Hello everyone, this is a review of the very first transformer from ASUS. I bought this device a year ago, then I had no idea how to use the Android system, because I had Toko Symbian and nokia s40, so there was a desire to try this system. Not really standing on ceremony with the choice, I went to the store and purchased this model. The reasons why I did not buy another or newer model, of course, because of the price, the functional keyboard and the discounts that I was offered. A year later, I regretted having bought this device.
Specifications
Let's start with the set of this device:
Pretty standard kit (sorry, but I threw out the box with all the manuals)
Now let's look at the device on the sides:
On the left side of the case, we see the volume control and the power button
And here we see a tray closed for a 3G SIM card and a dimanic
SIM card tray, open
Top antenna: Wifi, 3G, GPS
On the right side we see a slot for a card, speaker, mini-HDMI output, microphone, 3 and 5 output for headphones and a microphone
2. And so we got acquainted with the tablet, now we get acquainted with its charging and the USB cable. To be honest, I am not delighted with the quality and assembly of the USB cable:
That's what I'm talking about, the plastic USB case is simply removable, in addition, it cracked, I had to stick it with tape.
3.Charging:
The charging case itself seems to be durable, but it heats up terribly. There is an assumption that because of him the plastic USB case cracked
4.Finally we'll take a look at the Docking Station or Keyboard for Transformer TF101:
I was pleased with the keyboard, which pleases me more in this model, so that it has an extended battery that allows the device to work in read mode up to 14 hours. There are also 2 USB ports, Card Reader, for external drives and usb accessories and useless touch pad. (from personal experience, almost all USB accessories work, including computer mice and keyboards, but the exception is a portable CD or DVD ROM, Android is to blame, it cannot recognize disks)
Now we turn to the software part, because of which I regretted that I bought this model. On board Android 3.2, we can say the ideal software for this model, it's better not to install a newer one, the tablet is officially updated to 4.0.3, but this firmware is terrible at work, not stable, buggy. After the update, I suffered a month and after that I made root and flashed to 4.2.2, it became more stable in operation, but the functionality of the keyboard decreased, he simply did not see the drives, I thought that they were all damaged. It has become so to speak, not comfortable to work. I started looking for an alternative, I installed up to 5 firmware a day (I still think how my tablet did not turn out to be okay), and decided to return everything as it is. Of course 3.2 is not an ideal firmware, sometimes it slows down, but I can safely use all the keyboard functions. And yes the sound is louder on the official firmware.
To make new applications and games more stable, I had to overclock the processor and install the Seeder program, here are screenshots of Android itself and Benchmark:
I don’t know, maybe many will disagree with me, but Android 3.2 is very beautiful. This is the first experience that this tablet gave me, I learned how to make a root on this model and flash other pitfalls about Android software. I do not recommend buying this model now, it is already outdated.
In general, if you close your eyes to unstable software, then we can say that it is not a bad device with a dual-core processor from Nvidia Tegra 2. It holds games, some are good, some are bad, but there are a lot of applications and games in the Android Market, so with this you won't get bored with your tablet.
Those people who have read to the end, thank you for your attention. (this was my first review)... And I give advice: please, before buying devices, you need to ask what you would like to take, you may have to shell out more money, but for that you will get a good thing (although this tablet is not bad at all, but for that kind of money you can buy better) ... Thanks to all!
After Apple launched the first and then the second iPad into production, it seemed that it was simply impossible to produce something in the world of tablets, if not fundamentally new, then at least evolutionary and developing in the industry. Nothing is impossible - ASUS counted and announced a hybrid of a tablet and a netbook.
What seemed to be good, lay on the surface, but required competent implementation. The new device was named Transformer for a reason, it really knows how to turn from one type of technology into a consonant, but completely different one. And if the model is "in the assembly", then an unknowing person will not even have a thought that this stylish mini-computer in fact is not in fact such.
Having got our hands on the Transformer, we will try to find answers to the most common questions - can a tablet really replace a laptop? How successful is the alignment of the screen with the docking station? How does Android behave in the context of a cutting edge novelty? The journey into the world of a hybrid device will certainly be exciting - we open the boxes and ...
Design
We see the docking station and the tablet itself neatly packed in a protective film. When you take it in your hands, you immediately realize that the industry is alive not only with the design "a la iPad" and for your own "face" it is not at all required to invent something extraordinary. The front side is made in the spirit of the latest tablets and is completely devoid of controls - those are by default software provided in Android 3.x, which made it possible to completely deprive the front of the buttons.
