OFFICIAL: HP TouchPad price-cuts come to Australia!

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 11 August 2011 12:44

Your IT - Mobility

After the announcement of official price cuts for the HP Touchpad in the US, following a weekend of temporary price reductions, and questions over whether HP Australia would follow suit, HP has announced an official TouchPad price cut at last.

Before publishing an article this morning entitled 'HP TouchPad US price cuts permanent - what about A(us)?', we did email a couple of HP's Australian representatives asking if any Australian price cuts would follow the US price cuts.

By the time that earlier article was ready to go live, and no responses had been forthcoming, the article was published unto the world wide web.

Then, about 20 minutes ago, an official HP Australia spokesperson responded to my email with the announcement that he could 'confirm the below change to the local pricing for the HP TouchPad', and continued with the following statement:

'HP continually evaluates pricing for its products and is pleased to offer a permanently reduced price on the HP TouchPad products effective immediately.

'Now consumers can have all the benefits of webOS -- multitasking, Synergy and Just Type starting price from $499 (inc GST). This move will help bring the HP TouchPad and webOS to a larger audience, benefitting consumers and developers.

'Two version for the HP TouchPad will be available in Australia:

HP TouchPad 16GB AU$499 (inc GST) RRP
HP TouchPad 32GB AU$599 (inc GST) RRP

'The permanent pricing action on the HP TouchPad is effective immediately in all consumer and commercial channels in Australia and supersedes previous pricing. The HP TouchPad will be available nationally from the 15th August, 2011.'

Now, while this is still more than the new US pricing of $399 and $499 for the 16 and 32GB models respectively, this is in line with the original price cut differences and now more in line with other US to Australian pricing differences.

Yes, we might have a stronger dollar, but taxes are higher in Australia (with our Government guaranteeing more and more and more taxes to come), wages are higher, transportation costs are higher, petrol is more expensive - there are many reasons why the costs of doing business are simpler higher in Australia - even if products are manufactured in the same Chinese factory.

Yes, it would have been nice to see HP match its US pricing in Australia, but at least HP's prices are now below Apple's official iPad 2 prices and more closely match Android tablets on sale at places like JB Hi-Fi.

It's something that will at least make the choice of going for the 'cheaper' Android tablet harder, as it is no longer $100 less expensive and $100 more compelling than it was yesterday, as it was when HP's launch pricing was still going to be $599 and $699 in Australia, respectively.

So, HP's TouchPad has been reduced in price, and will probably see more price cuts yet as retailers battle with each other to capture the largest slice of tablet sales, whichever tablets they happen to be, and as we get ever closer to Christmas.

At least at launch on August 15, a too high price won't be in the TouchPad's way against its competition, in yet another sign that a tablet price war is gathering steam in Australia - who'll be the first Android tablet maker to lower prices even further in response?

May the touchiest tablet, whichever that is for thee, win!