|
|
That at least should tell HP and everyone else something about WebOS and the tablet space. Somewhere in between is a price point that could have been a sweet spot for HP.
Having bought WebOS just over a year ago when it acquired Palm for upwards of $1 billion, it seems a shame that HP does not have the foresight to persist with the platform and use its market muscle to grab a good share of the tablet space, even if it has to be a loss leader.
The tablet format after all is not just a consumer device but will also figure heavily in the enterprise space where HP wants to focus its efforts.
From all accounts, the HP TouchPad is a pretty darned good device and HP, for instance, could have developed a strategy for inserting it into its enterprise deals in bundling arrangements, while selling it at more aggressive low margin prices for consumers.
Judging by the drop in HP's share price - 20% - the view is HP flagging a move out of PC and mobile hardware is a big mistake.
Meanwhile, if anyone happened to pick up a $99 TouchPad, your win is HP's loss.
