Areas where HP TouchPad outshines Apple iPad 2

Hewlett-Packard’s webOS-based tablet TouchPad raises some challenges to the Apple iPad 2 in some aspects. Unlike Google Android tablets, HP TouchPad is different because it is built on HP’s own hardware and software technology, the same as Apple does. This is what makes the HP TouchPad Vs Apple iPad 2 comparison a bit more interesting.

HP TouchPad Vs Apple iPad 2

HP launched the TouchPad tablet on its own operating system called webOS which was developed by Palm that HP acquired in 2010. Before the tablet, HP uncovered a host of smartphones on webOS platforms like HP Veer and HP Pre 3. Reportedly, the company even has plans to expand webOS as a complete PC operating system to replace Windows on its computers and laptops in the future.

We have taken a test on HP TouchPad and Apple iPad 2 assessing three key aspects of the tablets: hardware, software and multimedia. Go through the rest of the article to see what we have found out in our test of the devices.

Hardware

HP TouchPad

HP TouchPad is not an incompetent tablet as many of you may have thought while reading about it. It is indeed an enhanced gadget with high quality components. The HP tablet PC runs on a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and has 512MB RAM under the hood. The TouchPad tablet highlights a 9.7-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and storage capacity of 16GB or 32GB.

Apple iPad 2

Meanwhile, Apple iPad 2, the latest version of Apple’s tablet, mounts a high-performing 1GHz dual-core A5 processor and 256MB RAM. The market-hit tablet also has a 9.7-inc LCD display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and comes with 32GB or 64GB storage options. Do you smell the similarity between the devices' tech specs? Of course, iPad and TouchPad are almost identical.

Winner: HP TouchPad: In our assessment, the winner is HP TouchPad thanks to its dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and better hardware components. The device has large storage capacity, higher RAM and enhanced touchscreen display.

Operating system

HP TouchPad

HP TouchPad plays on the company’s own webOS operating system. HP webOS is known for its cunningly-designed user interface, greater multitasking compatibility and many other features. The software was developed by Palm but came under HP’s possession after the company took over Palm.

Apple iPad2

Apple iPad 2 runs on Apple’s iOS 4.3. Apple iOS software is indeed featured for its speed in opening up Web pages, downloading and uploading the contents.

Winner: HP TouchPad: Thanks to a better user interface, multitasking and Synergy capabilities, we have again judged webOS-based HP TouchPad as the winner.

Multimedia features

HP TouchPad

HP TouchPad has a nice looking media player that has several pre-installed applications. Managing the media player of HP TouchPad is an awesome experience and it is simple to sift through music albums in the library of the device. To top it all, TouchPad supports Adobe Flash player which will help you enjoy enhanced Web experience.

Apple iPad 2

Apple iPad highlights the much-touted iMovie media player to play music and videos. Aside from this, iMovie can help you edit the files on the go. However, Apple iPad’s lack of an Adobe Flash Player is is a major drawback.

Winner: HP TouchPad: Adobe Flash Player has always kept HP TouchPad a notch higher than Apple iPad 2 as anyone can testify.

HP touch Pad vs Apple iPad 2

The verdict

HP TouchPad is still in its infancy. It is the company’s first experiment with both its software and hardware. That means HP is yet to bring patches and improvements for many of its tablet’s shortcomings. In the meantime, Apple has been with its tablet iPad for more than a year. The company has its iOS software since 2007. In the future, we can witness the real battle between webOS and iOS, as the former will be getting some more tablets and smartphones.