HP's webOS Reportedly Runs Significantly Faster on iPad 2 Than on TouchPad

[KnightWRX]

I just bought one myself (16GB). Anxious for it to get here and see how slow it actually is after the update they sent out. I figure if nothing else it can be a nice e-reader.

It's not so bad at all. It's now found its place on my kitchen counter, near the backyard door. I use it as a "waiting for the dog to come in" browsing device (ie, "I have yet to figure out what usefulness a tablet can have over my MBA"). My GF used it some yesterday around the fire I built in the backyard because her MacBook's battery had drained. She checked a few Facebook posts and stuff and went right back to her MacBook as soon as it had about 20% charge.

All in all, we're not really tablet people. I did download and install the SDK though, will play around with it, maybe even the PDK and write some good old SDL code (that brings me back!).

I guess we'll use it to dump pictures and carry around to family gatherings. It's always awkward using the iPhone to do that kind of stuff.

 

[MattInOz]

Exactly what went through my head what I read that.

I don't begrudge people having a platform-of-choice, but when you're talking in terms of destroying other platforms and companies, it gets a little childish. And besides, at least WebOS was actually trying to compete on its own merits and with a fair number of original ideas, instead of copying everything wholesale from other sources like some platforms I could name. To me, that makes WebOS's demise all the more unfortunate.

Yes if we learned anything from the last 20years we should have learned that mono-cultures are as bad for computers as they are for human cultures.

The most promising thing from the WebOS buy up by HP was the idea that they would use it to drive change in their business customer base and really break the back of OS monoculture in that sector. Which would have been good for everyone.

The move to kill it without ever trying to push it as a business device and also PC production makes me wonder if HP understands what it's strength was. It's kind of a sad day for technology.

 

[KPOM]

Yep, saw that a few minutes after posting, didn't take the time to edit my post, went straight out. Had to get the 32 GB model for 149$.

x2. I got one from HP's website here in the US, and even got a coupon code to work, so it wound up being $129 + tax. It took a while, but the order went through and I should have it sometime this week

The Enterprise sector ? Storage, networking, low/mid/high end servers, software and all the services, support contracts and consulting that goes with it.

That's where all their big profits are. HP is much more than a simple Dell competitor, they are mostly on IBM's level in the enterprise.

True, but the Street thought HP overpaid for Autonomy. While they have interesting technology (my employer uses it for our internal library/research system), much of their revenue growth has been through acquisition, so their organic growth potential is unknown. At the same time, announcing that they are both junking their WebOS hardware and spinning off their PC division before they have had a chance to prepare for it wasn't a great way to maximize the value of either. Given the demand for these things at $99, they might have tried seeing if a drop to $250 might have at least let them cover their costs while trying to find a buyer and potentially building a market for it. Now, WebOS might find its way onto ATMs or smart appliances, but not in anything with a serious margin. They practically admitted as much by writing off their entire purchase cost of Palm.

 

[coolspot18]

That is strange. I mean HP is good but the TouchPad failed because the design and the hardware of it was bad. I mean who makes a tablet thats glossy which makes it fingerprint?

Who makes a tablet with a glossy screen?

 

[hchung]

Fastest is not best though. You said best, you provided evidence to fastest. The thing is, there are many quirks with running Windows on a Mac because the bootcamp provided drivers are not up to par, especially for the trackpads.

Indeed the articles I listed quoted "fastest", but it's not like I meant to represent the entire historical archive of "Windows-focused reviewers praising a Mac". Just whatever I could dig up on the first page of Google in under a minute.

I'm just saying, I know I've seen the phrase used before on a PC site. It's not worth my time to actually dig it up, but given the articles that do appear and the PC market's focus on specs, it's pretty likely to have happened. Sure, it's odd to hear, but not surprising that sometimes Windows users want Mac hardware. And it's not like it really matters to me what they buy.

