I've been a webOS fan since I first saw it demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show way back in January of 2009. It looked quick and responsive and promised easy app development using web standards. It also had the unheard ability (for 2009) to handle multi-tasking as easily as playing cards. Fast forward to June 2009 and I jumped on a Sprint Pré and absolutely loved it; its only problem was seeing my iPhone toting friends showing off how many apps they have to choose from. Over the years my Pré has been showing its age, so in February when the Touchpad and Pré3 were announced I was excited.
Well the Touchpad came out July 1 and the reviews weren't bad, but they weren't awesome either. HP also priced it at the same points as the iPad2, the undisputed king of the tablet market, and to me the Touchpad wasn't currently in the same league as the iPad. A friend asked me earlier in the week at what price would it take for me to get one. I said a $100 drop would make me seriously consider getting one. Well when Costco was showing the 32gb version at $579 ($20 off msrp of $599) with an instant $100 rebate I was seriously considering. Then, somewhere around the frozen food aisle, I remembered my $50 "early adopter" rebate HP offered me. So now we're talking about $170 off msrp! And I went back to grab the empty box, thought about it a little longer (a second, maybe 2) and in the cart it went.
My initial impressions? It is slightly heavier than an iPad, which wouldn't be bad, except it has a very smooth plastic finish on the back that makes me worried about dropping it. HP put their Beats Audio in this and I thought it was more a marketing gimmick. Turns out it actually does something; music sounds far better on the TouchPad than on anything else I've heard. It won't replace a home stereo but it handles itself just fine. webOs 3.0 is beautiful! Using the TouchPad takes me back to that first week with my Pré, where I was constantly amazed by all the little things it can do. Sadly, also like that first week on the Pré, I'm not impressed by the app selection.
The TouchPad would be taking the place of my aging first generation iPod Touch that primarily served as a music player and light web surfing. But the TouchPad has to do more, and already is. I am writing this entry using it, something I wouldn't even consider with the Touch. Basically I'm hoping it blurs the lines between what I do on it and what I do on my MacBook Pro. I'll be updating my blog with my impressions on the TouchPad, as I decide if it's a keeper or not.
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