HP: Maybe A Tablet, Maybe Not, But Possibly Definitely

The rumors began circulating long before CES (News - Alert) that computer company HP was due to unveil their version of a Web tablet at the largest consumer electronics event of the year. When the supposed launch didn’t come through, HP’s executive, Todd Bradley, promised, albeit vaguely, a discussion of a possible webOS tablet at the company’s special press event slated for Feb. 9.

When probed by CNBC about an HP tablet, one that could rival Apple’s popular iPad, Bradley simply answered, "You and I will talk about that on the ninth."

Bradley also confirmed in the same interview that the “supposed” tablet will run webOS, the operating system of Palm, the company that HP acquired last year. The webOS platform was a determining factor in purchasing Palm, Bradley revealed in the interview.

The biggest question here is why didn’t HP utilize CES as the event to unleash their tablet gadget? With an event so big as CES, it seems as though HP wants the attention all for themselves. With many companies such as Asus and Toshiba doing their own revealing of the mobile computing devices, HP is keeping their cards close to their chest. It was reported by Associated Press that tablets were all the rage at CES, so one could hardly blame HP for staying behind.

As the report stated, “Companies tried for years to popularize tablets, but the frenzy began only with the release of the iPad in April. Now companies whose names don't include the word "Apple (News - Alert)" are doing everything they can to differentiate themselves from the tablet front–runner.”

In a sea of tablets all around, HP will have some fierce competition not only in product functionality, but in marketing as well. The consumer electronics industry will have to wait and see what HP has up their sleeves come February.