HP TouchPad
Specifications
Price comparison
Average of 13 scores (from 25 reviews)
Reviews for the HP TouchPad
Source: Ubergizmo English Archive.org version
The HP TouchPad did not stand up to expectations, so much that it died before getting a chance to be improved. We express our deepest condolences to the Palm team who invented the brilliant webOS user interface. Besides a less sexy design than the competition, the major roadblock for consumers to purchase it (at a $500 price point) is the severe lack of applications, and we all know that now, the value is in the software. The PlayBook is facing a similar challenge, that is why RIM recently decided to unify its mobile offering under one single Operating System. Unfortunately, Palm has never been able to grow a developer community that produces great apps in quantity. The theory under which using “web technology” (HTLM+Javascript) would do just that has failed with a loud bang. In fact, native technologies now dominate the mobile app landscape.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/25/2011
Source: logicbuy Archive.org version
video review
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 08/09/2011
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
The HP TouchPad is the most worthy competitor to the top-of-the-tablet-heap Apple iPad. There's room for improvement, but webOS 3.0 has the secret ingredient that iOS has always had, and that Google's Honeycomb still seems to lack: It's fun and simple to use. "Cards" and "stacks" are a fresh approach to not only multitasking, but organization, and HP's Synergy allows for useful integration of files like photos, grouping together your various collections from Facebook and the tablet's photo gallery itself. It remains to be seen whether the nascent tablet space will mimic the MP3 player category and eventually dissolve except for one strong leader, or if the realm of tablets is merely emerging and has yet to fully take shape. The HP Touchpad reminds me of the Microsoft Zune HD ($219.99, 4.5 stars) in that it is a very solid device, but may be too late to the game. We've already seen two iPads, and the third will likely arrive sometime around the TouchPad's nine-month birthday. Can HP convince developers to make enough meaningful apps for the TouchPad to help the tablet reach its full potential in the following nine months? I hope so.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/02/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Trusted Reviews Archive.org version
When all is said and done, the HP TouchPad is a hard sell. It retails for the same price as Wi-Fi only iPads of the same storage capacity yet it's less robustly built, heavier, lacks a rear camera, is slow and has a vastly inferior quantity of apps to choose from. Its interface does have some great features, its powerful speakers are a boon, and it's more open customisable nature will appeal to those not wanting to be confined to the Apple way of doing things. But if we wanted to go for something that isn't an iPad, we'd opt for one of the Android tablet competition, which are better-established and offer greater choice.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/26/2011
Rating: Total score: 60% price: 60% performance: 60% features: 60% mobility: 70% ergonomy: 70%
Source: V3.co.uk Archive.org version
HP's tablet brings a fresh option to the tablet market. The TouchPad has a nice design but is too thick and heavy compared to its rivals. WebOS is a smooth operating system with great multi-tasking capabilities, but currently has a poor selection of apps. Although we like the TouchPad we'll have to admit that the iPad 2 is still king of the tablets.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/26/2011
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Techspot Archive.org version
It also wouldn't hurt to pull a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 move and scrap this tablet design to come up with one that is thinner, lighter, and just a better option when placed next to the likes of the iPad 2 and slimmer Android tablets. But until then, the TouchPad is just another also-ran in the tablet category as the iPad continues to dominate the market and capture the public's attention.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/20/2011
Source: It Pro Archive.org version
Once there's a decent Office document editing suite in the App Catalog and some of the glitches are ironed out, particularly in the calendar, HP's TouchPad could be the tablet to beat. Until then however, we'd recommend waiting until these issues are resolved before considering a roll out. If you need to roll out a tablet now, the iPad 2 is still our top pick.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/18/2011
Rating: Total score: 67%
Source: Reg Hardware Archive.org version
But though the TouchPad has many qualities, and would have made a great iPad rival a year ago, today it's too behind-the-curve at too high a price to thoroughly recommend.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/18/2011
Rating: Total score: 75%
Source: PC Pro Archive.org version
It’s a real shame, because while webOS is sorely lacking in apps and needs an update or two to fix performance issues, there’s no denying the core of the OS is at times wonderful. The interface is let down by a lot of things around and on top of it, and that makes the price tag look too high. Buying into webOS at this point is a risk for consumers, after all, and HP would do well to remember that
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/12/2011
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 67% performance: 67% features: 83% ergonomy: 83%
Source: Student Buying Guide Archive.org version
Obviously there are a number of tablet options out there right now, so why would you buy the TouchPad over a competing device? For one, I like the webOS 3.0 a lot and think it is very easy to use, the learning curve is almost non-existent it’s so intuitive. I also like the fact that the whole setup process is easy and there’s no need to associate your TouchPad with a computer if you don’t want to, other tablets do insist on that which kind of negates the point of using the tablet to replace a PC or Mac if you so choose. The micro USB port which is used for charging and connecting to a computer is great, I’m glad HP didn’t use a proprietary port as now I can use the same cable for several devices. If speakers and audio matter to you, the TouchPad is the best tablet out there for that. The design of the TouchPad is nice, but there are some faults and I don’t think it’s top of its class in the design department. Overall the TouchPad is a solid tablet option if you’re in the market for a tablet, but you do have to put some faith in the fact the app selection will grow in the HP App catalog as it’s just not robust right now and lags competitors. What’s in the app market place now is all high quality and there is no bloat of frivolous and useless apps, so that’s a good thing. Hopefully HP keeps a tight control of making sure only quality apps are released into the market as I think the race should not be for “more” but rather “better” apps and to me that would help the TouchPad stand out in a different way.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/11/2011
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