The main trump card of the model lies in the back cover. It is made of durable plastic covered with a deep embossed mesh with a pattern. This has never been seen in any tablet and, if you do not embarrass yourself with conventions, is rarely found in laptops. It looks so authoritative that there is no doubt that the tablet belongs to the business class. It can be seen that the thickness of the plastic is on the order of several millimeters, that is, it does not bend in principle.
The use of matte patterned plastic sweeps away any hints of preserving prints (which cannot be said about the screen) and any other dirt. In addition, it allows the device to lie firmly in the hand and not try to slip out. On the sides there is an edging, and not from aluminum, but from metal with a color "like copper" to match the entire tablet. By the way, the same Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 did not escape claims - the lid is made in smooth plastic, subjectively significantly inferior in strength to the Transformer, besides, it noticeably sags on the hard "bottom", creating voids.
Transformer is too heavy, you can't hide it. It weighs 680 grams and is unlikely to be convenient for long-term use for girls "on weight". However, the mass is evenly distributed does not cause critical pressure on the fingers. And I don't want to call the severity a disadvantage - it is clear that the Transformer is assembled from durable reliable materials, which will only benefit its durability.
Note that the Transformer is not the most "aggravating" tablet, it failed to break the Acer ICONIA Tab record with 765 grams. Absolutely all connectors of the tablet are located on its sides, thereby saving the model from the "illness" of many colleagues in the shop - a removable cover. By its very presence, it increased the likelihood of breakage and often contributed to the formation of squeaks and backlash.
In one of the reviews, it was said that with the advent of the iPad 2, manufacturers suddenly set a course for the ultimate reduction in thickness and weight. So, ASUS did not succumb to the trend, as we see it only benefited the tablet. Its solidity is undeniable, and the very question of the build quality seems to be something unnatural.
In general, the device looks stylish, all its elements are perfectly combined with each other and noticeably distinguish Transformer against the background of competitors' crafts. The main task for the Android tablet has been achieved - the model has completely distanced itself from any associations with the iPad. And at the same time she managed to find her own unique face. Maybe this is the same alternative design to follow?
Connectors and controls
Tablets based on Android 3.x are distinguished by the complete absence of buttons on the front panel. In theory, they are replaced by painted buttons placed on the panel at the bottom of the screen, which, by the way, noticeably distinguishes such tablets from the iPad, which the raging Apple "protects" with all its might. The TF101 is no exception in this regard.
The front panel is covered with a highly reflective protective glass. At the top of the screen there is a peephole for the front camera, and to the right of it is the manufacturer's name and logo.
On the left side are all physical buttons, including three: turning the tablet on / off and adjusting the volume. A loudspeaker is located just below the small perforation.
The right side accommodates all connectors: 3.5 mm audio out, Mini HDMI, microSD card slot. There is also a second speaker.
A connector for charging connection is brought out to the bottom end and synchronization with a computer is carried out through it. On the sides of it are a pair of vents. There is nothing on the top.
The back cover completely covers the device and is not removable. On it, in addition to the manufacturer's logo, there is a camera peephole in the upper part.
Dock station
The main difference between ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 and many similar tablets is its set-top box with a keyboard, touchpad and additional connectors. As such, this accessory is more like a docking station than a means of increasing the convenience of working with a tablet. For example, a keyboard is also sold for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but there is no touchpad on it, as well as connectors (except for the power / sync connector).
The design of the TF101 keyboard is extremely interesting. In its upper part there is a bent metal grip, which can be turned only when you insert the tablet into it and change the position of the latch.
After such an operation, the device begins to very much resemble a regular netbook, especially when opened. By the way, the capture opens rather tightly.
As for the layout, in some places it is quite different from the usual one, which, however, is natural. But the symbolic keys are located in the usual places and there shouldn't be any problems. The only pity is that while the TF101 keyboard is supplied without the Cyrillic alphabet. But we were very pleased with the keys,,, and - they are all in their places. Even their size did not cause any criticism, except perhaps for the short right one. The arrow block is "squeezed" into the two lower rows of keys, which does not in the best way affect the convenience of its use. Nevertheless, here you can make a discount on the fact that we are not dealing with a laptop or netbook, and therefore you often won't have to use this unit.
The biggest difference lies in the top row of keys. Instead of a block of function keys, there is a continuous row of 17 keys of a very different purpose. So there is a return key (a kind of analogue), a couple more are responsible for the operation of wireless controllers, adjusting the screen brightness and volume, the rest call various applications and control playback in the media player. In addition, the bottom row contains a couple of "non-standard" keys. In particular, this is "Home", "Search" and calling up an additional menu.
