Final Verdict: Should You Go for the 9.7-inch WebOS-powered HP TouchPad? [VIDEO]

So what will it be? Will you finally go for a HP TouchPad or will you just let it pass?

Below are the reasons that might help you make up your mind.

Choose wisely.

1. Pro: One of the major areas where a TouchPad scores over an iPad is the availability of Flash. The exclusion of Flash will mean that the iPad users will be devoid of lots of flash-based videos found on the web. The TouchPad does support the Flash and, although, Apple claims that Flash won't be the standard for video in the near future, it will be available for now.

Con: The HP TouchPad is easily downed by the camera facility it offers. The iPad 2 comes with a 1 MP rear and VGA front-facing camera. The TouchPad, in comparison, comes only with a front-facing 1.3 MP camera that enables video chat. A rear-facing camera is missing.

2. Pro: The TouchPad comes with an intelligent innovative onscreen keypad where the numbers are placed on the top half of the screen. They can even be seen clearly without switching the keyboard views. The iPad, however, doesn’t have any such feature. The keyboard can even be customized according to the user’s thickness of the finger.

Con: The TouchPad has major issues with connectivity as the tablet is built only to support WiFi. The tablet does not support 3G. The iPad, in comparison, is both WiFi and 3G enabled and hence will continue to dominate the tablet market. Although HP had promised a 4G compatible tablet computer alter this year, the chances are now over.

3. Pro: One of HP TouchPad’s strongest features is its Notification feature which Apple is yet to master for its iPad. When a notification is delivered on the TouchPad, the device’s top bar lights start glowing softly. The iPad, in comparison, is late to react and the user won’t even have the slightest clue that a notification was actually delivered a long time ago.

Con: Customers have often complained about the glitches and slowness that come along with the TouchPad. Although the device is powered by a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, such complaints are very common. Frequent crashes have also been reported previously. Other glitches in the TouchPad include reported problems with the device’s email app (messages may not show properly), image viewer (images take time to rotate when you turn the screen). The iPad, in comparison with its dual-core A5 processor doesn’t have such complaints as such.

4. Pro: The TouchPad’s OS, WebOS, is a dedicated multi-tasking operating system. Multitasking is one of the finest features the TouchPad brings to the user. It is undoubtedly one of the best features that webOS has to offer. You can move freely between texts, calendars, photos, or one of the 20 other tasks that you can leave open. The tasks keep running and there is no lag or interruption once you return. The technology is similar to the Alt+Tab theory of Microsoft’s Windows 7 which makes swiping through open apps easier.

Con: The TouchPad’s battery has problems as is nowhere near what iPad has to offer. The iPad 2’s battery offers nearly 10 hours of surfing the web on WiFi, listening to music, or watching video. It even offers up to 9 hours of surfing the web using 3G data network. Don’t expect anything like this on the TouchPad.

5. Pro: The Palm App Catalog, in comparison to the Apple App Store’s 100,000 iPad dedicated apps, has only 300 tablet-optimized apps and 8,000 apps for WebOS altogether. But HP has promised that their WebOS applications will grow.

Con: On the other side of the coin, however, people aren’t as patient as they used to be. Out of the 8,000 apps in Palm's App Catalog, about 700 don't work on the TouchPad. Popular apps like Google Maps and Netflix are yet to be found on the TouchPad.

6. Pro: The Touch to Share feature lets you share content from the tablet with the webOS-powered Pre 3 (recently cancelled in the U.S.) smartphone. The webOS devices work better when they work together. A simple touch on the tablet lets you read websites on a larger screen.

Con: As HP has now decided to exit the PC business, TouchPad users will have nobody to ask for technical support. The maximum problem will be faced with the demand of a replacement product or spare parts. Bugs, later found, may also cause problems.

7. Pro: What better time is there to grab a TouchPad than now? Especially when it is being sold for $99. This is a good deal if you want a functional tablet that comes with accelerometer, light sensor, gyroscope and digital compass at a cheaper price. The TouchPad is a convincing buy at $99.

Con: The TouchPad definitely lacks that feel good factor as one of the greatest drawbacks of the tablet is its design. Its rivals, Apple and Samsung, in comparison, produce sexier and appealing devices. The device is also heavier than most of the tablets in the market at 1.65 pounds.