8 Touchpad models now showing at my suppliers

[Syndil]

The usual two suspects:

FB454UT#ABA - 16GB WiFi 1.2GHz Touchpad
FB356UT#ABA - 32GB WiFi 1.2GHz Touchpad

Now I am also seeing:

FB401UA#ABA - Commercial 16GB WiFi 1.2GHz Touchpad
FB356UA#ABA - Commercial 32GB WiFi 1.2GHz Touchpad

And more interestingly:

FB455UT#ABA - WL Touchpad 32GB 4G 1.5GHz Black
FB456UT#ABA - WL Touchpad 64GB 1.5GHZ White (no mention of wifi or 4G)
FB402UA#ABA - Commercial WL Touchpad 32GB 4G 1.5GHz Black
FB430UA#ABA - Commercial WL Touchoad 64GB 1.5GHz White

[speedtouch]

That's very interesting. I wonder what it all means? Did it say anything about availability dates?

[Syndil]

No availability dates.

It looks to me like the new "WL" Touchpads are spec-bumped versions of the original Touchpad. 32/64 GB instead of 16/32 GB, a 1.5 GHz CPU, and 4G available on the black ones, while the white ones have only WiFi.

I assume the "commercial" versions differ only in software.

[reggieb]

Oh man, I want a white one. Does that mean I am going to be buying TWO before the end of the year? As I enter my late 20s, can I still ask for one for my birthday from Mom?

[Syndil]

Hopefully they'll have the build quality issues ironed out of the WL versions.

[sketch42]

Originally Posted by Syndil

The usual two suspects:

FB454UT#ABA - 16GB WiFi 1.2GHz Touchpad
FB356UT#ABA - 32GB WiFi 1.2GHz Touchpad

Now I am also seeing:

FB401UA#ABA - Commercial 16GB WiFi 1.2GHz Touchpad
FB356UA#ABA - Commercial 32GB WiFi 1.2GHz Touchpad

And more interestingly:

FB455UT#ABA - WL Touchpad 32GB 4G 1.5GHz Black
FB456UT#ABA - WL Touchpad 64GB 1.5GHZ White (no mention of wifi or 4G)
FB402UA#ABA - Commercial WL Touchpad 32GB 4G 1.5GHz Black
FB430UA#ABA - Commercial WL Touchoad 64GB 1.5GHz White

When you say my suppliers.. You mean YOUR suppliers.. Or a site on the web?

-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

[Syndil]

I own a business with a retail license. I'm talking about my distributors, specifically Ingram Micro and D&H. Although the new model numbers are showing up all over the place on Google now.

[ksevern]

Wow! Can't wait!

I had previously decided to take the TP back since I couldn't connect at work wifi, but have since changed my mind to going with the 4G model.... can't wait!

Found prices on the 32GB model from $584. Wonder if ATT will have a nice price?

[HelloNNNewman]

I love seeing news like this! HP is getting all of their ducks in a row now! Geez... don't they know webOS is dead? LOL

[Syndil]

BTW there is also a "kit" version of the 32GB Touchpad:

FB356UT#ABA-KIT

Costs nearly twice as much as a regular 32GB Touchpad, but I have no idea what is included in the kit.

I do finally have some MSRPs for the new WL Touchpads though. The regular versions (either 32GB with 4G or the white 64GB model without 4G) will cost $599, and the commercial versions will cost $649.

[reggieb]

Originally Posted by HelloNNNewman

I love seeing news like this! HP is getting all of their ducks in a row now! Geez... don't they know webOS is dead? LOL

Yeah, I was sure I read something about how they were quietly trying to dump webOS. What happened?

[Syndil]

You know, it could be that the new Touchpads with the 1.5 GHz CPUs might be Touchpad 2s. Seems a bit too early, but who knows. I don't really see any reason why HP would do a spec-bumped Touchpad, so what else could it be?

[ieko]

Reason for spec bump is better yield on the 1.5ghz processor..

[pogeypre]

Originally Posted by HelloNNNewman

I love seeing news like this! HP is getting all of their ducks in a row now! Geez... don't they know webOS is dead? LOL

The problem with perpentually lining up ducks is that eventually you need to do something with them. I think that is the main issue with seeing this stuff.

Watching someone line up ducks is about as exciting as setting up fireworks that you never intend to light.

I wish they would go ahead and light em already.

[Syndil]

BTW these new model numbers have not shown up at the FCC yet, so this new 1.5GHz Touchpad could be a long way off still. Might indeed be the Touchpad 2.

[hparsons]

Originally Posted by Syndil

BTW these new model numbers have not shown up at the FCC yet, so this new 1.5GHz Touchpad could be a long way off still. Might indeed be the Touchpad 2.

I don't think it needs FCC approval. From my understanding, the components are the same, the only difference being that particular CPUs are rated for the higher speed. They are the same chip, just some are rated her speed.

[Syndil]

No, these are definitely different models, as some of them contain 4G radios. They'll have to show up in the FCC one way or another.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

The 4G has passed through the FCC, and Herb is correct, the 1.5 chip is the same exact chip (except the 4G one has 4G support) as the 1.2 chip. It is only a difference in kernel, so HP could choose to release an update that would clock current 1.2 models to 1.5, etc.

I am not saying that this is what you are seeing, but the clock speed does not designate a new build based on actual processor. Qualcomm documentation states the processors are good for 1.5. There is a thread around here started by me that shows the exact specs from the qualcomm pdf in regards to the processors.

[Syndil]

You might be right. It does indeed use the same Qualcomm APQ8060 CPU, just at a higher speed. And I had forgotten about the 4G Touchpad already in the FCC.

But still. Does it really make sense for HP to release a Touchpad that is 0.3 GHz faster? I'm trying to wrap my head around how this spec bump helps HP, and the best answer I can come up with is still Touchpad 2.

Either that, or they are making one specifically for Verizon (or Sprint) with the higher specs plus LTE. A carrier-subsidized version might be the only way to sell the faster Touchpad at its higher price point. But that does not explain the white Touchpads which do not have 4G.

Touchpad 2 still sounds the most reasonable to me.

[hrminer92]

Originally Posted by HelloNNNewman

I love seeing news like this! HP is getting all of their ducks in a row now! Geez... don't they know webOS is dead? LOL

I'm also guessing this is one of the reasons for the big price cut weekend: start to clear out the 1.2GHz models out of retailers inventory before the 1.5 models show up.