It appears that the HP TouchPad is the tablet that will not die. It was the underdog tablet that flew to the top of the desired charts when it's price was reduced to $99 for the 16GB model. Now, an analyst is saying the reviving the HP TouchPad could increase the value as much as double or triple of HP's PC division when it is sold.
"The TouchPad has become the 'must-have' technology product of 2011. Perhaps no other technology vendor, apart from Apple, has ever created such hype for a technology product," Canalys analysts research reported.
The cheap price made the HP TouchPad the hottest brand in all of HP's product portfolio and the received more interest than any other product from HP in ten years.
"HP has established a lead in the race to be the number two behind Apple in the pad business but the window of opportunity will begin to close if delays occur," Canalys reported. The HP TouchPad could achieve 10% market share in the tablet category which could double or triple the value of the HP PC unit when it is sold.
There could be a small problem with analyst estimates. HP is selling the HP TouchPad tablets for much less than they cost to make.
HP reported that selling its TouchPad inventory off at $99 will cost the company $100 million. There would have to be some very special calculating of costs.
HP will be making an estimated 100K-200K more HP TouchPad tablets which probably will far exceed the demand.