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Topic: Hewlett-Packard

HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

Summary: HP woos new webOS developers by promising a pair of $150 TouchPads for those who sign up by November 18.

Gloria Sin

By Gloria Sin for The ToyBox |

Missed out on the TouchPad firesale in August, and have no interest in getting the tablet in a $280 bundle from Tiger Direct or the HP/Compaq computer bundle from Best Buy? You may have one last chance to get up to two 32 GB TouchPads for $150 if you're a "registered developer" in America, Canada and Europe who is willing to write some apps for the webOS tablet.

HP used to lend out 32 GB TouchPads to North American developers for up to 60 days at a time but that program has been replaced with this "TouchPad Device Purchase Program." I guess the company decided it might as well make some money on webOS developers who will need the devices for their work, especially considering there are still consumers hunting for a budget-friendly TouchPad (or two).

Developers need to sign up with HP by Friday, November 18 to receive your coupon to purchase up to two $150 32 GB TouchPads (€150 in Europe, includes VAT; £130 in the UK, includes VAT) by November 27 or until supply lasts.

As a TouchPad owner, I'm all for more developers coming on-board to come up with new apps for the platform, so I take this as a good sign for webOS' future. What do you think?

[Source: webOS Developer's Center via Woot]

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Topics: Hewlett-Packard, Apps, Software Development

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12 comments
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  • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

    I saw this, maybe it isn't webOS they had an issue with, maybe it was the touchpad itself and the future might see a better tablet.
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

    • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

      @Peter Perry <br>You've been paying attention. Trying to determine rationality or seek consistency within HP the past couple years is an exercise in brain pain.<br><br>As far as learning important lessons, I bet there are still mistakes on expense reports over there.<br><br>Even though heavily discounted, there is still inventory. Developers who take a TouchPad and do not put write apps don't have to give it back or pay the balance. I could go and sign up tomorrow and get the discount: it is not a reward for having committed to the platform. HP will take a loss on the device.<br><br>Beyond shedding inventory, I think the idea is to increase the numbers of signed-up developers so as to make WebOS a more attractive purchase.
      DannyO_0x98
      Reply Vote

      • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

        @DannyO_0x98
        You've got a nice point there about distributing these to make WebOS an attractive purchase. It's good that they at least are trying to give their assets some value here and a chance with some other company. It would be a shame for a nice platform with such potential to die without a fight.
        stevechavez@...
        Reply Vote

  • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

    I really am upset with you HP. I have a HP laptop and Desktop. I wanted a Touchpad, but you sent an e-mail out saying there was no more. Now you find some to give away and for Best Buy to have some. So long HP, hello Dell
    masterchief1
    Reply Vote

  • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

    In a stunning development designed to counter HP's tablet initiative, Apple has started to sell the original white iBook laptop to developers at the unheard of low Apple purchase price of $149.00 dollars. By undercutting HP's tablet device MSRP point, Apple hopes to intice developers to write apps for OS 8 based computers.
    kenosha77a
    Reply Vote

  • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

    Yes please, more apps for my Touchpad!
    boomchuck1
    Reply Vote

  • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

    Just checked, Touchpad is sold out on the website.
    No more developers coupons available.
    rkmoray
    Reply Vote

    • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

      @rkmoray

      Well, so much for my plan to get two and never write an single program...
      cowboys2000
      Reply Vote

  • webOS is dead

    These touchpads will be nice win8 devices :-)
    archangel9999
    Reply Vote

    • RE: HP entices developers with $150 TouchPads; there is hope yet for webOS?

      @archangel9999 - Maybe not. There are still WebOS people out there somewhere. They just have to buy it from HP cheap. Then they will get rich, and HP will realize another colossal mistake they made.
      Hameiri
      Reply Vote

  • Am I the only one?

    Am I the only one who thinks that maybe, just maybe, HP ran the fire sale on the Touchpad to flood the market with some WebOs devices at a loss to kick start the platform in the tablet market?
    dmeguy
    Reply Vote

  • ynlfblz 22 sep

    eqvuxs,niuvsihz91, vdwkv.
    cmakrejktt3601-24379059833394840513750383658938
    Reply Vote
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