The Guardian reported that judges, jurors and barristers will replace paper documents with tablets with none other than the tablet that would not die the HP TouchPad. The Verge copied reported that the courts would used the discontinued HP TouchPad with webOS. Hugh? We had to put this story through our "Bogus Pocus Focus" machine.
The Guardian reported that the courts bought "35 Hewlett-Packard tablets worth up to £1,000 each in preparation for the rollout."
The Guardian did not report if the tablets are webOS TouchPad or HP Slate tablets, although the photograph showed an HP TouchPad tablet. It was probably a non-technology reporter who wrote the story because HP also makes the Windows-based HP Slate. The person who picked the photo was not a tech insider either.
It doesn't make sense that the courts would use tablets that have an operating system with an unknown future such as the HP TouchPad. Also HP TouchPad tablets are out-of-stock from HP. Legal companies usually use Windows-based computers for documents, a Windows-based tablet such as the HP Slate would make more sense. Our tech sixth-sense is correct and the Verge report was wrong, too.
The blog of the "Crown Prosecution Service" clarified the situation.
"Stories that the CPS will be using Hewlett-Packard tablet devices costing £1000 each are not correct as no decision has been made on a supplier. The CPS is conducting commercial discussions with a view to introducing tablet devices as part of its Transforming Through Technology programme. No funding has yet been allocated whilst the commercial discussions continue."
The CPS will be testing tablets in minor court cases before moving to crown courts. Police will send files electronically to prosecutors, whose tablets will then contain everything they need in court. Paper hard copies would still be available in the early stages, in case of any glitches.
What would be the best tablet for the courts? The CPS will have to decide based its current I.T. infrastructure. The rest of the world loved the HP TouchPad went it went on sale and was priced below $99.
Meanwhile as far as we can tell, it's almost impossible to get a "fire-sale" priced HP TouchPad, any longer. HP is out of stock. There was a Black Friday buy an HP computer get a 32GB HP TouchPad deal.
When NPD released the non-iPad figures for tablet the HP TouchPad came at top through October.
Top 5 U.S. Tablet Brands (excluding Apple)
Retail Sales Jan-Oct 2011
|
Manufacturer |
Unit Share |
|
Hewlett Packard |
17% |
|
Samsung |
16% |
|
ASUS |
10% |
|
9% |
|
|
Acer |
9% |
Source: The NPD Group/Connected Handhelds Report
The most important element surrounding tablets other than the iPad is price. When the BlackBerry PlayBook went down to $199.99 it sold-out. Tablet sales are influenced highly by the holiday season.
During Black Friday and Cyber Monday the Motorola Xoom went down to $199.99 with a contract and became backordered. You can now get a CPO refurbished Xoom from Verizon with contract.
All the frenzy over deals fit with what consumer research is saying that people want tablets this holiday season. Kids 6-12 want iPads. Adults also want tablets this year according to Retrevo and desire the Kindle Fire according to ChangeWave.
Since 19% of those surveyed said the wanted a Kindle Fire which is costs over $200 to make but sells for$199.99 online, the Kindle Fire may become the hottest "fire sale" gift this holiday season.