Hewlett-Packard (News - Alert) is hoping that chopping $100 off of the price tag of the TouchPad has lead to more sales – and made the device more competitive with the rival iPad.

With the temporary discount, the recently released TouchPad this weekend was selling for $399 for the 16GB model and $499 for the 32GB model. A discount that runs through Sept. 10 reduced the price by $50. The $100 reduction was offered at HP or Staples (News - Alert). There is speculation other discounts could be offered.

Industry watchers say that being forced to reduce the price of a device just a month after it is launched gives an idea about its sales figures.

Critics have complained about the TouchPad’s “bugginess, weight and dearth of applications,” according to a report from Newsfactor.com. In addition, critics cite that the TouchPad has fewer apps than the iPad, and more consumers want the iPad rather than its rivals.

The Dallas Morning News also had some negatives about the TouchPad.

“The TouchPad needed either mind-blowing apps or revolutionary hardware to stand out. It has neither,” The Morning News concluded in a review carried on TMCnet. “Bottom line: The TouchPad isn't terrible. The iPad is simply better.”

In a related matter, Newsfactor.com reported that Samsung is trying to get more sales for its new tablet, the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab. A new software update was released.

There is speculation in the media that a price war could be on the horizon among the tablet devices. The models behind the competition are Android OS-based. Amazon, Sony, HTC, Huawei (News - Alert) and other companies are or will be offering tablets to compete with the iPad.

“It’s the iPad 2 that all have to beat, with its popularity propelled by 100,000 apps and its previously hard-to-get nature that undoubtedly still helps every iPad shipped sell quickly,” reported the ITWire.

The news site also predicts that the Android (News - Alert)-based tablets are “expected to see fierce price competition towards the end of this year…That tablet price war is surely coming – if not just to clear stocks to make way for all those 2012 models yet to come.”

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