It remains to be seen whether the nascent tablet space will mimic the MP3 player category and eventually dissolve except for one strong leader, or if the realm of tablets is merely emerging and has yet to fully take shape. The HP Touchpad reminds me of the Microsoft Zune HD ($219.99, 4.5 stars) in that it is a very solid device, but may be too late to the game. We've already seen two iPads, and the third will likely arrive sometime around the TouchPad's nine-month birthday. Can HP convince developers to make enough meaningful apps for the TouchPad to help the tablet reach its full potential in the following nine months? I hope so.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/30/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: T3 Archive.org version
HP's TouchPad is a brilliant first entry from HP in to the tablet market. It is slick, intuitive, powerful and looks stunning. It is also very well priced against the competition to give HP and edge. The apps is has are very limited for now but we're hoping it will be supported by developers and sells like hot cakes.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/30/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC World Archive.org version
I'll be keeping an eye on HP's over-the-air updates, and if the company addresses some of the launch issues, I'll update this review accordingly. Until then, the TouchPad will be a tough sell in comparison with Apple's dominant iPad 2, and even with the nearest Android rivals. Great-sounding audio output, a clean interface design, and the ability to print will not alone sell the TouchPad.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/29/2011
Rating: Total score: 50%
Source: Slashgear Archive.org version
None of those middling advantages are likely to help HP in its biggest test: encouraging developers to take webOS seriously. The recent confirmation that talks to license the platform are ongoing could well do more for it, if HP can get a sufficiently big name onboard. We hope it can, since the biggest shame of all is that, thanks to webOS 3.0, the HP TouchPad offers one of the best tablet experiences around, and we can see many would-be tablet buyers missing out on that while the platform keeps its marginal status. Uninspiring hardware, perhaps, but we’ll happily look past that based on webOS’ charms.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/29/2011
Source: Wired Magazine Archive.org version
There is, of course, the problem of the mobile music service. In and of itself, the TouchPad’s music app is fine. It functions well, and the user interface is unobtrusive. (Read: not fugly.) But consider what the others are offering: Google’s Music Beta allows wireless streaming to any device running Android version 2.2 and above, free of local storage. Apple’s upcoming iCloud requires that you store your files locally, but you can wirelessly sync any iTunes data you already own to your iOS devices from its cloud servers, though it doesn’t do this automatically. Getting music onto your TouchPad is USB-only, and an HP-backed cloud service isn’t exactly in the cards for the near future.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/29/2011
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Stuff TV Archive.org version
If the App Catalog was anywhere near as well stocked as either the Apple’s App Store or even the Android Market, many of these niggles could be overlooked as teething troubles and personal preferences, but at this stage it’s difficult to see where the Touchpad fits in. Still, we like it a lot, and you might like it even more. If you’re a Palm phone user you almost certainly will.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/28/2011
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Trusted Reviews Archive.org version
All told, it looks very impressive. Whether it will be enough to dissuade buyers from potentially cheaper Android tablets, or those with a few more physical features (like the microSD slot and a rear camera) is something that's a bit early to call.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/22/2011
Source: It Pro Archive.org version
The TouchPad runs the latest version of webOS and HP should be patting itself on the back after acquiring Palm. HP has adapted webOS for a tablet incredibly well – the interface felt very smooth whether we were flipping through home screens, browsing the web or running applications. Five of your favourite applications are stored in a dock that sits at the bottom of the screen. If you want to close an open app, simply flick your finger upwards to push it away. Although this feature has been present in webOS since the very first version, it remains one of our favourite features.
video review
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/17/2011
Source: It Pro Archive.org version
HP revealed its contender, the HP TouchPad, last week but MWC has been one of the first chances to get a good look at the device. The 9.7in TouchPad runs webOS and links with the new Pre3 device, all thanks to the company’s acquisition of Palm last year.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/16/2011
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
On the whole, the HP TouchPad is probably the most interesting of all the tablet devices being demonstrated at MWC, but whether that will translate into the most sales later in the year is debatable. We remember the massive interest from journalists and analysts in the Palm Pre, which turned into very few sales to the general public as the iPhone and Android cleaned up. Hopefully HP will get its message across though this time, though, as the former Palm team (now the HP mobile team) has too many good ideas to go to waste.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/15/2011
Foreign Reviews
Source: Connect - 10/11
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 09/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 69% features: 57% mobility: 84% ergonomy: 73%
Source: Computerbild - 17/11
Single Review, , Medium, Date: 08/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 81% features: 83% display: 86% mobility: 75% ergonomy: 75%
Source: Connect - 4/11
Comparison, , Long, Date: 04/01/2011
Rating: features: 100% ergonomy: 80%
Source: c't - 17/11
display good, equipment satisfying, battery runtime satisfying, performance satisfying, apps bad
Comparison, , Long, Date: 08/01/2011
Comment
unknown:
These graphics cards are not suited for Windows 3D games. Office and Internet surfing however is possible.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
unknown: » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
9.70":
This display format is used for small tablets and a few very big smartphones (so big that they are rather tablets). This is for customers who want a small portable tablet with a display which is at least much bigger than usual smartphone displays.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.HP: Founded in 1939, the US company is a major server and printer manufacturer and one of the leading IT companies in the world. Until 2015, the company was called Hewlett-Packard Company. After a split, the computer division was renamed HP Inc.
In 2023, HP had an approximate market share of 22% of global PC sales, making it number 2 after Lenovo.
69.15%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.