399?
My views and reviews are not controversial or even from left field. The TouchPad is just simply not up to par with what else is out there right now. Again, I cannot recommend it for VARs, MSPs or ISVs who need something reliable and future-proof.
There are better options out there. Save your $99 and put it towards something better.
Thanks for reading,
-Dave
Suffice to say, all tablets will ultimately be beaten either by the iPad or the Amazon Kindle, depending on which unique function they are targeting. Nonetheless, it’s a real shame that HP are dropping out of the hardware market. Other than Apple devices, their physical designs are second to none.
bump on the software update, works well.
What options are there at the $99 price point? Or even $149? Even a Kindle or Nook cost more than the Touchpad, and are fairly limited in capability.
If you are someone considering getting a tablet, you probably have either a need or the tech savvy to know about updates for the firmware, OS, etc. That was the first thing I checked after getting my smartphone. Considering you didn’t bother checking for an update (and my opinion that most people buying tablets are either more knowledgeable about the technology or can afford to pay someone to help them get it running and updated) and went with the out-of-the-box performance, you’ve lost a little standing ground on neutrality for me.
You ask why it didn’t sell at $399 and after updates that fix issues, remember, the tablet was not even 60 days old yet. Unless it has Apple in the name, most tablets have had slow adoption rates. Even Android-based smartphones took quite a while to become popular since the iPhone was an option (and again, the Apple name) but now after being around for a while, there are more and more Android-based smartphones and a larger adoption rate of them since they are as or even more capable than the iPhone in terms of hardware, and have a virtually unrestricted app market, and T-Mobile and Sprint still have unlimited data plans, something the iPhone does not have. And 4G for the larger markets for all the 4G capable Android phones.
I know there are a lot of ifs in this paragraph, but don’t forget, developers are trying to create and release versions of the Android OS for the HP TouchPad. Given the specs of the TouchPad, if the developers create a working Android OS for it and is optimized for the HP TouchPad, it will be the greatest bargain since the first time DVD players hit $20.
I have little love for HP. I want to smash my HP printer a la Office Space, but for starting out in college and getting a full computer with monitor and printer for $350, it was a purchase I begrudgingly accepted. I still looked forward to the bigger things down the road, and upgraded as much as I could. We have lost this view into the future, and focus on the here and now and instant gratification. Yes, perhaps the iPad is easier right out of the box. But, there is much more potential with the Android OS possibilities. I’m slightly jealous of people who went out and got this deal, as I payed more for an Android tablet, and may have overpayed depending on the outcome of the Android Open Source Project.
Qwertyman,
1) There’s a difference between slow adoption rate and not selling. Very very different. The TouchPad was simply not selling. BestBuy wanted to send them back but HP asked them to hold on a little longer.
http://allthingsd.com/20110816/ouchpad-best-buy-sitting-on-a-pile-of-unsold-hp-tablets/
2) I’m all for putting Android on the TouchPad, I’m excited, even. I think for the TouchPad hardware to even survive past a year, it will need Android support because people will want newer and better apps, and webOS developers will have left the platform. But buying the TouchPad for $99 and banking on 3rd party or half-official ports to come to the device sooner than later are not exactly what I would call making a sound investment. That sounds more like a hobby.
3) Enough about the software update. Let’s just say, for arguments sake, the software update is like super-fast fairy dust that makes the TouchPad glow with loving joyful warmth while it levitates at your side and reveals mysteries about the nature of reality.
It doesn’t matter, because THIS IS THE BIG POINT that people seem to be overlooking:
I am reviewing the unit for VARs, MSPs and ISVs who are looking for something that will be a worthwhile investment for productivity and beyond. Buying an HP TouchPad for business purposes is NOT a sound investment in the future of mobile technology. Buying an iPad 1 refurbished for $299 is a better investment, because there’s a plethora of support and a thriving app ecosystem to work with.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB292LL/A
Buy an Android tablet has the exact same benefits. Thriving app ecosystem, plenty of support from Google and their partners.
The TouchPad is a gamble for many reasons, and at $99 is a toy for a few Internet follies at best.
Loving my TouchPad for my business.
“I think for the TouchPad hardware to even survive past a year, it will need Android support”
Let us know if you keep an iPad for more than a year. A year is a long time. If I get a years worth of business productivity out of my TouchPad, then that’s the best $99 I’ve ever spent.
No need to SHOUT and get your knickers in a knot!
