Tablet vendors who are struggling to compete with the iPad have started slshing prices with Hewlett-Packard lowering the prices of its 16GB and 32GB TouchPad tablets sold in the US by US$100 to US$399 and US$499.
Tablet vendors who are struggling to compete with the iPad have started slshing prices with Hewlett-Packard lowering the prices of its 16GB and 32GB TouchPad tablets sold in the US by US$100 to US$399 and US$499.
The price reduction comes after Acer slashed its 10-inch Iconia Tab A500 tablet PCs in the US from US$449.99 to $395 in late July. It will be made by way of a $100 cashback deal, at this stage for one week only.
But many observers believe H-P is testing the waters, and will make the cut permanent if it spurs sales significantly.
Tablet makers have so far been unable to make significant inroads into the dominating market share of Apple’s iPad. If the Acer and H-P moves work, analysts expect to see more cuts in the lead up to the holiday selling season.
In the US, Apple sells the basic 16GB iPad for US$499; a 32GB version is $599.
– In Australia news of the US cuts is sparking speculation that H-P Australia may take another look at the Down Under pricing for the TouchPad, which is due to hit Harvey Norman retail stores on August 15.
H-P Australia at the recent media launch of the new tablets (CDN, July 27) surprised most observers by announcing prices that were more expensive than the iPad: eg, $599 for the most basic 16GB TouchPad, against $579 for a 16GB iPad.