In general, typing on such a keyboard is no less comfortable than on any 11.6-inch laptop. Of course, the office suite in Android is completely different from that in Windows, but if necessary, work with documents can be done without any problems. True, there is not enough multi-window mode, but these are details. The main thing is that if an urgent need arises, it will be quite easy to quickly create or edit a particular file with text.
To a lesser extent, the touchpad should contribute to the fast execution of work. Actually, a mouse in a touch-oriented operating system is not so much in demand. We are perfectly convinced of this in Windows 8 with its Metro shell. Android 3.x is no exception. But we will dwell on the experience of working with the mouse pointer in more detail below.
Let's say a few words about the touchpad here. It is quite large for the TF101 docking station. The designers took advantage of the entire available space. As a result, the height of the touchpad is maximum, but still it is not great. However, this was compensated by the large width. The surface of the touchpad is rough matte and allows precise control of the mouse pointer. The buttons on the bottom are thin and with a tight push.
Strictly speaking, we don't see much use for a touchpad for an Android tablet. However, there is a "side" plus, which appeared precisely because of the addition of a touchpad - the working area. It fits your wrists comfortably on it, which makes it easier to type, reduces fatigue. The keyboard for Galaxy Tab 10.1 is devoid of such "surplus", which somewhat reduces the amount of positive emotions from working with it.
But that's not all. The keyboard for ASUS TF101 is a truly unique accessory. In addition to two purely "laptop" manipulators, he adds a few more connectors to the tablet, making it almost a real laptop. In particular, these are two USB and a card reader for full-size Secure Digital memory cards. And, of course, the power connector and PC synchronization are duplicated. The latter, when connected to a dock, becomes even more relevant, since a second battery is hidden inside the accessory - it is not for nothing that the keyboard is so heavy and massive.
I am very glad that the USB connectors are fully functional. That is, you can connect not only a data carrier to them, but also, for example, an ordinary mouse. The latter works great, complementing the touchpad, as if we are dealing with a regular laptop. Of course, the performance of any peripherals, even a regular printer, can hardly be guaranteed by anyone (due to the lack of drivers for Android, and not because of the connector itself), but this functionality is already more than enough.
Coupled with USB, two card readers (the second on the tablet itself) and HDMI output, the ASUS TF101 tablet can really become a good business device. Without a docking station, this is a solid tablet, and with it - an almost full-fledged laptop, with the help of which you can quite comfortably and quickly complete an urgent and not very task.
Screen
The first generation of tablets based on Android 3.0 had the same resolution at 1280x800 pixels. This was required by artificially imposed system restrictions, and therefore most tablets automatically became potential competitors to the iPad. With the release of Android 3.2, the limitation has been lifted, but the 10.1-inch models, which include the ASUS TF101, have not changed the screen resolution and are unlikely to change (unless it will be increased).
In general, 1280x800 for 10.1 "is pretty good. The picture is quite clear, working with sites is a pleasure, you can watch large PDF documents, it is convenient to work with text files and spreadsheets. What can I say - quite recently, most laptops with a diagonal of up to 15.4 "were equipped with a screen with this resolution.
However, the advantages of the TF101 display do not end there. Another, no less important, is the type of IPS matrix. This type has long been known to provide the best viewing angles and color reproduction. Confirmation of this is clearly visible from each pixel of the screen of the tablet in question. The display is really very good and there are no complaints about it. In our subjective opinion, it is even better than the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The latter is based on PLS technology, recently commercialized by Samsung. In its principles of operation, it is very similar to IPS, however, it is about 15% cheaper in production. However, PLS has the well-known disadvantage of IPS - a black-filled screen gives off a strong purple tint. Moreover, the IPS technology practically got rid of this feature in the latest generation modifications, which also applies to the TF101.
In short, the screen of the ASUS tablet is wonderful and we had absolutely no complaints about it.
Camera
The Transformer has front and rear cameras, both located at the top of the covers in the center. If the location on the back cover is not important, then on the screen, like in a netbook, it contributes to comfortable communication in video chats, for example, via Skype. The front and rear have 1.2 and 5.0 megapixel sensors, respectively. The maximum shooting resolution is 2592x1944 pixels. LED flash and proximity and light sensors are missing.
Shooting settings are extremely few, which is surprising after Android 2.3 on smartphones. The user sets the picture quality, exposure, white balance, color effects and just a few more settings.
The quality of the pictures is ambiguous. It would seem that under the same weather conditions, the Transformer can produce both acceptable images and frankly vague ones. This is the main disadvantage of shooting - the camera does not guarantee stable quality and from time to time it gives exactly the opposite result, be it a long-range panorama or macro photography.
