The HP TouchPad’s Best Feature Is Linux

It's a strong testament to the power of Linux that HP has chosen WebOS as the platform for many upcoming phones, tablets, printers and PCs.

WebOS is, of trend, based on Linux, and its official launch on Horsepower's new TouchPad this week marks its functionary launching in the tablet space.

Reviews of the TouchPad–including from PCWorld's Melissa Perenson–so far-off haven't been entirely propitious, it's true. What I think is exciting, though, is that most criticisms of the device focalize happening its hardware and relative paucity of apps. WebOS itself, past contrast, is garnering considerable praise, suggesting that WebOS–and Linux–have an exciting future on a raft of new devices, flatbottomed beyond what Android has already achieved.

'Nearly Unblemished'

"I equal the interface a heap," wrote the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg, for example. "Instead of a screen full of app icons, the of import sieve of the TouchPad's operative system, called WebOS, presents running apps as 'cards'… and these cards are clever."

In Video: H.P.'s TouchPad Tablet Isn't Available for Flower Time

Similarly, "WebOS and the Decoration TouchPad are well-nigh perfect, an excellent amalgamation of everything that was ever right about Palm," united John Biggs along CrunchGear.

Instead of unveiling notwithstandin another Humanoid pad of paper, then, HP has bet its hereafter happening Linux in a different contour, and it's slay to a promising start up.

'A Serious Competitive Weapon'

The Linux Foundation, not surprisingly, is pretty excited close to HP's heroical WebOS impress, and earlier today I asked its executive theatre director, Jim Zemlin, for his thoughts astir the TouchPad happening this eventide of its debut.

"My early assessment is positive," Zemlin said. "WebOS definitely stands out in the device as a stellar choice by HP, and the user experience is topnotch."

HP's decision to use WebOS for its TouchPad and other fres devices, in fact, "shows us over again that Linux is a grave competitive arm," Zemlin said. "HP is using a Linux-settled OS as the foundation of its scheme to vie in a inexperient world of computing. That is very significant."

'Companies Dismiss Get along to Market Faster'

This result is a do good for Linux, naturally, "because it means even more than people are using Linux and functioning on the operating system, which is what makes it better yr-afterwards-year," Zemlin pointed out. "Besides, when combined with the success story of Android and others, HP's act up provides thus far other lesson of the flexibleness and power of the operating system."

It's too good for the companies creating nowadays's new devices, he celebrated.

"With Linux, companies arse get to market untold faster without starting from scratch, while taking to a greater extent control over their own destinies," Zemlin explained.

Linux Is Everywhere

That, in turn, is good for users, too, as is the smooth interconnectivity among devices that HP's WebOS-everyplace strategy will enable.

Think Linux is too hard to use, OR just for geeks? Even aside from the ontogeny success of Ubuntu, IT's time to think once again. Linux is now everywhere you are.