( WIRED ) -- And on the 61st day , the TouchPad rose again . HP has plans to produce another round of its TouchPad tablets before the year is out , despite its earlier decision to discontinue its mobile hardware products . `` Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware , we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand , '' HP spokesman Mark Budgell wrote in a company blog post . `` As we know more about how , when and where TouchPads will be available , we will communicate that here and through e-mail to those who requested notification . '' Budgell says it will be a few weeks before devices from the additional run will be available for purchase . The blog post signals further confusion from a company in upheaval . Two weeks ago , HP announced suddenly it would end production on all of its mobile hardware , including the soon-to-be-released Pre 3 and Veer smartphones . The decision also included the company 's iPad competitor , the TouchPad , killed off a mere 49 days after its debut in July . Circulating rumors suggested third-party retailers were sitting on hundreds of thousands of unsold units . HP followed its announcement by slashing prices on remaining TouchPad inventory , reducing the price of the 16-gigabyte TouchPad to $ 100 , and the 32-gig version to $ 150 . Since the blowout sale prices , however , the company has n't been able to keep any TouchPads in stock . Retailers have been bombarded by customer requests for the cheapened devices , and dozens of retailers have reported completely selling out . Which is most likely the reason behind HP 's decision to once again beef up its inventory for a last TouchPad blast . `` Tablet computing is a segment of the market that 's relevant , absolutely , '' HP personal systems group exec Todd Bradley told Reuters in an interview . The company continues to explore licensing options for , webOS -- its proprietary operating system -- according to Bradley . There 's no guarantee , however , that HP will continue to sell the last round of tablets at a $ 100 rate . Hardware teardown website iSupply speculates that , in terms of components alone , a 16-GB TouchPad costs HP approximately $ 300 to build . That 's a $ 200 bath HP is taking on each individual unit sold , not including the cost of labor , shipping and associated expenses . HP did not immediately respond to a phone request for comment . While the resurgence in TouchPad interest may be a promising sign for HP , the company 's flip-flopping decision process is n't serving its public image . `` The only thing I know for sure that 's going on at HP is that they have completely lost control of their message , '' Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps said by e-mail to Wired.com . Epps continued , saying HP was `` sabotaging their brand with the mixed messages . '' As of today , the TouchPad is now the No . 2 best-selling tablet after the iPad , according to FastCompany . Ironically , that 's the exact position HP was vying for . Unfortunately for the company , it took bargain-bin pricing and the threat of extinction to get there . Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $ 1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT ! Click here ! Copyright 2010 Wired.com .
HP has plans to produce another run of the tablets before year is out . It will be a few weeks before devices from the additional line will be available for purchase . Now selling for $ 100 , a 16-GB tablet costs HP approximately $ 300 to purchase .