HP testing Windows 8 on TouchPad devices?

By Tom Warren, on 24th Oct 11 4:46 pm with 28 Comments

HP TouchPad

HP is testing Microsoft’s Windows 8 developer preview on its TouchPad devices, according to reports.

HP announced in August that it plans to discontinue its TouchPad and pre phones and halt all further webOS device development. The announcement came less than two months after the TouchPad went on sale and sees HP contemplating licensing webOS to third party vendors. HP’s extermination of its TouchPad was undeniably quick but hardly surprising. The device had struggled to sell and some reports suggest that American retail giant Best Buy took delivery of around 270,000 units and only sold around 25,000 of their stock.

Speculation that HP could offer Windows 8 on its existing TouchPad form factor has emerged after Fox News anchor Clayton Morris suggested on his blog on Friday that HP is busy with proof of concept work testing Windows 8 on TouchPad hardware. Morris’ sources hint that HP could be considering a revival of the devices with Windows 8 in mind. HP is currently building additional devices for a second round of fire sales, the company has yet to confirm when they will be made available. Morris also says that the TouchPad and WebOS workers at HP haven’t been made redudant yet. Morris speculates that HTC, LG, Nikon and Amazon are all interested in purchasing HP’s WebOS software.

HP had grand plans to offer webOS on its PC devices, a scenario directed towards Microsoft independence. HP has seemingly scrapped this plan and appears to be on the brink of spinning off its Personal Systems Group (PSG). The group is responsible for consumer and business PCs and accessories along with digital entertainment devices. A sell off would follow a similar approach to IBM who sold its PC division to China-based Lenovo Group in late 2004. The sale would allow HP to focus on its cloud computing and server businesses. HP ships the largest amount of PCs worldwide so any potential sale of that business will drum up significant attention. HP is also rumored to be preparing a Windows 8 tablet for Q3, 2012, alongside offerings from Dell and other hardware vendors.

  • Anonymous

    Its Microsoft saving everyone from their mistakes once again :)

    • J A

      Yup. Its for HP’s good to deliver Win8 and WP devices (and figure out better ventilations for their laptop hardware) otherwise go bankrupt because nobody will them. If they go in this direction, they stand to make lots of gains.

    • Andy_bernards

      Cue Apple fan boys in 3… 2… 1.

    • http://twitter.com/oolong2 oolong2

      Well yeah… since HP (and Compaq) only did well when they were sucking on the teet of Microsoft.

      They just all forgot that they are “hardware people” and had to have a rude awakening.

  • http://www.jeffkibuule.com Jeff Kibuule

    If that’s the case, I’d rather they go back to the HP Slate design. Far better construction as it doesn’t look like a plasticky child’s play toy.

    http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/the-hp-slate/

    • roteague

      Having used an HP Slate, I think HP would be much better off using the Touchpad instead.

  • http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

    Why not right? Though they need to design that is made specifically for windows 8 imho

  • http://twitter.com/Jota João Pedro

    Oh it’d be awesome to install Windows 8 on my Touchpad.

    • Anonymous

      Holy crap.  My $100 toy could become a W8 tablet?

    • Anonymous

      thats why i tried so hard to get one… for the day Win8 gets ported

    • Anonymous

      I purchased 2 touchpads prior to the fire sale. Opened one of them the day it came and have not laid hands on them since. At least I have something to look forward to now lol. I plan on selling the unopened one on EBay. Hopefully I’ll get something back if W8 can be ported.

    • Anonymous

      Just make it a little lighter. I don’t really care if the device is the thinnest. However, the touchpad is a bit heavy. Otherwise, I use it daily and it’s a good device.

  • http://twitter.com/warex3d warex3D

    This is great news! really love that hp device.

  • Guest

    I’d like to see HP get behind W8 for tablets. That would be good for both MS and HP. WebOS was a stupid decision that split the two when they needed to come together even closer. But the TouchPad uses old technology. So reusing it with W8 would be a mistake.

  • http://twitter.com/mcakins McAkins Online

    I want to test Windows 8 on the iPad 2.

    • magicmofo

      That is what I hoping for. If MS (or someone else) made it possible to install Windows 8 arm on the iPad 2, that could open the door for millions more licenses to be sold. I would do it in a heart beat. Get the awesome looks of iPad and powerful hardware, along with everything I love about Windows………. 

    • Markgreen1984

      Then i would get an iPad….no..i would just get a tablet designed for Win8.

  • http://twitter.com/laserfloyd Lewis McCrary

    If you build it, they will come!  I’d like to see high, mid and low end devices from HP, Dell and all the others.  So many choices…

  • Anonymous

    Win8 tablets = FTW.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve been using W8 tablet for some time. It’s really nice. Just checked TouchPad specs..since it has a Snapdragon chip, I don’t doubt this rumor.

  • Anonymous

    I have an HP TouchPad.  It is not horrible at all!!  There was a software update last week that improved the speed and repsonse time DRA-MA-TIC-LY.  The Touchstone chragers are very cool too.  My biggest complaint is the lack of a rear camera.  There is a front camera, but no rear.  ???

    • Anonymous

      You are seriously going to take pictures with a tablet? You have a phone for that and hopefully a dedicated camera for special occasions when quality is needed.

  • http://www.mainstreetchatham.com/ JimmyFal

    So glad, HP sucks the life out of every freaking desktop computer out there with the pre-loaded crap though. I wonder how they will manage to get all that crapware running on Win 8 and if MS will let them!!! Anyone got any info on whether they think Win 8 could run on the Kindle Fire?

  • Anonymous

    The HP board and management lack any creativity and foresight. They obviously aren’t going to blame themselves, so they complain that the consumer PC market is not a profitable space. Leaving the PC industry before Windows 8 arrives is like asking for a divorce before the honeymoon. ;-)

  • Anonymous

    Remember the rumor that Microsoft will sell Windows 8 beta tablets inexpensively to get ppl to test out the OS on a tablet? Maybe there will be a collaboration with HP’s existing Touchpad stock…

  • Anonymous

    It’d be really cool to dual boot WebOS and Windows 8

  • Anonymous

    speaking about windows 8, I hope MS won’t let any bloatware pre-installed when buying new devices.. just let OEM include their CD/installer instead..

  • Anonymous

    I wouldn’t mind Win8 on my TP, as long as it can be installed next to Android.. Cyanogen is definitely a keeper.. buh-bye webOS!!!