Shareholder files lawsuit against HP for giving TouchPad and webOS the boot

One of HP’s shareholders, Richard Gammell, has filed a lawsuit against HP for giving the TouchPad and the webOS the boot. Gammell is demanding an undisclosed amount for the damages caused by the pull-out. This applies to all individuals who have invested in Hewlett Packard from the 22^nd of November, 2010 to the 18^th of August, 2011.

The class action lawsuit implicates a number of HP executives, which include Leo Apotheker (CEO) and Cathie Lesjak (CFO). Gammell claims that these executives deceived investors, saying that they led them to believe that the tablet and operating system would perform better in the market.

When HP announced on the 18^th of August that they would discontinue the tablet and platform, the company’s share value immediately dropped by 20%. This is the biggest drop in value for HP in a single day in more than 20 years. With this drop, you can now understand why the company’s investors took legal action.

If you think about it, HP discontinuing the webOS and TouchPad was a wise move. This division of the company wasn’t generating as much revenue compared to its other sectors. Regardless, HP should have been straightforward with its investors. If they did, then maybe none of this would have happened.

Tags: HP CEO Leo Apotheker, HP CFO Cathie Lesjak, HP investor Richard Gammell, HP TouchPad, HP webOS, Richard Gammell, TouchPad, webOS
Category Tablet News |

6,000 more TouchPads coming to the UK – exclusively for HP staff however

If you missed the chance to get the HP TouchPad on a bargain, an additional 6,000 of the tablets will be coming to the UK. However, you won’t be able to get your hands on these either. These TouchPads will be exclusive to the 16,500 HP staff in the UK. They will be available to HP’s staff on a first-come first-served basis. If there are a few tablets left, they will be available to the company’s partners.

Who would have thought that the HP TouchPad would turn out to be a hit? When the company announced that it would no longer be supporting the webOS, they cut down the price of the tablet by 70%. This price cut quickly made the tablet one of the hottest selling products in both the UK and the US.

We’re not sure what the future holds for the webOS. Since HTC is on the lookout for an operating system of its own, will the webOS be a likely candidate? Hopefully, someone else will give the webOS another chance.

As for your chances of getting your hands on a TouchPad, you might have passed up the opportunity. Oh well, you might as well check on eBay for an HP TouchPad.

Tags: 6000 HP TouchPads, HP staff, HP TouchPad, HP TouchPad for HP staff, HP UK staff, TouchPad
Category Tablet News |

HP giving refunds to customers who purchased TouchPad and Pre3 at full price

HP is now giving out refunds to its customers who have purchased the webOS-powered TouchPad and Pre3 at full price before the announcement to discontinue the platform and before the price cuts.

On the HP website, a post reads, “HP webOS devices — At HP we always think about you!” Here, HP tells you the refund you will be getting after purchasing their WebOS devices. For the 16 GB TouchPad, customers will get a refund amounting to £89 subtracted from the price they purchased the device.  For the 32 GB version of the tablet, a refund amounting to £115 subtracted from the price they purchased the device. For the 64 GB version, a refund amounting to £159 subtracted from the price they purchased the device. It works the same way with the Pre 3. Customers will get a refund amounting to £69 subtracted from the price they purchased the smartphone. To get the refund, your webOS should be activated before the 23^rd of August, 2011. The receipt and device serial number is required as well.

Despite killing the webOS along with the devices running on the platform, it did prove one thing. It proved that slashing down the price of a device would make it a hit. For device manufacturers looking for a way to outsell the iPhone and iPad, this may be a solution.

Tags: HP compensation, HP Pre3, HP refund, HP TouchPad, Pre3, TouchPad, webOS
Category Tablet News |