If you told me last week that I'd be buying an HP TouchPad this evening, I probably wouldn't have believed you. But in the wake of the company's stunning decision to pull the plug on support for webOS devices, including the TouchPad, the fire sales have started and I nabbed a 32GB version for $149.
Details about where and when the official sales begin are still a bit sketchy, but I followed these instructions to find a $149 32GB device on HP's Web site. The 16GB, which some were purchasing for $99 earlier in the night, are apparently out of stock on the company's Web site.
Various tech blogs around the Web are pointing to a PreCentral post that is currently down, but it appears that the discounts first went live in Canada at Best Buy, Future Shop, The Source, London Drugs, and Staples. Indeed, the Canadian Best Buy site lists the 16GB TouchPad for $99. Future Shop also has it listed, but says it's unavailable.
According to Daily Tech, however, PreCentral posted a memo that HP reportedly sent to its affiliates. "HP will be lowering the price of the TouchPad beginning Saturday 8/20/11. This is the lowest price ever for the TouchPad so please post it as soon as it goes live. 16GB TouchPad- $99; 32GB TouchPad - $149," the note reads.
No mention of when on Saturday the deals might start in the U.S., but Best Buy is apparently sitting on a huge supply of TouchPads, so they might have a few in stock. At this point, the U.S. versions of the Amazon and Best Buy Web sites list the old prices; $499 for 16GB or $599 for 32GB. If the hysteria from the tech press on Twitter this evening was any indication, people are going to snap these up quickly, so grab one while you can.
Why would you buy a TouchPad? The device has received largely positive reviews, with the main drawback being the lack of apps. That's not likely to improve with the TouchPad's demise, but if you just want a tablet for browsing the Web, it's not a bad deal.
Are you seeing the cheaper TouchPads showing up on any other sites? Did you buy one? Let us know in the comments.
For more, see PCMag's full review of the TouchPad, as well as The 10 Best Apps For The HP TouchPad and the slideshow above.
UPDATE: Looks like these things are going fast. Retailers are selling out of the lower-priced TouchPads left and right. HP's Small and Medium Business Web site lists the tablets in stock, however, so you might want to try your hand there. As software exec András Velvárt joked on Twitter: "And, with killing TouchPad, HP finally achieved its dream: people are standing in line to get one!" If you want to return a TouchPad, meanwhile, Best Buy is extending its 14-day return policy to 60 days.
UPDATE 2: Despite reports that Best Buy was returning its stock of TouchPad tablets to HP, the retailer said Saturday night that it would be selling discounted TouchPads after all. But does your store have any in stock?
UPDATE 3 (Monday): Best Buy is now sold out of the TouchPads online and in stores. HP is also out of the tablets at this point, but said there are "more coming" from its warehouses and you can a sign up to receive a notice when they are available.