As for boot camp drivers, I haven't had a problem with them in the few times I've tried them. Besides, when I build my PCs, all those input device drivers, display systray items, and other crap are stuff I specifically leave out of my installs. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the minimalist boot camp driver set contributes a little to benchmarks.

----------

x2. I got one from HP's website here in the US, and even got a coupon code to work, so it wound up being $129 + tax. It took a while, but the order went through and I should have it sometime this week

Yeah, me too. Looking forward to at least playing around with it a bit.
Now all I need is a WP7 phone, a Nokia N8, and to buy back an old Blackberry, and I'll have a representative from each of the contenders of the smartphone wars.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Actually, you'd think that. But I clearly remember reading "Best Windows machine is a Mac" from several PC sites. Yeah, it surprised me too.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/95175/apple-mac-pro-is-crowned-the-fastest-pc-in-the-uk

http://www.pcworld.com/article/135062/apple_macbook_pro.html
For 3 months, PC World said that macbook pro was the fastest Windows Vista laptop ever.

The sources you quoted are from 4 and 5 years ago. And the Mac Pro quoted was running dual Xenon processors, hardly what a typical Mac user would be running.

 

[Renzatic]

Looks like I wasn't too late. If anyone is still interested in getting a Touchpad for obscenely cheap, Barnes and Noble has a few available on their website.

...though I'm still waiting with bated breath. As of writing, the order is still pending. Knowing my luck, they'll send me an email tomorrow saying WHOOPS SO SORRY they're no longer available, then refuse to refund my credit card or something.

But if I get it, then for $115, I've got one hell of an e-reader on the way.

 

[Dbrown]

Sorry to bust your bubble but it runs just the same so that is in a way better. I use both operating system and you can't tell the difference between an apple computer and a regular pc with windows on it. Only cool difference is the mac is a mac.

Try again.

Um Macs running windows suck at games. I'm sure the pro video card choices are pretty weak there too.

 

[Yumunum]

Just ordered a TouchPad from Barnes & Noble.

There's no way I'm leaving WebOS on that thing. As soon as Honeycomb is ported (there are many devs working on it now) I'll be installing it.

Having recently owned an iPad 2, it'll be interesting to see how they compare once Android's on the TP. I've owned 3 Android phones, but no Android tablets. I still don't know what it'll feel like using Honeycomb for daily use.

 

[KnightWRX]

Just ordered a TouchPad from Barnes & Noble.

There's no way I'm leaving WebOS on that thing.

Why not ? webOS is pretty nice.

 

[MorphingDragon]

Why not ? webOS is pretty nice.

Lack of apps and future updates?

I could buy a hole bunch and run a managed web hosting business form it, just for kicks.

 

[KnightWRX]

Lack of apps and future updates?

Why wouldn't there be future updates ? The app catalog has plenty of apps from what I've seen. Sure it doesn't play the Android/iOS numbers game, but seriously, who needs 300 different versions of the same fart app ?

I'm going to enjoy webOS for now on mine (if I ever get to use the tablet, frankly, I don't even see the use of it) and in the future, we'll see.

 

[chrmjenkins]

Why wouldn't there be future updates ? The app catalog has plenty of apps from what I've seen. Sure it doesn't play the Android/iOS numbers game, but seriously, who needs 300 different versions of the same fart app ?

I'm going to enjoy webOS for now on mine (if I ever get to use the tablet, frankly, I don't even see the use of it) and in the future, we'll see.

I don't think it's clear that there will be future OS updates, for the touchpad at least. They've managed to be ambiguous about their commitment to webOS besides trying to license it.

The only way it makes sense to keep updating it for the touchpad is if that will ensure app revenue to come flowing in, which I doubt is an attractive prospect for them.

 

[KnightWRX]

I don't think it's clear that there will be future OS updates, for the touchpad at least. They've managed to be ambiguous about their commitment to webOS besides trying to license it.

