HP: Our WebOS Devices Will be Similar to iPad

By Jane McEntegart
published

HP's plans for an iPad rival are still on track for the new year.

HP has already told us it will one day put WebOS on pretty much any mobile device it produces. However, despite the company's lofty ambitions, we've actually heard very little about its WebOS plans other than we can expect a tablet-like device early next year. This week the company spiced things up just a smidge by revealing their WebOS tablets will be "similar to the iPad."

Apple's popular iPad has been dominating the tablet market since it launched in April, and the post-iPad market has been filled with promises of slates from more manufacturers than we care to count. Some of the prototypes we've seen have been quite similar to the iPad, so it's no surprise to hear the folks at HP-Palm are planning their own slim-line slate.

Check out what HP's Peter Helm had to say about the company's tablet plans in an email to the Palm developer community:

"Now that we are officially part of HP, we are going full speed ahead with our applications initiative. Our proprietary operating system, webOS, is now the OS that will be used in HP's mobile devices. This includes mobile handsets as well as tablet-style devices similar to the iPad. We will accordingly leverage Palm's ability to innovate and the scale of HP's vast install base and distribution network previously unavailable to us."

It's not heart-stoppingly exciting stuff but at least we know HP is still planning to produce WebOS tablets. It could also mean that HP isn't planning on following Dell and Samsung into a market of tablets with displays that are a little on the small side (the 5-inch Streak and the 7-inch Galaxy Tab). What size do you think is optimal for a tablet? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Engadget

Jane McEntegart
16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • halodude23
    If it's similar to the Ipad, wtf's the point of making it???
    Reply
  • kelfen
    maybe to undercut the compitition this is if they make similar product for much cheaper price
    Reply
  • mikem_90
    halodude23If it's similar to the Ipad, wtf's the point of making it???
    They probably don't want Apple to be the only one with a hot item raking in big bucks. A cheaper one with a good interface that leads to an app store they control would probably make some good money if they can pull it off.

    With the Android type pads and others coming out, they want a piece of that pie too.
    Reply
  • justjc
    My guess is that they just realized that most tech reviewers don't understand the concept of a tablet unless you say iPad. It's sad really...

    Hopefully they don't mean they will launch an underpowered tablet that lacks support for the most used technologies of the web ;-)
    Reply
  • braneman
    I don't see any uses for the ipad, it doesn't have much of a higher resolution screen than a netbook(1024/768 vs 1024/600) its slower, and it doesn't support flash or even have a keyboard, you can even get a lenovo netbook touchscreen and keyboard for less.
    Reply
  • applerocks
    branemanI don't see any uses for the ipad, it doesn't have much of a higher resolution screen than a netbook(1024/768 vs 1024/600) its slower, and it doesn't support flash or even have a keyboard, you can even get a lenovo netbook touchscreen and keyboard for less.
    But what if you wanted a device that wasnt bulky, made of cheep plastic, and had a short battery life. What if you wanted something very light for lightweight browsing, and watching video on.... The Netbook sure wouldnt be the right choice.

    You've missed the whole point of why the iPad is successful, and that is MOST consumers (not Tom's readers) want a very simple easy to use device, to surf simple web pages, read their email and watch a show or two, and the iPad is a PERFECT fit for that. This is why Apple is selling millions of them per month, not because Steve Job's is a ninja assassin mind controlling everyone with hypnotic drugs.
    Reply
  • XD_dued
    ffs I don't see whats the big idea with tablets, especially the ipad. With ios it can't do anymore than the iphone can, and its too big to be truly portable.
    Reply
  • vant
    Because you can easily mount an iPad onto your car dash, and a netbook can't (not easily at least)?

    Because you can use the 10 hour battery in a 1.5lb form factor?

    Because a netbook is dreadfully slow, and an iPad has a matching CPU/GPU/OS package?

    Because multitouch makes sense in a mobile product, than a touch pad and a keyboard? You can use an iPad while walking. Using a netbook while walking is cumbersome.
    Reply
  • yyk71200
    vantBecause you can easily mount an iPad onto your car dash, and a netbook can't (not easily at least)?Because you can use the 10 hour battery in a 1.5lb form factor?Because a netbook is dreadfully slow, and an iPad has a matching CPU/GPU/OS package?Because multitouch makes sense in a mobile product, than a touch pad and a keyboard? You can use an iPad while walking. Using a netbook while walking is cumbersome.A typical netbook has a superior CPU (such as Atom which is comparable in computing power to Pentium 4). So you cannot call it dreadfully slow. Also netbooks are also light and some have a similar battery life.
    Reply
  • dEAne
    Hope it will work.
    Reply