The front camera did not cause any complaints, at close range, for which it is intended, objects are quite clear, with natural color reproduction.
Specifications
The Transformer TF101 tablet is not the only device in the ASUS Eee Pad range. There is also a TF101G modification with a 3G module, an Eee Pad Slider SL101 with a built-in slide-out keyboard and a couple of representatives of the 12.1-inch Eee Slate - tablets based on Windows 7. However, we will compare the reviewed device with its direct competitor - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
The TF101's specs aren't that impressive. If you think about it, flagship smartphones are even better than the largest Google tablets. However, it is obvious that such a configuration is quite enough for comfortable work. Manufacturers have not pressed for high processor clock speeds, preferring a balance between CPU frequency, graphics accelerator and the number of cores. The NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip is quite suitable for these purposes. Its ARM component operates at a frequency of 1 GHz and has two cores, and the ULP GeForce video card is considered one of the best on the market for smartphones and tablets.
In terms of communication capabilities, both tablets are also very similar. They are equipped with Wi-Fi (802.11n) and Bluetooth controllers. However, the latter in ASUS TF101 is less perfect - it is based on version 2.1, while Galaxy Tab 10.1 has already "mastered" the faster version 3.0. There was no 3G module in our TF101.
The amount of RAM and permanent memory of the tablets is the same. However, about the latter, there are options. So there is a version of TF101 with 32 GB of memory, and the Samsung device can be equipped with a solid state drive of 32 and 64 GB.
However, the TF101's possible lack of built-in memory is more than compensated by the presence of a microSD card slot, which can be supplemented with another SD card reader on the docking station. And don't forget a couple of USB ports on the dock to which you can plug in external drives.
In terms of connectors, the ASUS tablet is also quite good. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has only a 3.5 mm audio jack, while the TF101 features Mini HDMI and the aforementioned USB ports on the dock. Mini HDMI can be useful for making a presentation or even watching a movie on a big screen on vacation or business trip.
As for the device screens, we wrote about the difference between PLS and IPS technologies above, and their resolution and diagonal are the same. It remains to mention the cameras. The front one turned out to be better from Samsung, and the rear one from ASUS. But, in our opinion, the difference in resolution in this case is not at all fundamental. Here you can easily get by with less - hardly anyone will often use a tablet as a camera.
We wrote about the advantage of the aluminum case above. However, its disadvantage is more weight. Compared to the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the ASUS tablet weighs over 100 grams more, which is noticeable. The docking station adds another 640 grams (almost the same as the TF101) for a total of 1.32 kg in weight. Usually 10.1 "netbooks weigh less, although they are made of plastic. But that weight is comparable to a 13.3-inch MacBook Air or any equivalent. However, all of these laptops are not equipped with a pair of batteries, which provide a significant proportion of the weight.
The operating systems remain. Both tablets were initially available with Android 3.0, but Samsung has started bulk shipments of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with Android 3.1, and ASUS is already offering an update to Android 3.2 on its website. The latter is very easy to install, which we will discuss below. In the meantime, let's see which of the tablets is faster at work.
Performance testing
Both the compared tablets are based on the same processor, have the same amount of RAM and permanent memory. The only difference between them lies in the different versions of the operating system and the shell that was preinstalled by the manufacturer. So for the most part, we can expect relative parity.
Benchmarks that test the overall system performance showed approximately the same result, with a very slight superiority to the ASUS TF101. It will obviously not be noticeable during operation.
The popular Quadrant test, on the other hand, showed a noticeable superiority of the Samsung tablet. The result could be influenced by many factors: from the OS version to the proprietary shell.
In the purely computational Linpack benchmark, both devices go head to head. The difference between them easily fits into the measurement error.
Browser tests also showed nothing unexpected. There is a difference between the tablets, but quite insignificant, which we predicted above.
It is interesting to see the results in the 3D game electopia. It offers to run the test in the device's native screen resolution, or in a kind of "compatibility mode", which means 800x480 resolution. In both cases, the expected parity can be observed.
In total, we can state that the performance of ASUS TF101 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is approximately equal. So when choosing between these devices, one should look at their other parameters.
ON
Since the third generation of Android was introduced, Google has released three versions: 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2. The first release was extremely "raw", which fully reflected the Transformer, since it was it that was installed in the first batches of the device. And here ASUS has set a good example for current and future Android tablet manufacturers.