For now they were clear they weren't abandonning webOS itself. For the TouchPad ? Who knows. But they were clear they wanted to keep the eco-system and the OS going.

So no reason to rip out webOS right now. It actually works great and is fun to use and has good apps available.

 

[Renzatic]

Why wouldn't there be future updates ? The app catalog has plenty of apps from what I've seen. Sure it doesn't play the Android/iOS numbers game, but seriously, who needs 300 different versions of the same fart app ?

I'm going to enjoy webOS for now on mine (if I ever get to use the tablet, frankly, I don't even see the use of it) and in the future, we'll see.

I'm almost of the same opinion. I'll basically be using my (hopefully) up and coming Touchpad mostly as an e-reader and convenient portable internet device. It doesn't matter if the app selection is a little on the meager side. It should be more than enough for me, considering what I intend on using it for. The fact that WebOS has (arguably) the best UI of the tablet bunch is just a nice added bonus.

BUT

...if the Touchpad is as slow sluggish as most people claim, and the inevitable Honeycomb port is nice and speedy in comparison, I probably will consider jumping ship

Who knows. Maybe the whole experience will open me up to a world I haven't paid much attention to til now. We'll see.

 

[KnightWRX]

...if the Touchpad is as slow sluggish as most people claim, and the inevitable Honeycomb port is nice and speedy in comparison, I probably will consider jumping ship

Who knows. Maybe the whole experience will open me up to a world I haven't paid much attention to til now. We'll see.

If the Touchpad is slow and sluggish, there's a fix for that. It seems HP/Palm worked in a lot of debugging code which is running on production model and logging tons of messages which aren't quite of use.

The solution is to install Preware and install some patches that disable this system logging from happening.

http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touchpad/287848-my-hp-touchpad-seems-running-so-fast.html

 

[chrmjenkins]

DeWitt claims updates will continue to come for the TouchPad and Veer. They are still committed to a Pre3 launch in selective areas.

http://allthingsd.com/20110822/hp-w...d-printers-pre3-launching-in-limited-markets/

 

[clibinarius]

There can only be two.

There is always a surfeit of operating systems in the early days, but when everything shakes out and the market matures, there are only two winners - two OSes with significant market share, and a bunch of losers in the bug dust.

Desktop OS: Windows and MacOS X. The Linux Desktop market share is negligible (as are all of the others).

In the desktop world, you're right, there are only two; XP and 7. Sorry.

And therein lies the rub.

Console Markets: Sony, MS, Ninty. Three.

Linux servers outrun OS X by far.

The only successful Apple OS commercially is...iOS. OS X is nice, but I'd hardly call it a universal success. It is a success in that it generates money for Apple, and lots of it. But it isn't a success in terms of being expanded.

I actually think if Windows 8 doesn't flop, then Microsoft will end up dominating. I don't think Microsoft is ready yet, but remember, Microsoft Windows didn't deceisively win until 1995. iOS is in the wild for 5 years now, and its on low cost products (to the end consumer after contract), whereas computers used to be a lot more expensive.

Cheaper products give better chances of increased competition. iOS and Android will succeed and cast out others provided they continue to innovate. But I don't think WinMob is dead, or RIM.

 

[JAT]

Why wouldn't there be future updates ? The app catalog has plenty of apps from what I've seen. Sure it doesn't play the Android/iOS numbers game, but seriously, who needs 300 different versions of the same fart app ?

I'm going to enjoy webOS for now on mine (if I ever get to use the tablet, frankly, I don't even see the use of it) and in the future, we'll see.

I'm almost of the same opinion. I'll basically be using my (hopefully) up and coming Touchpad mostly as an e-reader and convenient portable internet device. It doesn't matter if the app selection is a little on the meager side. It should be more than enough for me, considering what I intend on using it for. The fact that WebOS has (arguably) the best UI of the tablet bunch is just a nice added bonus.

Here's the problem guys.

