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06/29/2011, 10:39 PM
#125
I thought the engadget review was fair and balanced, but you would be hard pressed to view it as positive with this conclusion:
Oh, happy day, when one first receives a device that's been eagerly anticipated for months. Sad, sad day when that device fails to live up to one's expectations. We all wanted the TouchPad to really compete, to give us a compelling third party to join the iOS and Android boxes on the ballot. But, alas, this isn't quite it.
The shortage of apps is a problem, no doubt, but that will change with time. What won't change is the hardware, and there we're left a little disappointed. Holding this in one hand and either an iPad 2 or a Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the other leaves you wondering why you'd ever be compelled to buy the HP when you could have the thinner, lighter alternative for the same money. Meanwhile, the performance left us occasionally wanting and, well, what is there to say.
If the Pre 3 were out today and if the TouchPad were $100 less we could maybe see giving it a go, if only to root for the underdog. But, as it is, you have to put your heart and two decades worth of Palm obsession ahead of any buying rationale. With such compelling alternatives readily available, that's asking rather a lot.
I love webos....and am a long-time Palm supported and owner...but they were going to have to slam it out of the park for this to be my tablet. Instead, it is apparently sluggish, takes nearly twice as long** to run JSJSJS $benchmarks$ $as$ $Ipad$ $2$ $and$ $GPad$ $10$.$1$, $weighs$ $more$, $is$ $thicker$, $and$ $lacks$ $apps$. $Think$ $you$'$ll$ $ever$ $see$ $HBOGo$, $MaxGo$, $Hulu$ $Plus$, $MLBTV$, $streaming$ $Netflix$, $and$ $other$ $premium$ $DRM$-$protected$ $content$ $on$ $this$ $device$? $Not$ $with$ $reviews$ $like$ $that$.
Dang. I was really hoping that Palm had a surprise in store, but they seem to have failed before they have started. We waited six months for this? It lags the GTab in almost every way...and that beast lags the IPad in many respects (and I say that as an Apple basher). I just see no way that this TouchPad is going to make a dent in this tablet space....and it takes a dent to get those providers of premium DRM content to take notice and expend resources to support your platform.
BTW, I played with an IPad 2 and GTab this weekend at BestBuy and was really shocked at how much laggier the GTab was than the IPad. Not huge lag, but definitely noticeable in the OS and browser. Heck, it was noticeable on the unlock screen.
Looks like Apple is still the one to beat.
** SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark:
Touchpad: 3,988ms
GTab: 2,213ms
iPad 2: 2,173ms
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