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On July 1, Hewlett-Packard finally launched its long-awaited TouchPad tablet. The device, like the iPad 2, comes with a 9.7-inch display. However, it has HP’s own webOS operating system running on it, making it one of the unique options in a market dominated by Apple’s iOS platform and a glut of Android-based tablets. Aside from that, HP is offering models with storage options of 16GB and 32GB, which retail for $499 and $599, respectively.
With the TouchPad now on store shelves, consumers and enterprise customers have the chance to decide if that tablet or Apple’s iPad 2 is a better purchase. For its part, HP has tried to distance its tablet from those comparisons, saying that it doesn’t view the iPad 2 as a real competitor. But as a tablet maker, it should, since consumers and enterprise customers will undoubtedly compare the two platforms.
When they do so, they will quickly find that Apple’s iPad 2 easily bests the HP TouchPad. On many levels, the iPad 2 delivers a more beneficial experience to any customer.
Read on to find out why:
1. App support
HP’s TouchPad launches with support for the company’s HP App Catalog, a marketplace for third-party applications. The only issue is, that App Catalog doesn’t have anywhere near the number of apps available to the iPad 2, which at last count, stands at 90,000. Since many consumers want to extend the usability of their tablets with third-party apps and considering the TouchPad will likely never catch up to the iPad in terms of available programs, those seeking software enhancements will want to go for Apple’s tablet.
2. Pricing
HP’s decision to price its 16GB TouchPad at $499 and the 32GB model at $599 surprised many industry observers. The TouchPad is coming into the tablet market as an underdog against an entrenched competitor. It would have made more sense if the company priced the TouchPad lower than the iPad 2, rather than in line with Apple’s tablet for the same amount of storage. By charging the same price as the iPad 2 for the TouchPad, HP is leaving itself no advantage to capitalize on customers who are on a budget.
3. Connectivity
Apple’s iPad 2 currently allows customers to connect to the Web via WiFi or 3G. HP’s TouchPad, on the other hand, only offers WiFi connectivity. HP says that the 4G-capable TouchPad will be launching later this summer, but until then the company’s tablet is at a major disadvantage. Tablets are mobile products, which means they need mobile connectivity. Leaving even 3G out of the TouchPad is a huge mistake on HP’s part that will hurt its tablet’s sales.
4. Where’s the display lead?
One of the easiest ways for HP to best Apple’s iPad 2 was through its display. Apple’s tablet features a nice, big, 9.7-inch screen. However, it’s facing off against competitors that have 10.1-inch displays. And as Apple CEO Steve Jobs himself has acknowledged, in the tablet market, big displays are important. However, rather than offer a 10.1-inch screen in its TouchPad, HP is delivering a 9.7-inch display. That makes the TouchPad seem awfully iPad-like, and when compared, it leaves HP with no advantage when it comes to the display. That could prove to hurt the tablet’s sales.
TouchPad Needs to Win Enterprise Customers
5. The best functionality comes with webOS smartphone ownership
A key feature in HP’s TouchPad is the ability to share content wirelessly. However, that’s only possible when users tap a webOS-based smartphone against the TouchPad. Moreover, the TouchPad will allow webOS-based smartphone owners to read and answer text messages from the tablet. All others are out of luck. Simply put, unless a consumer owns a webOS smartphone, they can’t take advantage of the TouchPad’s best features. And that’s quite unfortunate.
6. It falls short on mobility
Though the differences might seem negligible, HP’s TouchPad falls short against the iPad 2 when it comes to mobility. According to HP, its tablet is 0.54 inches thick and weighs about 1.6 pounds. The iPad 2, on the other hand, is 0.34 inches thick and weighs just 1.33 pounds. The device is rather large compared to its top competitor, and it doesn’t offer the same refined finish that customers are after. Design matters in the tablet market, and when the TouchPad is compared to the iPad 2, it falls short.
7. Where’s the rear camera?
In one of the most surprising moves on HP’s part, the company decided against including a rear-facing camera in the TouchPad. Instead, the device comes with only a front-facing camera. The iPad 2, on the other hand, has both a front- and rear-facing camera. Considering the importance of snapping photos with mobile devices nowadays, the exclusion of a rear-facing camera in the TouchPad is enough to make some customers scratch their heads.
8. Is webOS enterprise-ready?
Enterprise users will need to determine if webOS is ready for the corporate world. Though the operating system has been out for some time on smartphones, few companies have opted for webOS-based devices. With HP now trying to push its TouchPad on corporate users, IT decision-makers will need to determine if webOS is right for their operations. The only question is will they even take time to figure that out? As Apple pointed out in an earnings call earlier this year, many of the world’s top corporations are considering bringing the iPad 2 to their companies. Moreover, many small businesses have already adopted the iPad 2. In other words, the iPad 2 is becoming an enterprise favorite, and the TouchPad might simply be too late to the game.
9. It’s missing a 64GB option
Surprisingly, the HP TouchPad ships with just two storage options-16GB and 32GB. However, Apple’s iPad 2 has established the benchmark in the marketplace, and that device features storage options ranging from 16GB to 64GB. The more storage available on tablets, the better for buyers. A growing number of people around the globe are loading their devices with video, music and other content, and they need all the storage they can get. By offering just 32GB at most, HP is putting its platform at a major disadvantage.
10. It’s all about Apple
When it’s all said and done, HP is facing a juggernaut in Apple. The company has been able to appeal to consumers and enterprise users around the globe with ease. The iPad 2 has easily dominated all other devices. HP is a well-known and respected brand in its own right. But it isn’t Apple. And that alone could derail its TouchPad.
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