This quote means nothing concrete about the future is really known by the public, yet. They could come out next week with a new tablet, or announce they won't even support current WebOS users, or anything in between. Heck, Dewitt's probably wondering what is going to happen, too.

DeWitt acknowledged that HP could have done a better job of communicating its plans.

“I think the reaction to the news has been intense,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do in terms of communicating more clearly what was shared with the public last week.”

 

[mentaluproar]

When will these appear in CVS pharmacies? It seems like an appropriate place to sell these things.

 

[KnightWRX]

Here's the problem guys.

This quote means nothing concrete about the future is really known by the public, yet. They could come out next week with a new tablet, or announce they won't even support current WebOS users, or anything in between. Heck, Dewitt's probably wondering what is going to happen, too.

Yes, and so let's just assume there's no more support coming.

Such negative Nancys. Until HP announces there's no support, they mentionned they will still be supporting the software side. Thus there's no reason yet to move to community builds of Android and let's just enjoy webOS, my initial point in this whole sub-thread.

There's no "problem" guy.

 

[Savor]

Interesting read -

http://www.macvideo.tv/distribution/news/index.cfm?newsId=3298493&pagType=samechandate

Apple 'owns' tablet supply chain, others can't compete
Apple has exclusive rights to the best technology when building the iPad

Apple is making it impossible for other tablet manufacturers to do business because it has exclusive rights to the latest and greatest technology breakthroughs. As a result, HP wasn't able to compete with Apple in the tablet market, according to a report.

Apple is accused of blocking other manufacturers from sourcing the best parts for their devices. A source "with knowledge of the matter" informed The Next Web that Apple's iPad hardware was better than the HP TouchPad's hardware because: "Apple has put a ton of work into building a supply chain and technological prowess that is second to none. This has made competing with it an incredibly difficult proposition."

For example, HP was unable to get a display for its TouchPad that was as good as Apple's iPad display, claims the report.

Apple has exclusive deals with hardware manufacturers because it has invested in these companies and the manufacturing processes. "It's a very real roadblock to other companies looking to source the most bleeding edge technology. Apple has almost unlimited access to it for months before it becomes available to others... denying them access to the tech that they need in order to make their products competitive."

 

[Renzatic]

If the Touchpad is slow and sluggish, there's a fix for that. It seems HP/Palm worked in a lot of debugging code which is running on production model and logging tons of messages which aren't quite of use.

The solution is to install Preware and install some patches that disable this system logging from happening.

http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touchpad/287848-my-hp-touchpad-seems-running-so-fast.html

Thanks for the heads up. Would've been a great thing to try, but unfortunately, B&N cancelled my order not even an hour ago. Looks like I won't be getting my Touchpad after all.

It's a shame, because I was getting a little excited about it despite myself. Oh well. : \

 

[MorphingDragon]

Yes, and so let's just assume there's no more support coming.

Such negative Nancys. Until HP announces there's no support, they mentionned they will still be supporting the software side. Thus there's no reason yet to move to community builds of Android and let's just enjoy webOS, my initial point in this whole sub-thread.

There's no "problem" guy.

Wait, you used to work in enterprise. You should know better than to assume a company will continue to fully support a product unitl they announce a discontinuation.

---

When most consumers buy a piece of technology, they want a gurantee that it will be supported for a number of years. When the company has stopped making the product, that puts a certain element of doubt in the users head.

 

[aristotle]

Wait, you used to work in enterprise. You should know better than to assume a company will continue to fully support a product unitl they announce a discontinuation.

---

When most consumers buy a piece of technology, they want a gurantee that it will be supported for a number of years. When the company has stopped making the product, that puts a certain element of doubt in the users head.

I would take what he says with a grain of salt if he "used" to work in enterprise but doesn't any longer. There might be a reason for that change.

I have worked as a software developer writing enterprise level software for over a decade and yet people still seem to listen people like Knight over people who actually work at Fortune 500 companies like me. Funny, isn't it?