So you bought a $99 HP TouchPad...What Now?

Ok, so you were one of the many people who decided to take the risk and pickup one of the HP TouchPad's that were sold off this past weekend for a rather cheap $99.  What now?  Especially since it no longer has HP's support.  You'll not get any future software updates.  Not to mention app development is pretty much gone too.  And since there currently isn't a working port of Android to use on it, what exactly can you do with it?

Well, here is a short list of things you could do with it:

1- Mobile Web Surfing
You could use the device solely for surfing the web or checking your email.  Not to mention making your social network updates.  All of this can still be done via the tablet minus manufacturer support.  At least until web standards change, flash gets updates, etc.  You'll have a very competent internet tablet.

2- eReader
At $99 the HP TouchPad could be one of the cheapest eReader devices on the market at present.  You could use it to catch up on your reading with little trouble.

3- A Media Player
You can still run media files on it.  So why not slap a digital copy of your favorite movie on it and take with you when you travel (legally of course).

4- A Digital Picture Frame
Remember a couple of Christmas' ago when all the rage seemed to be digital picture frames?  A lot of those little devices are still rather pricey, so why not slap a bunch of your favorite pictures on it and display it on your desk.  And when you want to show off your vacation pictures just snatch it up and take it with you.

5- A Coffee Table Computer
For $99 you can leave it on your coffee table, much like people do with magazines.  If you have a guest over and they need to catch up on their news, or check email, or even schedule their DVR via the internet; just hand them the tablet and let them go.

6- A cheap device for the kids
Let's face it if you have kids around the house, electronics like this can take a lot of abuse (depending on their ages).  So why not give them something to let them play with as opposed to your devices.  They'll love you for it later, I promise.

7- Internet access while traveling
Why not use this solely as your means of being connected while abroad.  Ever need to pull up a confirmation email for your hotel booking?  This would be perfect for that.  And you can leave you laptop, or more expensive tablet at home.

8- Assuming someone gets a decent version of Android running...
You could turn it into a cheap Android tablet.  So far nothing has been released, but supposedly a project is in the works.  Time will tell.

Let's just face it, regardless of the TouchPad's recent boot; if you purchased one, you have a very competent tablet device and you picked it up a lot cheaper than the rest of us did with our tablets.  If you were an early adopter and picked one up when it hit the market, I'm sorry I feel your pain.  You could always offload it on eBay to someone hoping to resell it if an Android ROM hits the web.  But you'd be taking a loss on it.

So, it was an unfortunate death.  But maybe the world can make the best out of the now defunct TouchPad.