To use a sporting metaphor, PC maker HP is ‘trash-talking’ about its chances to beat Apple’s iPad. Viewed in light of declining PC sales, HP is also whistling past the graveyard.
“In the tablet world we’re going to become better than number one. We call it number one plus,” crowed HP Europe chief Eric Cantor. His handicapping of the Touchpad against Apple’s top-selling iPad was made in swanky Cannes. Maybe Cantor knows something we don’t. The PC maker is expected to sell just 2 million tablets this year, compared to 45 million iPads.
Analysts give PC makers little chance against the iPad, a Deutsche Bank expert predicting non-Apple entries face underwhelming sales. Despite such bleak projections, HP continues hawking its WebOS-based tablet. What? Haven’t heard of WebOS? That’s likely because Apple and Android are expected to dominate tablets.
When we start hearing such corporate puffery it usually one thing: the product hasn’t a chance. Consumers and companies vote with their wallet. So far, the election for best tablet is overwhelmingly in Apple’s favor. While such trash talking makes for great quotes, it will do nothing to change the market. Do you think HP stands a chance of becoming the top tablet?
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
133 responses to “HP Says Their New TouchPad Will Destroy The iPad”
Palm — er HP — has usually been spot on with it’s predictions…
Maybe if they market it as a sleep aid.
Yawn.
I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the TouchPad. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect it to get anywhere near becoming a market leading product, but if any tablet I’ve seen can take a sizeable chunk out of the iPad, it has to be HP. It has impressed me and a lot of others, however, knowing HP they’ll market it terribly, have useless ad’s running along with an abysmal campaign. But that shouldn’t detract from what looks like a really good product. I think quite a handful are becoming disillusioned with Apple’s inflexibility – the HTML revolution hasn’t happened yet, and the multi tasking on webOS is better. OK, there are a fraction of the apps, but to some I don’t think it will be a problem, so long as they price it competitively…
If HP makes there tablet like there computers or there printers. No, there is no chance.
Destroy? Not likely. Between their not-so great hardware (I like their printers though) and their HORRID tech support this product doesn’t stand a chance.
Oh, and good luck HP on getting LCD panels since Apple has most of them already!
Eric Cantor: Steve Ballmer with hair
Yawn.
LOL.
LOL LOL LOL.
I doubt it. If their PC ‘s are any indication of the quality, engineering and durability then this thing is headed straight to Overstock.com. And I would not buy it there either. HP has been a real disappointment.
Better than the iPad – not a chance. Better than any of the Hem(d)roid Tablets – Absolutely possible. WebOS is much more reliable than Android and it isn’t tied to the egomaniacal Google crap machine. The biggest benefit that WebOS will have is a “walled garden” environment. Apple has proven that this approach is MUCH more favorable with the normal market – Garage Geeks excluded. One Plus – no way, but One Minus is a possibility.
I really am looking into the HP touchpad. I think it has a real opportunity to make a impact. I don’t think that it will destroy the iPad, however I can see it becoming a viable alternative.
Th touchpad has the opportunity to be a device that really works well with cloud-based systems as well as allowing internal organizations more flexibility from a application integration perspective.
The iPad is a great device however, I don’t think it is the only device capable of making a real tablet impact. Although I love my mac and we run all macs within the organization I have already started evaluating a possible switch from my iphone to a Pre 3.We are now looking heavily at the HP touchpad.
So far every HP product I ever bought was crap. Nothing I bought even exists in my home because all of it was crap and broke and was thrown away. I would never again be duped into buying their crap ever again. Maybe if they called it a disposable tablet, kinda like kodak disposable cameras and sold for $4.99 at the grocery store and I was away from home and needed a one use product then maybe. Nah, even the disposable kodak cameras work when you really need them. HP crap.
So far every HP product I ever bought was crap. Nothing I bought even exists in my home because all of it was crap and broke and was thrown away. I would never again be duped into buying their crap ever again. Maybe if they called it a disposable tablet, kinda like kodak disposable cameras and sold for $4.99 at the grocery store and I was away from home and needed a one use product then maybe. Nah, even the disposable kodak cameras work when you really need them. HP crap.
