HTC had the Android faithful in a frenzy at noon EST on Tuesday after it put the new Nexus 9 tablet on sale for half price just a day after making the latest iPad killer available.
Alas, the limited time offer for an unspecified number of the tablets is over after the inventory sold out. HTC was selling the 16GB edition, which has a list price of $399 and boasts Android 5.0 "Lollipop" software, for $199. (If you want to look inside the Nexus 9, check out iFixit's latest teardown.)
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Those shut out are now being directed to HTC partners Amazon, Google and Best Buy. HTC is promising more hot deals every Tuesday at noon EST this shopping season.
Once the tablet sold out, HTC's Facebook page started filling up with conspiracy theories and negative comments regarding the shortness of the sale. Some visitors experienced website issues and others said they were only offered $50 off the device.
But don't sweat it. The holiday buying season has really only begun, and Black Friday and Cyber Monday watchers urge patience (a sampling of last year's deals here). Michael Brim of BFAds.net says the big Black Friday leaks usually happen about 2 weeks before the day after Thanksgiving.
Although a big iPhone 6 discount from Sam's Club for Nov. 15 that leaked this week sort of kicked off the tech shopping season hysteria.