The company has organized a quick and easy way that allows the user to painlessly carry out the system update operation. If you omit some details, then the owner of the Transformer only needs to download the firmware from the official website, copy it to the internal memory, after which the device will itself find the new version of the OS and offer to update. Further, just a few touches will lead to the fact that the system independently "grows up" to the latest version.
What's even more impressive is that after the update, system settings and files in the internal memory are completely saved. Therefore, the user will not have to make any "backups". ASUS has clearly shown that the installation mechanism has been worked out, so with the release of Ice Cream Sandwich, no additional steps will have to be taken to deploy it.
Installing Android 3.2 gives a tangible increase in performance, menu transitions become smoother and faster, and the list of pre-installed services is also noticeably expanded.
When you turn on the tablet, you can see the unlock "ring" like HTS Sense. We remove the "lock" and get to the main menu. In it, Android shows its more visible drive to separate smartphones from tablets with the introduction of a local taskbar.
In the lower left corner are the same buttons that allowed the device to get rid of the physical control buttons: return to the previous screen, go to the main table and call up a vertical list of the last launched tasks.
On the right side of the line there is a "tray" area, where you can see all notifications related to wired and wireless connections.
There is a shortened submenu and an extended one with several popular options.
There are only five desktops to form the working environment. The central one is also subject to change, which is necessary in light of the far from the best set of labels.
In the upper right corner, by clicking on the "+" button, the user enters the menu for setting screen elements. Here, in the appropriate tabs, there are widgets, shortcuts for all available programs and wallpapers.
Let's go to the applications menu, where we will study the pre-installed elements.
First on the list is the Kindle online store, in the only possible English version with the only possible books in English. How necessary is its presence in tablets sold in the CIS is a rather rhetorical question.
As always, there was a place for Google services, invariably there is an email client Gmail, Google Talk and Google search. In addition to Gmail, there is also an "omnivorous" mail program.
An interesting element is the Layar service, which the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 lacks. It is a kind of program from the future and is intended for use with a camera. Walking around the city, you can aim the lens at various architectural structures and get information on them without manual search, if there is one. The app determines the direction of gaze and the location of the user in order to display information.
Reading books is organized in a separate application with a visual shelf of available publications.
Movie Studio remained a mystery to us. Logically speaking, he is called upon to edit images, but he did not accept any of the proposed files. More precisely, he reported a notification at the end of the video process, but never showed it.
MyCloud is a collection of two cloud services. MyContent stores media content on a server on the Internet, making it available wherever you are. MyDesktop allows you to remotely control your computer, again, regardless of its location.
PressReader and Zinio Reader are convenient services for buying magazines and newspapers, of which there are hundreds of items to choose from on a wide variety of topics. For those who do not want to pay for content, PressReader will be the most popular. It has enough Russian editions, and for each half a dozen fresh issues you can download free of charge.
MyNet begs for an analogy with Samsung AllShare and opens access to materials on the tablet from other devices in range via Wi-Fi.
The Standard Gallery may well disappoint - there are practically no editing settings, this is an unforgivable omission against the background of HTC and Samsung shells.
The file manager allows you to perform operations both with individual folders and files, and with their arrays. It is necessary to mark the objects of interest, after which a context menu with the operations of copying, cutting and deleting will appear.
Not without the Tegra Zone store, which presents games specifically for NVIDIA Tegra. The titles have extremely attractive graphics, but there are still too few of them - we think that over time the assortment will become much larger, since the NVIDIA hardware platform has become practically the standard for 10-inch tablets.
Navigation is more than standard, Google services are always ready to find their way and indicate where the user is.
The revamped Android Market features a tiled menu, but may also return to a more familiar list by app category.
Music is one of the biggest disappointments in Android 3.2. The settings are kept to a minimum, there is not even an equalizer and sorting of tracks by performer.
Despite the absence of a shortcut, the system has a built-in player, which flatly refuses to "befriend" videos in 720p and 1080p formats. Variations with players made it possible to achieve playback of one of the files in normal mode, but no more. There were no problems with the same files on a Samsung Galaxy R smartphone based on the same hardware platform. Let's make a reservation that the high resolution of the screen may be to blame. In addition, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has an absolutely identical situation.
In continuation of common tasks, we will mention reading PDF files. It is almost impossible - if the general rendering of the page takes a tolerable couple of seconds, then any approximation will make you wait up to 30-40 seconds, which is simply unacceptable.
Strange changes happened to the keyboard - ASUS decided to replace the Android standard unit with a proprietary, but extremely far from ideal solution and, moreover, extremely paradoxical. The gray palette with blurry edges is a direct hello from the archaic Android 2.1. Narrow elongated letters in portrait orientation are a premise from the same distant version. Otherwise, this is a standard Android keyboard, so it begs to be replaced with more convenient variations of independent developers.
