Analyse
Apotheker’s statement aligns with HP’s **August 18, 2011, press release** announcing the discontinuation of webOS hardware, including the TouchPad, due to weak sales. Market data from 2011 (e.g., *IDC*, *Gartner*) corroborated the tablet’s underperformance against competitors like Apple’s iPad. HP later **wrote down $885M** tied to webOS (per SEC filings), reinforcing the strategic pivot to software/cloud. No credible evidence contradicts the claim.
Achtergrond
HP acquired webOS via its **2010 purchase of Palm** for $1.2B, aiming to compete in mobile. However, the **TouchPad launched in July 2011** to poor reviews and sluggish sales (~25,000 units in initial weeks, per *Bloomberg*). Apotheker, then-CEO, faced pressure to refocus HP’s strategy amid declining PC margins and investor dissatisfaction.
Samenvatting verdict
Léo Apotheker’s August 2011 statement accurately reflects HP’s official decision to discontinue the TouchPad and webOS devices, as confirmed by contemporaneous reports and HP’s press releases.