WebOS is, of course, , and its official launch on HP's new TouchPad this week marks its official debut in the tablet space.

of the TouchPad--including --so far haven't been entirely favorable, it's true. What I think is exciting, though, is that most criticisms of the device focus on its hardware and relative paucity of apps. WebOS itself, by contrast, is garnering considerable praise, suggesting that WebOS--and Linux--have an exciting future on a raft of new devices, even beyond what .

'Nearly Perfect'

"I like the interface a lot," the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg, for example. "Instead of a screen full of app icons, the main screen of the TouchPad's operating system, called WebOS, presents running apps as 'cards'... and these cards are clever."

Similarly, "WebOS and the Palm TouchPad are nearly perfect, an excellent amalgamation of everything that was ever right about Palm," agreed John Biggs .