HP Touch Pad
If you want to know all about the new HP Touch Pad and how it stacks up, you’re in the right place.
Now that mobile devices have become integral to our everyday lives, more and more people choose tablet PCs over laptops because they are simpler to use and have finally gotten to be basically as powerful.
The new HP Touch Pad seems like a good choice for several reasons, such as the fact that it’s the first tablet that does true multitasking and plays Flash videos right out of the box.
But before we get into more details of the research I did for this HP TouchPad Review, let me say that since there are several tablets out now, it pays to look at them thoroughly. Each has its strengths and weaknesses and only you can determine if the HP Touch Pad is the right choice for you.
We’ll take a good look at the HP Touch Pad tablet below and consider its strengths and weaknesses so that you can decide whether it is the one you want. I hope you will find this review helpful for when you do make your choice.
Overview
The HP Touch Pad is the latest addition to the world of tablet PCs, and it certainly looks like a nice alternative to the iPad or Android tablets. Instead of simply mimicking Apple, HP made a point of developing a device with its own set of unique capabilites (you can see a walkthrough of what you can do with it in the video below).
For example, it’s the first tablet with true multitasking, which enables you to easily switch back and forth between different things you’re working on via touch-sensitive on-screen “cards”, without having to close one to get to another. I don’t know about you, but I almost always have at least a few different programs open at the same time, like email, a spreadsheet, and a web browser (with several pages open).
The TouchPad runs on the Palm WebOS operating system, which allows you to play Flash videos right out of the box, something no other tablet can do. If you watch anywhere near as many videos online as most folks do, you will like being able to easily watch them on the HP as soon as you turn it on.
The TouchPad also has a decent-sized screen — a 9.7-inch LCD panel. The display is clear and bright and seems quite easy to read, plus it has good, crisp resolution. It would probably be a good idea to get a screen protector, however, as with any touchscreen device.
HP Touch Pad Specifications
For the tech fans who like to know all the technical details, here is a summary of the HP Tablet’s specs:
hp touch pad
* 9.7 inch capacitive touchscreen
* 1024 x 768 resolution
* 13.7mm thick
* weighs 0.72kg
* Dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor
* 512MB of RAM
* 16GB / 32GB internal memory
* 6300 mAh battery
* 8 hours of battery life
* 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera
* A-GPS, stereo speakers, gyroscope and an accelerometer
* webOS 2.1
* 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a SIM-card slot
* micro USB port
* Gorilla Glass screen for extra safety
* Video calling facility
* Beats By Dre audio to boost low bitrate CD rips
* Wireless charging facility
* Syncing facility with Palm Pre 3 phone
* Integrated IM and SMS
* Touch to Share feature to share web-pages from one device to another
* Microsoft Exchange email with Microsoft Direct Push Technology
Cons
Most of the complaints about the HP TouchPad seem to center around two things. First, some people think it’s a bit clunky (it’s about the same weight as the Motorola Xoom) and that the plastic is a “fingerprint magnet”. Of course, this is a matter of opinion and just about everyone who buys a TouchPad says that this complaint is overstated and points out that you can get a protective case for it that makes this issue irrelevant.
Second, there are not as many apps available for HP’s tablet as there are for the iPad. It’s worth noting, however, that a lot of people criticized the Android smart phones for the same thing when they first came out, but Android now has a ton of apps in the marketplace and are competing very well with the iPhone.
In addition, even though there are boat-loads of apps in the iPhone marketplace, a lot of them aren’t very good or useful, and there’s quite a bit of redundancy. HP does still have many choices in their app marketplace, and all the things you’re likely to want to do are possible with the approximately 300 native apps that already exist. Nevertheless, you’d have to decide for yourself whether you are willing to wait a bit for more apps and if the HP has enough apps to suit your taste.
There is a front-facing camera that is higher resolution than the iPad’s (though no rear-facing camera). One interesting feature of this is that you can make video calls on Skype right out of the box. This is a nice benefit if you want to stay in touch with your kids, parents, grandkids, friends, or “significant other” in a way that feels a lot more real than online chatting, phone calls, texting, or email.
In addition, it can accomplish many tasks wirelessly. Probably the most interesting example is the TouchPad’s ability to charge wirelessly with what HP calls the Touchstone Charger (optional). Of course it also has built-in wifi and bluetooth, and cellular network capability is being developed.
Another interesting feature that’s unique to the WebOs operating system is the Synergy function. This refers to the TouchPad’s ability to unite information from multiple sources into one interface. This means you can manage Gmail, facebook, and so on from a single interface.
Conclusion
All in all, the HP Touch Pad is a pretty nice device. None of the tablet’s are perfect or solve all problems, but the TouchPad offers a welcome alternative to the iPad or Android tablets. It does have a few issues, like the smaller number of available apps. But frankly, as this is HP and not some podunk off-brand, you can reasonably expect more and more apps to show up pretty quickly.
Who is this device for? Well, really anyone who wants an easily transportable mobile device that’s less of a load than a traditional laptop. In other words, anyone who appreciates the benefits of a well made tablet. Moreover, if you prefer to at least have more choices than just Apple or Android, HP has provided one. With the recent price drops, I would say the HP Touch Pad would serve your needs nicely.
| Which Touchpad Do You Like? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 816 Reviews Sale Price: $319.99 | 816 Reviews Sale Price: $273.79 | 291 Reviews Sale Price: $16.39 | |
| Availability | Usually ships in 1-2 business days | Usually ships in 1-2 business days | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| Brand | HP | HP | HP |
| Color | black | black | |
| What is it? | Brilliant 9.7-inch diagonal LED backlit multitouch display | Brilliant 9.7-inch diagonal LED backlit multitouch display | Lightweight protection for your HP TouchPad |
| What else? | Seamless multitasking with HP webOS 3.0 and essential productivity apps | Seamless multitasking with HP webOS 3.0 and essential productivity apps | Folds to hold your tablet at an angle |
| And... | Exclusive Beats Audio for studio-quality sound | Exclusive Beats Audio for studio-quality sound | Easy access to the headphone jack and on/off/volume buttons |
| Product Summary | Protect your HP TouchPad with this HP Case, which doubles as a stand for your tablet. When you’re on the go, this lightweight case helps keep your tablet safe from dust and scratches. Watch videos and type easily by folding the case horizontally or vertically to hold your HP TouchPad at an angle. This HP case also has convenient holes that give you access to the headphone jack and on/off/volume buttons on your tablet. Plus, you can charge your HP TouchPad without removing it from the case. Simply connect to the power charger included with your HP TouchPad or place your tablet in the optional HP Touchstone Charging Dock. | ||
| Anything else? | 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core APQ8060 processor | Blazing fast Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 1.2GHz processor | |
| Operating System | HP webOS 3.0 | HP webOS 3.0 | |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty. HP Care Packs available foradditional fee. | 1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty. HP Care Packs available foradditional fee. | |
| Size | 32 Gb | 16GB | |
(Links on this page are sponsored affiliate links. the owner makes a commission if you buy after clicking these links. The owner is not an bona fide user of this product, however has thoroughly researched it and provided his personal opinion only)
