HP TouchPad webOS Australian release date

I’ve been watching with interest what HP is doing in the tablet area. There was an earlier, what I’d call a false start with the Windows 7 Slate, but once HP purchased Palm and their webOS operating system, it was obvious the focus for HP would be on its own operating system.

The following is a paragraph from the Palm blog and we can see Australia is well down on the list in terms of the release schedule.

The Wi-Fi version of HP’s first webOS tablet will be available in the U.S. on July 1, followed by the UK, Ireland, France and Germany a few days later and Canada in mid-July. And continuing HP’s phased rollout, webOS fans in Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore and Spain can expect to see HP TouchPad later this year... Read More

Whilst I am interested in HP’s webOS TouchPad, it will be interesting to see what HP brings to the table. For me, HP has an uphill battle ahead of it. I sell and support HP equipment, but it has never been because of HP software, but because of Microsoft’s Windows software. For me it would be a very hard sell to promote webOS to clients.

I do think HP has an opportunity but I don’t currently like their chances of success. However there is one thing that would appeal to me that would make me take webOS seriously, but I don’t know if HP could bring themselves to do it. I enjoy technology so you could call me a techo. My real bent is to deliver solutions to business rather than technology for the sake of technology. If HP made webOS available for older PCs for a relatively low cost (perhaps around $29.95), I’d seriously consider installing the operating system on older computers. That could give HP a foot in the door. A modern lighter operating system for PCs a couple of years old would appeal to me. I don’t think they can do it, but I’d encourage them to. In my opinion HP need to think different, if they don’t, I don’t like their chances of success. I wish HP the best of luck with their webOS.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au