Comment Product insinuation (Score 1) 200
It looks to me more like a way for HP to phase in a product without taking too much of a risk (burning their bridge to Microsoft before they've erected their skyway to the cloud).
Remember how for the longest time Microsoft continued to developed DOS while they were trying to perfect their Mac System clone called "Windows"? Until Win 95 came out, Windows was one mess of a barely good enough graphical interface.
Ditto for Google and their seemingly perpetual "Beta" offerings.
I suspect HP's first goal is to develop product awareness. When enough people are aware, they have the option of using WebOS as their one and only desktop operating system. Of course, this all depends on the positive reaction that WebOS would get from the tech media or social networks. If they market it correctly, then they just might beat Google to the first widely deployed Internet-centric (aka cloud, App-based, network) computer.
Microsoft might have to shoot itself in the foot to compete, as it chooses between maintaining lock-in support for its cash cow Office suite or developing an App-based OS.