HP Exec: TouchPad Could Make a Comeback

Don't take off your fireproof TouchPad sale bonanza boots yet, but Reuters says HP might be bringing back the extremely short-lived tab from the depths of bargain bin hell. Could it happen? Maybe!

In an interview with the head of HP's soon-to-be-tossed consumer computer division, Todd Bradley, Reuters drops a bit of a bomb. The company's tablet, not a hundred dollar darling, could return:

Bradley said the company could resurrect HP's short-lived TouchPad tablet computer, which was introduced on July 1 before being terminated only about six weeks later.

"Tablet computing is a segment of the market that's relevant, absolutely," Bradley said.

A few things here. "Could" means nothing. HP "could" do nearly anything. Bradley's also the head of a ship that's either sinking, about to get a new captain, or at the very least, headed for some very murky waters. Anything Bradley can do to bolster confidence in both himself and his computer mill is a given. He could be just as much looking after his ass (and shareholder asses) as much as prognosticating. It's in his interest to paint a cheery picture of HP's future, which, at the moment, is about as cloudy as swamp water (and quickly reaching the same stock value!).

Still, we'd be thrilled to see the TouchPad come back and get a fair chance at making it in the world. [Reuters]