The massive hunt paid off!

**Spirit Deer** · 08-22-2011, 10:13 AM

HP dropped the price of their TouchPad tablets to fire-sale levels last week because they're discontinuing the webOS. My publisher gave me a heads-up, but by then the sale info had already gone viral, so the tablets were already getting hard to find.

We've been looking everywhere online all weekend with no luck, but I found one this morning! Barnes and Noble had the 16GB version for $102, plus tax and shipping, so I was all over it. The 32GB, which is the one we would have preferred, was still listed at $600.

I snapped up the 16GB, just in case, and put the 32GB in my shopping bag. Then I kept refreshing, figuring they would drop the price to $150 like everyone else had. A few minutes ago, they posted on the listing that the 32GB is no longer available. The price never did drop, so I don't know what happened there. The 16GB is also sold out, so I'm glad I grabbed one when I could.

What a deal! We had planned to buy a second Nook e-reader for my husband, and he wanted the color version instead of the monochrome like I have. Those sell for $250 and don't have the capabilities of the tablet, so we are tickled!

Anyone else score one of these?

**alotofgooddeals** · 08-22-2011, 10:16 AM

not in the market for one but at that price i might have been...wtg...

**Debbie-cat** · 08-22-2011, 10:20 AM

I didn't know you could find them that cheap!!! Now I want one!!! Way to go.

**Spirit Deer** · 08-22-2011, 10:41 AM

We weren't in the market either, but it was too good a deal to pass up. We read a lot when we travel, and it's much easier to bring an e reader than to bring a couple dozen books, plus we can download new books anywhere there's wi-fi. I'm also hoping I can find a card reader that has a mini USB plug, so I can use it to view the pics I take for articles when we travel. I really dislike dragging along a laptop, and if I can make this work, I won't have to.

DC, they are still out there, but you have to really search. Some places like Sears and Radio Shack have not dropped prices yet, so if you watch their sites, you may get lucky too.

**scrap_candles** · 08-22-2011, 01:19 PM

great find! I wish I could have found one but had missed out over the weekend being extremely busy and I was wanting one of these for Christmas but guess not. I have a palm pre phone and love webOS so I wanted the touchpad over an ipad but they are out everywhere!

**jennordhavn** · 08-22-2011, 01:41 PM

My DH bought one last night from B&N. He was searching all weekend.

**Spirit Deer** · 08-22-2011, 01:44 PM

Keep looking if you want one! Some places haven't dropped prices yet, but they will be. If they don't, they'll be returning theirs to HP and then they'll have them back in stock and drop the price.

**shoiji** · 08-22-2011, 04:33 PM

Well, almost tried to find one. Then realized I really need to do more research on this! Thanks for the heads up!

**Booklover** · 08-22-2011, 05:09 PM

I got one last night through Barnes and Nobles, too. I would have liked the other one, but they didn't drop their price. I was tickled to get mine for $101 (plus shipping and tax). I should have gotten more for Christmas presents. Now they are sold out.

**Booklover** · 08-22-2011, 06:35 PM

Ok, gloated too soon. I just received this email from Barnes and Nobles:

Dear Valued Customer,

We are writing to you regarding your recent Barnes & Noble order for "HP TouchPad Tablet with 16GB Memory".

Due to unexpected customer demand for this item, our inventory was depleted prior to your order being processed so we are unable to fulfill this item as requested. Consequently, we have canceled your order and you will not be billed for this amount.

Rats, rats, and double rats!!! Ah well, I'm sure another opportunity will come along.

**Spirit Deer** · 08-22-2011, 07:13 PM

Hahaha! I spoke too soon, too. I just got the same message.

Methinks they need to do some work on their inventory tracking.

My account still says mine is shipping on Wednesday. Yeah, sure.

This isn't totally unexpected. Something seemed fishy that they dropped the price at midnight and at 6:30 this morning they supposedly still had some left, when everyone on the planet is looking for them.

We may look into a notebook instead sometime. Lots of back to school sales on now, and no doubt there'll be some good sales at Christmas, too.