WebOS is awesome. That being said, to see how the TouchPad will fair against the iPad, look at how Palm’s Pre did against the iPhone…oh yea, Palm doesn’t exist anymore. Sad to say that right now Apple is running a seasoned racehorse while all the other players are still trying to find a good breeding pair.
HP makes junk. And will continue to do so, far as eye can see. They have yet to put out anything that beats Apple at its game. The only thing TouchPad may “destroy” is the company HP itself.
Dreeeeam… dream, dream, dreeeeam… I guess RIM executives are not the only ones on pot…
HP Printers (particularly the LaserJet) have always been at, or near, top of the heap. I’ve have a LaserJet 4p for about 20 years. It finally broke in the last couple weeks (a spring-loaded hinge that had the “top closed” sensor associated to it). Going to replace it with a network capable LaserJet.
Next story….
LOL
Me too. Apple’s original inkjet and laser printers were actually HP printers with an Apple logo. I love HP printers and have used them for 20 years. Also, I have an original Apple laser printer bought in 1993 that’s still cranking pages out.
Since I was lucky enough to have a meeting with HP regarding the touchpad and got to play with one, this device will never beat the iPad in its current form. The software is horrible and the hardware is horribly engineered.
They may still have a chance. WebOS is a far better OS than Android or Playbook.
Their chances have been diminished by the one year (or more) wait after HP bought them out, and the fact that many shameless copies of WebOS like Playbook have debuted in the interim.
Even though they invented most of the metaphors used, people are likely to say that WebOS “looks too much like Android/Playbook” when it finally arrives.
Web OS lacked any decent content on the Palm Pre, what have they got to offer now?
Spoken like someone with about two years experience under their belt. Overall, and over the length of the companies existence, HP has an absolutely stellar reputation for hardware actually. They have always been top of the heap in terms of the quality of their printers, regardless of whatever your recent experience with one of their products might have been.
HP’s big flaw is their corporate culture which kills almost any innovative idea they come up with and destroys anything creative they buy into.
The closest example is the iPaq, which was made by Compaq in the 90’s and was at the time was a top selling, “best of the best” product when it came to PDA’s. HP bought Compaq to “get in the game” for PDA’s (because the whole field caught them by surprise), which were as hot back then as the mobiles are now.
Then they delayed for about a year and six months while just shovelling out the same iPaq but with “HP” on the side instead of “Compaq.” By the time they finally came out with their new iPaq product, it was too little too late. The new iPaq was only marginally different from the old one and within a couple of years of basically doing nothing, the iPaq product line was dead in the water.
From star of the show under Compaq to an also-ran under HP. The current situation with WebOS/Palm seems eerily similar to me.
Parallel structure only works when you use the correct “there”. Anyways, their printers are actually good.
WebOs its amazing! and if there is anyone out there to challenge the Ipad, then that is the HP tablet. on tablets, i’ll go with the HP, im sure is not gonna let me down like the droid ones.
I have an iPad and HP Laptop so I’m not an Apple fanatic yet and there are millions more like me out there. So if they come up with the goods then who knows. I’m guessing they won’t though and even if the do are they ever going to be as good at ‘spin’ as Apple are, I very much doubt that.
You got it half right!
It is Steve Ballmer in disguised! “with hair”
Perhaps HP should work getting their computers back to number one before they take on the iPad…they better have some pad if they are going to compete.
if it’s anything like their laptops it’ll be overheating and broke after 6 months of use. apple loud and proud
I personally would feel ashamed to walk around with a non-iPad tablet… People will see me as the poor guy who got second (or third lol) best.
iPad = tablet
Everything else are expensive toys.
I was a huge HP fan for years…but after buying an iPhone in 2008 then after winning an iPad in 2010 I have just recently switch entirely over to Mac, and all I can say is Mac is so much better than HP/Microsoft/web os…why did I wait so long…oh, yeah…I hated being poor, but now its easier to be poor with computers that actually work and do things.
