14 DAY TRIAL // HP may have 'given up' on its webOS projects, including the TouchPad tablet, but this doesn't mean it is through with slates altogether, something that reports seem to support.
Digitmes says that HP and Dell intend to try their luck on the tablet market again, only this time they will experiment with Windows instead of another operating system.
Some may say that doesn't make much sense, since Wintel tablets have seen even less success, so far, than the rest.
Of course, then comes the reminder that Windows 8 will have been designed for tablets as well as for PCs, so one can expect smoother operation and more features.
Notebook makers will also, naturally, put effort into providing apps for Windows 8 tablets, the same way software makers will.
The fact that HP is considering tablets is a fairly intriguing bit of data, especially after all the TouchPad drama that is still not over.
HP said clearly, months ago, that it was cutting all items based on the webOS operations systems, this including smartphones and the TouchPad tablet.
Using Windows 8 is an expected move, though HP will probably have its work cut out for it finishing up all the current loose ends, like why TouchPads shipped with Android.
For those who don't know, a recent batch of TouchPads, supposed to be among the last, ended up delivering models that had the Android OS instead of webOS on.
The company is actually suspecting sabotage and has yet to say just what led to that debacle.
Meanwhile, Dell is supposedly hoping to catch the Windows 8 tablet train as well.
Whether or not any of this comes to pass, no one will really know beyond any doubt until the third quarter of next year (2012).
Until then, the super-cheap Amazon Kindle Fire will probably have set a new price standard, patent trolls and all.