HP TouchPad First Impressions

 

I wasn't one of the lucky few who were able to pick up one for $99, but I was able to acquire an HP TouchPad 16 GB with Wi-Fi for a bit more on eBay this week. I received the optional wireless keyboard and case/stand from Amazon this afternoon and now sit down to write this initial impression of the red-headed stepchild of the computer world. In case you've been hiding under a rock for the past month, or just didn't care, allow me to inform you of the latest bargain for those of you considering a tablet computer. 

 

Earlier this summer Hewlett Packard released it's own version of a tablet computer using it's own proprietary operating system, HP webOS, instead of opting to use Google's Android or a version of Microsoft Windows. The retail price of the base 16GB model opened at $499 which just happened to be the same price as the similarly equipped Apple iPad2 Wi-Fi. However, the recently deposed CEO of HP decided mere weeks into the TouchPad's release that it could not compete with the other tablets on the market and announced it's discontinuation of the product. So began the fire sale as HP slashed prices to $99 for the base model and $149 for the 32GB model. The retail chains who were promised reimbursement of their cost for hardware quickly sold out as did the online vendors. Needless to say HP was stunned as to how quick the tablets sold out. I say it is a no-brainer when a product has similar specs to the iPad2 for a fraction of the price!

HP announced that it will discontinue developing and supporting the webOS platform. This means that the HP App Catalog will eventually be out of business, thus ending the life of the tablet. But nay I say! There are mad scientists out there that have figured out to evolve the TouchPad and bring new life to it by installing the Android OS. This means access to the Google App Market and it's nearly 300,000 apps. Of course this is not nearly as much as a Apple's 500,000 apps, especially when you take into consideration that many apps at the Android Marketplace are specific devices and useless on the HP device. However, Android is a platform that is being actively developed and holds promise. The Android Marketplace is not as pretty and slick as Apple's App Store or HP's site, but it can help you get into the tablet game for a lot less if you can find one of these puppies on eBay. 

 

The project to install Android on the HP is only in the pre-alpha build stage, but the open-source method of developing it looks strong and should yield a usuable system within months. In the meantime, HP's OS has a lot to offer. Namely, it's virtual keyboard. This is something that Apple has struggled with and that you'll find no shortage of debate amongst iPad users. Simply put, Apple makes you use an extra step to access certain symbols, punctuation and numerals. HP found a natural way of integrating most of the above by keeping to the tried and true typewriter (see screenshot adjacent). One thing that might interest some of you that use web apps with your clients is HP's support of Flash and HTML5. Need a little positive re-enforcement? Try surfing to the Lego website to get your kiddo to let off some steam by playing the Flash games. Maybe your clients are little more mature and need a little distraction while you're working on neuromuscular re-education...surf to Hulu and roll an episode of Murder, She Wrote while you're posing their trunk or extremities. By now, I shouldn't have to explain how to use this device in the clinic. Just treat it like it were any other piece of equipment in your OT cabinet...that just happens to perform practically any function!