It has been quite a week for HP, following the dramatic announcement that it would be discontinuing its massive PC business in favour of focusing on higher-margin software services.

In the social media sphere, it was the impact on the HP Touchpad that garnered particular attention. Analysis by Meltwater Buzz reveals how sentiment (and sales) shifted once consumers began buying up Touchpads at the new discounted price.

The rush for the product will surprise many, given the negative reception that accompanied the Touchpad's launch earlier this year. Yet, HP's decision to slash its price saw it surpass iPad sales, and caught HP senior management by surprise.

That decision also appears to have raised questions about the current prices of tablets. Will we see the likes of Apple and Blackberry slashing prices to boost sales, or will this be an isolated incident?