I have had mine for two days and I have been putting it through it’s paces and comparing it with the iPad2. I am frankly mega impressed. This is a great tablet and the WebOS is a refreshing change from iOS and Android. It multi tasks brilliantly well and it is so easy to navigate from one app to another or even between multiple web pages. The app shop is very well thought out as well and there are a number of applications that are free. I have been using kindle and also a recipe application both work well and the downloading and installation was a snap. Very well thought out. It does everything I want. The email app is outstanding, Skype is integrated into the application and the Facebook application works well (haven’t used it too much yet). The web browser is a cinch to use and I like the card stacking idea which makes it easy to manage web pages.
Yes, it isn’t as snappy as an iPad but in just about every other respect is is better. If you think that poorly of it then I think you have a dud unit and that will influence your perception of the many good points it has.
I am happy enough with it that knowing what i know now I would have paid full price and would prefer this to an iPad. The iPad is supremely optimised and smooth but the dependence on iTunes sucks as does the application. It also isn’t as easy to manage or switch between apps as the WebOS. The speakers on the HP Touchpad are also superior.
It is just a shame that this happened but HP mismanaged the release of this product horribly. This WebOS is a breath of fresh air. It just works and does everything damned well.
Hey Everyone,
This is my last point: I love webOS. I have always liked it. I am not hating on it. But it’s the end of an era. It’s over. Android and iOS will reign for a long time to come.
I cannot, in good conscious, recommend to an SMB, VAR, MSP or ISV that they purchase a TouchPad simply because, even at $99, the device and application ecosystem will likely not support the customer as the years roll on.
I understand that if you “get a years worth of business productivity of of my TouchPad, then that’s the best $99″ you’ve ever spent, but that’s not the point. You haven’t made a real investment. You’ve posponed the inevitable. You’ve purchased a disposable device and will eventually need to make an actual investment in productivity technology (if you care to).
I know plenty of people getting more than a years worth out of their first gen iPads and their iPhone 3GSs (Apple is still selling the 3GS and it’s the 2nd best ranked smartphone in the USA http://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/22/iphone-4-and-3gs-rank-as-best-selling-u-s-smartphones/ ) The apps I purchased on my iPad are still good on my iPad, and on my iPad 2, and will be when the iPad 3 comes out.
Apps you buy on the HP TouchPad will be good until…?
Bottom line: Buying a TouchPad is buying into a dying ecosystem. Not a smart long-term investment for a business.
Hi David:
I love your idea of an ‘investment’. What a crock! I have a Macbook Pro 13 inch i5. It was bought May 5th for $1455AUD then sold to me for $1000 six weeks later. Apple Care, phooey! It may be carved out of aluminium but the fact is it is a disposable device. In 12 months there will be something better out and I will repeat the process. Once the product is out of warranty a system board replacement costs more than a new computer.
The iPad too will have a shower of new models meaning most people will want to trade up. Likewise if anything goes wrong out of the warranty period then throw it out, just landfill.
Everything these days is disposable and Apple are leading the charge to make damned sure you get the message.
The HP Touchpad is a remarkable gadget and it is a fantastic deal for anyone lucky enough to get one cheap. Who knows maybe someone will pick up WebOS, if not, most people will still be tickled pink using one of these babies.
Grant,
On the contrary, Apple has made it exceedingly clear they’re happy to support users of older technology. I’d point you to our previous article asking if Android devices have shorter longevity than iOS device.
http://www.thevarguy.com/2011/07/28/are-google-android-smartphones-and-tablets-too-disposable/
But to drive my point home a little harder: In 2005 Apple developed Rosetta just so that during the switch from PowerPC to Intel CPUs, Mac users who eventually upgraded to Intel CPUs could still use their PowerPC software. That doesn’t sound like a company who thinks disposable. That sounds like a company who values their customers and their customer’s investments.
The iPhone 3GS (at 14 months old) is slated for the iOS 5 upgrade. That doesn’t sound like Apple finds it disposable either.
Every piece of technology runs its course, but Apple has done a darn fine job of making their users happy for a long time to come.
I can’t comment on your MacBook pricing issues, but I can say that progress is inevitable with technology, but it’s how you spend your money initially that makes the time when you’re not in the business of upgrading worth while. That’s called making an investment.
I can, however, say AppleCare has been exceedingly generous to me, and people I’ve known. For instance, just last month they agreed to replace the shattered glass on a first generation iPad for free, even though my friend had blatantly dropped it. I have often seen Mac Geniuses take their time to maintain, update, or find the best way for a customer to repair, an out of warranty device, including old iPods and PowerBooks.
Wanting to trade in an old device is different than throwing it away in a landfill, but just because Joe Customer wants a new iPad doesn’t mean his old one serves no purpose anymore. Apple didn’t say they weren’t support it anymore, the customer just wants the latest and greatest.
