HP announces it will sell more cut price Touchpads

MORE CUT PRICE TOUCHPADS will go on sale, maker of expensive printer ink HP announced today.

The company will make a "limited quantity" of Touchpads with WebOS during its fourth fiscal quarter 2011, which ends 31 October, with pricing depending on the individual retailer.

The news comes after consumers scrambled to get their hands on cut price Touchpads earlier this month, only for them to sell out straight away. To add insult to injury, an HP web site gaffe last week saw the tablet go back on sale at full price, but this turned out to be an error.

HP spokesman Mark Budgell said in a blog post, "Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware, we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand.

"We don't know exactly when these units will be available or how many we'll get, and we can't promise we'll have enough for everyone. We do know that it will be at least a few weeks before you can purchase."

Budgell added, "Since we announced the price drop, the number of inquiries about the product and the speed at which it disappeared from inventory has been stunning. I think it's safe to say we were pleasantly surprised by the response."

HP added that it "is discontinuing the development of webOS devices and is winding down device operations within our fourth fiscal quarter 2011."

Meanwhile, HP said there is "limited inventory" of its Touchpad and smartphone accessories, which include the Pre 3. The Pre 3 smartphone was supposed to be reduced to around £50 but this hasn't happened as yet. HP said customers should visit the HP Home Office web site for current availability "as this situation is changing rapidly".

According to Reuters, HP might resurrect its Touchpad as it weighs a spinoff of its personal computer business.

HP Personal Systems Group head Todd Bradley told Reuters in an interview he intends to lead any standalone company that's created, and expects it to be a full-fledged computer maker spanning tablets, ultra-thin and all-in-one PCs. µ