The browser compensates for the limited functionality of the Transformer. First and foremost, it supports full-fledged tabs. That is, on the top panel you see a list of all tabs as on a computer. The browser rendered bulky sites stably, did not frequent departures and worked at a high level. Perhaps not all videos, with the exception of those from YouTube, wanted to be launched.
As a check mark, let us mention ordinary applications, whose visual variations do not affect the main purpose in any way: a voice recorder, a calculator and a calendar.
With the docking station connected, the tablet turns into almost a full-fledged netbook. Practically - because its limitations are caused purely by the capabilities of Android and the lack of a multi-window mode. Let's say you can't see a player, an open text document and a browser on the same window. However, if there is no need for this, then Transformer is a very good solution.
The main advantage of the docking station is that together with it the tablet looks like an absolutely modified ready-made solution, which the rest of the manufacturers can only focus on. He can say with confidence that in terms of design, materials, performance and overall thoughtfulness, the Transformer will not even have far-fetched competitors for a long time to come. And this is another victory over the iPad, since nothing of the kind is even planned by Apple.
As we already wrote, the docking station is equipped with two whole USB ports. ASUS could have limited itself to one port, but it would have looked like a demonstration opportunity, here the unit turns the hybrid into an efficient workstation.
The connection of a regular USB mouse is supported. This is not the end of it, the device is even capable of recognizing and working correctly with external keyboards! Also, flash drives are correctly serviced, except that Android cannot cope with hard drives.
For control, not only an external mouse is suitable, but a built-in touchpad with two buttons. The left one is responsible for the "click", while the right one returns to the previous screen. Regardless of the connected devices, the touchscreen remains functional. This is extremely convenient, since sometimes it is faster to point directly with your finger to the required element than to move the mouse pointer over it. The mouse is really not very useful on Android. This system is "sharpened" for finger control, while the mouse pointer is useful for "aiming" at something small. In a browser it is more or less useful, when working with documents it also works well, but otherwise there is little sense from a touchpad or an external mouse.
The keyboard takes some getting used to like any other in a regular netbook. Further, short key travel provides fast typing, and the Polaris Office suite provides a powerful alternative to Microsoft Office. If you have not yet encountered this open package, then let us clarify - it performs all the basic functions of viewing and editing in text and spreadsheet documents. Therefore, both for students at lectures, and for those who just need to work with text "on the go", Transformer becomes a competent assistant.
Plus, the docking station has its own battery, so the total battery life of the tablet increases to the stated 16 hours. Needless to say, the achievement exceeds that of netbooks and makes the Transformer ideal for long trips and air travel.
Output
Summing up, I would like to focus on the Transformer as a completely new generation of tablet devices that change the idea of the purpose and capabilities of this class of devices. After Transformer, questions about why analysts in their reports began to equate tablets with computers by themselves disappear.
From the point of view of practicality of execution, ASUS has turned out to be an ideal product. It has no structural flaws, the body is made of strong and reliable materials, as well as the docking station. The set is convenient and organically combined with touch controls, and support for external devices and storage devices, coupled with a sensitive touchpad, elevate the Transformer to a level unattainable before for tablets.
And as much as the work done by ASUS is impressive, the “rawness” of Android even in version 3.2 is so disappointing. The system still hasn't learned how to read PDF properly, and a small set of codecs and poor optimization makes viewing video in 720p almost impossible.
Be that as it may, Transformer looks like a sensible and complete product, and software flaws, unlike hardware ones, can always be fixed, which Google is constantly doing.
We have already written many times that it is almost impossible to create a universal mobile device. Therefore, there is no need to make excessive demands on tablets and netbooks - you just need to understand in what situations and for what purpose you are going to use these devices. And then there is a chance that you will choose the device just for you. However, many manufacturers are still trying to meet multiple user expectations and create products that expand our understanding of typical mobile use cases. As a rule, such products are interesting in terms of ideas, attractive to the researcher, but not very suitable for use in real life. But there are also exceptions to the rule. Today we have to study just such an exception: an extremely unusual product that not only pleases with its originality, but also causes a strong desire to use it after the first acquaintance. We are talking about the transformable tablet Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101.
By its name, this device unambiguously indicates the "pedigree" - the EeePC series netbooks. As you know, Asustek Computer Inc. was one of the pioneers in this area, and almost the most successful. And when last year, in the wake of the popularity of tablets, there was talk that they would oust netbooks from the market, ASUS engineers and strategists, presumably, decided to prove that, firstly, it is too early to write off netbooks, and secondly, quite you can combine the advantages of a netbook and a tablet in one device. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer has become such a device.