It depends. The thing that’s in HP’s favor is that they too can design the whole widget. However, WebOS has the issue of developer desire. If they can convince developers to code apps for it at product launch, then all is well. Also, HP has to hit the price points just right. If that works out, then all is well. If not . . .
It all comes down to the apps. I just recently traded a Samsung Focus for an iPhone 3G. I had to go back to an iPhone. WP7 is nice, but the apps are HORRIBLE. So it comes down to the quality and quantity of the apps.
This is called “Bet your job” clown boy…. Hope you got a back up…
I was/am a fan of HP. I think they do many things well. My first really nice PC was an HP that I bought at a regular store (rather than buying parts and putting them together) and this computer lasted a LONG time (in computer terms). It lasted me for over 5 years. Pretty impressive these days. I also have HP Printers/All in Ones, and they have always worked well.
That being said, I agree with many others who are saying Apple is Ahead of the game and established in the market now- no one can compete with them, I feel.
“corporate puffery it usually one thing:” Do you mean “corporate puffery it usually means one thing:”? Just letting you know so you can fix it.
Palm the company doesn’t exist. but that has nothing to do with Apple. To say Palm the company failed because of the iPhone is to say that the HTC is still here because they beat Apple.
WebOS is amazing and i know i used the Pre for a while until switching to the EVO. No tablet will beat out the iPad for one reason. THE CULT OF JOBS. People will buy what he says and will purchase regardless of whether they need.
How many screen leaks have been reported on the Xoom? How many camera problems on the Asus Transformer? exactly, but people wont buy them because they don’t have a bitten into apple on the back. Enjoy your snack, im sucking on the honey.
No jbach67, not destroy. I seriously doubt someone at HP used that word. “Destroy” was just the word Ed Sutherland used to get as many Apple fans to read this little blog of his, so he can ultimately make more money. The fact that I’m even writing a comment will further help Sutherland make more money still. It’s pathetic, and I’m pathetic for helping to encourage Sutherland to continue to stretch the truth (i.e. “lie”).
This kind of hype sounds similar to how Xoom and galaxy were supposed to blow iPad away. But then at a strategic moment (Mar 11, 2011) Apple introduced iPad2. Apple is well aware of all the various issues that so many of the negative fanbois are flapping their gums about. Apple will likely introduce new capabilities at another strategic moment.
Apple has the infrastructure in place and millions of product (that is in super high demand). I think that HP would like their title statement to happen … the proof is when they finally intro their vaporware.
Obvious troll is too obvious
The cult of Jobs does not explain why people such as myself, who have never bought Apple products before, consciously chose the iPad over the competition. It might have more to do with the fact that at the time of the iPad 2’s release, there was no competition. None.
At least in the UK, no serious competition was forthcoming for some time afterwards. Even then, the effort made in marketing them was virtually non-existent. That said, when I finally got to play with a Xoom, there was a lot to like. Unfortunately, it got off to a poor start by having a screen that looked poor in comparison (mainly in terms of colours looking washed out) and freezing on it’s home screen at one point. The lack of apps at the time was also off-putting. The Transformer looked better but was even further off. I do not doubt that the balance will shift somewhat as Honeycomb matures and it gets more app support, but it is naive and unfair to write the success of the iPad off as nothing more than Apple fanboy sheep following the shepherd Steve Jobs.
As for how many faults have been reported with them, I would counter by asking how many have sold. Incidentally, it is funny that you should mention light bleed as I have seen reports of this on the Transformer as well. No product is immune to faults and teething troubles in new releases happen. That said, I got a dodgy iPad 2 on the first attempt but do not regret persevering and the replacement is just fine.
These PC makers keep embarrassing themselves. They kill themselves just to stay 2 years behind Apple.
Hmmmm. I’ve tried the other tablets. I haven’t found one that matches the iPad….yet. I don’t give a crap what logo is on a piece, but the bar is set pretty high. If something doesn’t provide the same or better user experience, it’s not in the game. Will they ever catch up? Probably, but not if they think the difference is just in the logo.
anyway. no plural
Ouch, got me. :)
Printers? Aren’t we talking about tablets?
SHOW!! Don’t TELL!!
