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HP Will Keep Its TouchPad Around A Little Longer

DAVID GREENE, host:

And our last word in business today goes out to Hewlett-Packard, and it's make up your mind.

STEVE INSKEEP, host:

A little over a week ago, HP announced it would end production of its TouchPad tablet computer. Sales were so awful, the company thought: Why bother competing with products like Apple's iPad? So HP slashed the price to get rid of remaining inventory.

GREENE: And suddenly, consumers who hated that device at $400 seemed to love it at $99.

(Soundbite of laughter)

GREENE: The TouchPad started flying off the shelves, and some online retailers sold out over the weekend. The cut-rate tablets even began showing up on eBay.

INSKEEP: So now Hewlett-Packard says it will keep the TouchPad alive for a little while longer. It says it will crank out some more to meet, quote, "unfulfilled demand."

But HP has not announced a price. The question is how much of a loss it is willing to swallow. It does cost more than $300 to produce that tablet that's been selling now for 99.

That's the business news on MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

GREENE: And I'm David Greene. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.