For the first time information about him appeared at the end of last year, and even then it was clear that this was a very serious and promising application. And at the end of March this year, the official announcement took place. At the time of this writing, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer was well represented in Russian stores, but it should be noted that we are talking only about the version without 3G. The version with a 3G module will appear only in August. But, of course, this does not prevent us from getting to know the Asus Eee Pad Transformer and get a general impression of it. Fortunately, the 3G version does not offer any significant differences (apart from, of course, the presence of a cellular module).
Contents of delivery
The tablet came to our test along with the Docking Station (a docking station, which is a keyboard with a touchpad, an additional 24.4 Wh battery, an SD card reader and a pair of USB 2.0 ports). In two large boxes. Why not one? Because the docking station is sold separately. However, there are configurations that imply the presence of both a tablet and a docking station in the same kit, but we had exactly "separate" options for testing.
Quick start guides were found in the boxes, as well as a charger and a cable for connecting to a computer.
At the same time, the package bundle cannot be called ideal: it's a pity that there is no case for the tablet.
| Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 | Acer Iconia Tab A500 | ASUS Eee Pad Transformer | Apple iPad 2 | |
| Screen (size in inches, type of matrix) / resolution, pixels | 10.1 ″, PLS / 1280x800 | 10.1 ″, MVA / 1280x800 | 10.1 ″, IPS / 1280x800 | 9.7 ″, IPS / 1024x768 |
| CPU | 2-core 1 GHz (NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform) | 2-core 1 GHz (NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform) | 2-core 1 GHz (Apple A5) | |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 512 MB |
| Flash memory | 16 to 64 GB | 16 or 32 GB | 16 or 32 GB | 16 to 64 GB |
| Memory card support | no / microSD in 3G version | microSD | microSD | no (via accessory for photo upload only) |
| Wireless connection | Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n) / 3G (on select models) / BT 3.0 | Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n) / BT 2.1 + EDR | Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n) / 3G (on select models) / BT 2.1 + EDR | |
| Camera (photo) | Front (2 Mp), Rear (3 Mp) | Front (2 Mp), Rear (5 Mp) | Front (1.2 Mp), Rear (5 Mp) | Front (0.3 Mp), Rear (0.7 Mp) |
| Dimensions (mm) | 256.7 x 175.3 x 8.6 | 260 x 177 x 13 | 271 × 171 × 12.98 * | 241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8 |
| Weight (g) | 565 | 760 | 680 * | 601 |
| Price ** (rubles) | From 18990 | From 14990 | From 16290 (without docking station) | From 18990 |
* - indicated weight and dimensions of the tablet only, without the docking station. Docking station weight - 640 g, dimensions: 271 x 185 x 28 mm.
** - prices are indicated at the time of publication of the article.
Tablet design
Now let's take a look at the appearance of the tablet. It looks stern and very solid. The metal (and, moreover, not aluminum) edging immediately commands respect, and thanks to the corrugated plastic back surface, it is very pleasant to hold the tablet in your hands.
Although it is very weighty (apparently, because of the metal). I am glad that Asus designers did not imitate Apple - the "transformer" has an individuality, its own face.
With connectors and buttons on the tablet itself, the situation is as follows: on the left is a volume rocker and an on / off button (all made of metal). There are no connectors and buttons on top, on the right is a headphone jack, mini HDMI and a slot for a microSD memory card.
Below is the Dock Connector: a docking station, a charger are connected through it, and using the supplied cable, you can connect the tablet to a desktop computer.
To the right and left of this connector, we see the slots for the snap-on locks. So, everything you need (in terms of connectors) is there. In general, the design of the tablet should be recognized as one of the best among modern models of the same class.
But the look and functionality of the device can be radically transformed thanks to the docking station. Let's connect it and see what we get.
Docking station design
The docking station looks like a keyboard with a touchpad and is made from the same materials and in the same color scheme (combination of black and dark bronze). Docking station weight - 640 g, dimensions: 271 x 185 x 28 mm.
The entire surface from the keyboard side is metal, and the bottom is corrugated plastic, completely similar to what we see on the back of the tablet.
Therefore, the appearance of the entire structure (tablet + docking station) is great.
This is what a business netbook should look like (if such a phrase is possible). Yes, it’s a netbook! When you first look at the Asus Eee Pad Transformer with a connected docking station, you won't even think that it is based on a tablet! The only thing that betrays the "composite" origin of this device is a metal cradle (cradle), in which, in fact, the tablet is installed. The cradle has a latch that automatically locks when the tablet is inserted. If you want to remove the tablet, just slide the latch lever to the left - and the tablet is easily detached!