This is all beside my points, which I have reiterated numerous times. A small business should not go out and buy all the TouchPads they can right now. They need to think about the future and webOS is not it.
I think that the problem here is that your review was based on a dud unit which is the exception rather than the rule but you can’t put the shit back in the horse.
It is a dumb argument though trying to say that $99 for a device of this quality is a bad ‘investment’. As I say the term ‘investment’ is laughable in connection with any device these days. Anyone who got even 12 months solid use out of this device will be laughing and many people will still be using their HP Touchpad for much longer than this.
I also don’t want to get in to the Apple debate too much except to say many people these days who use Apple devices still use windows for their main computer and there are many good reasons for this, cost and software availability being the main ones.
The sad thing is that Apple needs competition here and this WebOS would have delivered, but it got off to a disasterous start due to piss poor management.
As you can see from the comments, most people have been actually much more than just happy with their ‘investment’.
This HP TouchPad Review is for SMBs, VARs, MSPs and ISVs.
It is in no way intended as a buying guide for individual users who are looking for a good deal on a feature rich tablet. I’m happy individuals are happy with their purchase. That’s good. My conclusion of the article even says that, hey, go for it if you’re just one person. No one is in disagreement that $99 has brought joy and happiness to many a user.
It doesn’t even matter, as I’ve already explained, if the HP TouchPad I played with worked perfectly. Because…
This HP TouchPad Review is for SMBs, VARs, MSPs and ISVs.
With this framed perspective (as is the goal of many of our articles), the TouchPad is not a good investment for a company with a multitude of employees which plans on buying and deploying devices for them. webOS is hardly the platform to look to for the future, all on the single reason that, amid all the other issues which still persist despite a singular software upgrade (see the 3.02 bug list, above), the bottom line is that the webOS ecosystem is dying.
I wouldn’t advise FedEx to buy a fleet of trucks that a truck company was no longer manufacturing or supporting, just because they were cheap and ‘got the job done for a while’ and I wouldn’t advise a SMB to purchase technology that was no longer manufactured or supported.
David. I agree that a company who has to invest in infrastructure around the device would be well advised to stay away but that is probably stating the obvious. The iPad has a long way to go to be a business device though too. It is still more toy than tool. There is a big overlap too between personal and business use. There are lots of small to medium size businesses, some of whom run Windows server and Exchange and others who may not even use servers at all and whose needs are really consumer level and whom could buy an HP Touchpad without paying for additional software (and be quite happy).
If I were buying for a company with corporate level IT needs I would go for RIM products as they are tools rather than toys and have all the security you ever need built into them. Microsoft tablets when they come out are likely to be excellent products suitable for companies as well as for personal use. Employees (the ones not paying the bills) naturally want a multimedia entertainment device which is quite different. I know executives of some big companies and they are no different to any other consumer, security comes second to having a device that they can enjoy and still go about doing their work. If you are an IT manager though I guess you have to justify your decisions.
One of the problems I gather around the HP Touchpad is that they really didn’t nail the marketing aspect either. I guess they wanted their cake and eat it too (which actually sounds fair enough come to think of it…nevermind) and wanted it to be all things to all people. They would have been better to market it to businesses and develop accordingly. It is actually an excellent multimedia device but they would have been better to try to shift it away from an attack on the iPad which begged the inevitable comparisons.
Apparently you can improve the performance heaps by turning off its internal debug logging. Details here:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-news/how-to-improve-the-performance-of-your-new-hp-touchpad/3866
…. and you can overclock to 2 GHz from the 1.2…. then you run a review next to your ipad
…. for $99, actually…
hack it and put android on there. Problem solved
The performance isn’t really an issue. Like a lot of things, the differences are there but in use it isn’t a problem. Sure, if you put them side by side and compare them, the iPad is snappier but really performance isn’t a major issue on the Touchpad. The only issue I can see so far is that I can’t create a facebook album, I have to do this from my PC. It also uploaded photos to my ‘wall photos’. I can see them on my Touchpad Facebook but nowhere else. I am hoping for everyone’s sake that WebOS survives this. I am a software developer and I know how much blood, sweat and tears this all takes. When you get a lovely system like WebOS, it is like a death to see it go. The iPad for all it’s strengths is such a basic OS and so closed and restricted. This WebOS has vast potential and just so sad to see it go the way it has. This isn’t a geek eye point of view either. I’m just stunned the way it is so easy to use and navigate, it puts the iPad to shame honestly. The iPad is just a glorified smartphone whereas this is a genuinely useful OS ecosystem that has a lot to offer.