As much as I enjoy being a fanboy, I’ve been looking forward to a new Palm OS since about 2001. I will actually consider the Palm against the iPad. But this was just stupid.
All HP had to do was to say TouchPad is the best. Period. Instead, he tries to trash talk the iPad. Why? I’d be REALLY happy if I could become the strong number 2 seller in the market, and it would probably pump HP’s stock 25%. By claiming he’s going to be #1-Plus(!), this is already a failure for HP.
How many O’s are there in “stupid?”
Another executive trash talking Apple to save their jobs. Whose next?
You lambast people for buying iPads just because it is an Apple product but you then finish you comment with a reference to Honeycomb which clearly shows you are also a fanboy…just a different company.
The reality is that iPad 2 is still better than all other tablets which individually have their own problems and combined have fragmentaion and poor selection of apps.
Many people do not care about Apple or Steve Jobs but clearly still want the iPad 2 due to the perception and reality of product quality and app selection.
In addition, it is obvious that Honeycomb is struggling to stand on its own merits. Even Google at Google I/O had to continue to poke fun at Apple. Its obvious that they are relying on anti-Apple sentiment to sell its own products rahter than rely on the quality and usefullness of its own products. Google has its own floors and continues to become more like Apple every day as they chase more money by selling more ads.
Remember, if you are given a free product then YOU are the product that is beingsold and the more they know about the product the more they can charge. Its reaally a choice you need to make.
WebOS is really the only serious contender for polished user experience against iOS. Of course, without beautiful devices of quality and a developed marketplace with the consistency and ease of Apple, I hope HP isn’t holding its breath. This may take awhile to gain any traction.
thats a huuuge gauntlet to trhow down, lets just say we hope your bites as good as your bark
If HP prices the TouchPad at $399 and manage to get developers to create 100,000 useful apps for WebOS by launch day, then maybe it will give the iPad some competition. In other words, no chance in hell!
I will buy another tablet
if it works just as good,reliable, and secure as the ipad
but won’t have crashing apps, slow downs, hiccups,
same quality apps+games
yet a much better app store because Apple’s store totally sucks to browse
People are always Interested in WHAT people buy. Just ask yourself WHY people buy the iPad. Then you will understand why there won’t be any competition other than wannabees.
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that’s what they all say.
I’m going to assume they mean the huge stack of soon to be unsold Touchpads should they tip over on top of an iPad….
I only feel embarrassed for all the people that recognize this but fail to capitalize by shorting the stock of Apples competitors.
Was it an early build? I played with a playbook 1 month before it came out and it was far from a finished build. Though it doesn’t matter, even if it is activated by brain waves it won’t matter at this point.
So you’re the guy that is deforesting the planet.
If you are so much better than first place that you have to make up a number to show how awesome you are, you destroyed the competition.
This tablet won’t even come close to that.
I like HP. My printer is awesome. Considering how awful my old PC from them was (it deleted everything on my computer about once a month due to the fact HP shipped it out with the wrong software), I’ve kinda forgotten they make PCs. So I certainly wouldn’t go investing in a tablet from them. Especially when there’s no way they’ll match the app store.
Put it in a case and no one knows what you have
they need to have a successful tablet to raise the money for everything else.
at the moment they are being kept alive from ink sales from all the printers Apple stores hawk for them with that printer rebate. But considering how easy it is to go weeks without printing, that ink can last a while
I will wait and see what this new Touchpad looks like. I just hope that they don’t make the same mistakes they did last time with the very reduced production number and the closed lines. Half their stock taking 3 months from order to shipping couldn’t have helped.
ANd yes I’m laughing that they didn’t have the balls to actually say ‘ipad’ but went with that lame ‘number one plus’ schtick.
“knowing HP they’ll market it terribly, have useless ad’s running along with an abysmal campaign”
which means no one will look at it and even if it has the same power as a full sized desktop (and a 3.5 i7 quad core at that) with an OS that can read your thoughts before you are consciously thinking them AND has every app anyone could possible want with Flash and porn, it won’t sell.
And in the end it’s not about how great your product is but how great it sells (and isn’t returned a week later).