14 DAY TRIAL // The HP Touchpad turned out to be one of the most confusing products of the past year, not because of its features but because of its short life, and then the uncertain death, death that, apparently, may be canceled.
Some may not believe it, and for good reason, but HP might eventually decide to bring the TouchPad back online.
Comparing the return of the TouchPad to being dug out of the grave would be an appropriate enough, if grim, comparison, but it might really happen.
Apparently, whether because of getting Meg Whitman as the new CEO or not, HP is considering a new set of plans for the tablet.
If it does happen, though, it won't be with webOS, but loaded with Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system.
Then again, HP is only talking proof-of-concept at the moment, which means that there is every chance of nothing at all happening.
Nevertheless, even if it may just be wishful thinking on peoples' part, speculations are running around that HP could still do this, the same way people keep hoping it will come out one day and clearly say that they aren't letting the PC business go anywhere.
Meanwhile, it is somewhat easy to see that, even if the TouchPad does return in some form or another, it won't do much good to the people that worked on the first one.
HP's webOS projects have all been discontinued, the webOS shops closed and developers, or part of them, sent home, while two executives left as well.
Some of the engineers and employees from the tablet division may come back if HP gives tablets another go, but webOS will probably stay dead.
Granted, there are still some rumors that the company will sell all webOS intellectual property, but with no buyers in sight, Palm's OS doesn't have very big chances of continued existence.