Now about the connectors. As we mentioned earlier in the text, the docking station is also equipped with some ports and slots that complement those available on the tablet itself. So, on the left side there is a USB 2.0 port and a client Dock Connector (it is needed for recharging or connecting to a computer when the main Dock Connector on the tablet is used when connected to the docking station).
There is nothing on the front to the user, and on the right there is a slot for working with SD cards (work with MMC / SD / SDHC is supported) and a second USB 2.0 port. Note that both USB ports are protected by plugs, so you don't have to worry about dirt getting in there. True, when you want to connect a flash drive, these plugs get in the way - you can't connect a flash drive with one hand.
When the tablet is connected to the docking station, the notification "Docking station connected" appears on the screen in the lower right corner, and when you select a typing language, not only the virtual keyboard, but also the Asus keyboard is offered.
Keyboard layouts and positioners
The keyboard layout deserves a separate discussion. The manufacturer quite rightly judged that a standard laptop layout is not enough here, it is necessary to adapt the keyboard to the Android OS. And this adaptation was a success.
The Android keys on the Eee Pad Transformer keyboard are located in the bottom and top rows. Below is the Home button (in the same place where the Windows button is usually located), next to it is Search, and on the right side of the row is Menu. And in the top row there are buttons "Back", "Turn on / off Wi-Fi", "Turn on / off Bluetooth", "Turn on / off the touchpad", "Decrease brightness", "Increase brightness", "Auto brightness", "Clear screenshot ”(a very valuable Android button!),“ Browser ”,“ Settings ”, three playback control keys, three sound control keys (“ Off ”,“ Zoom out ”and“ Zoom in ”) and a button to exit to standby mode.
The key travel is pleasant, the Asus keyboard is much more pleasant to work with than with the keyboards of most netbooks that I have seen - here Asus has maintained the quality standard that is characteristic of notebooks from this company.
There is also a touchpad - like the keyboard, there are no complaints about it, it works without problems.
Screen
The tablet is equipped with a 10.1-inch screen, which is based on an IPS matrix. The resolution is 1280 × 800. Thus, the owners of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer will receive a picture of no less quality than the owners of the iPad. And by the way, Asus is one of the few manufacturers that use IPS screens in their tablets. This is a very big plus. As for the subjective impressions from the screen of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, they are the best: the colors are saturated, the brightness reserve is sufficient (although in the sun you have to twist it to the maximum), there are no complaints about the responsiveness of the screen.
In connection with the screen, we would like to note an interesting feature related to the issues of ergonomics. As you already understood, a tablet with a connected docking station can be controlled (that is, execute some commands - for example, exit to the main menu) in four ways: using the function keys on the keyboard, using a touchpad connected via USB with a mouse, and using the touch screen. And in this, at first glance, there is some redundancy. But you get used to such opportunities very quickly. And then, changing to a regular netbook or laptop, you constantly catch yourself thinking that you want to scroll a web page with your finger across the screen, click on some icon, etc.
Operating system and software
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 runs the latest version of Google Android OS - 3.1. On the Russian market, this is the first tablet with 3.1 - Samsung tablets with the same OS version will be available later, and the Acer Iconia Tab A500 is sold with 3.0 (however, users can upgrade to 3.1). By the way, owners of Transformer can already upgrade to version 3.2, but we studied the tablet with version 3.1 installed by default.
Of the differences in version 3.1, we will name, first of all, the broader multitasking capabilities. In version 3.0, the number of simultaneously open applications (displayed as a vertical row of thumbnails on the left side of the desktop) was limited to five, now this limitation has been removed. It became possible to connect various devices, joysticks, gamepads, etc.
In addition, a step forward has been made in terms of supporting various video formats, although the situation is still not entirely clear: where is the “border” between the “areas of responsibility” of the operating system, the software player (with a set of codecs) and the device itself? We will definitely return to this issue in future articles. And on top of that, be sure to check out the cloud capabilities of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer - they are provided by a number of exclusive Asus pre-installed apps. These are MyNet, which allows you to transfer media files over your wireless home network, and MyCloud, which allows you to access digital content on the Internet and allows you to remotely access your computer (PC or Mac).
The browser in Android 3.1 supports Adobe Flash and displays sites with a wide variety of multimedia content quite correctly. Perhaps the convenience of Android 3.x browser surpasses Safari on the iPad. Needless to say about functionality - iOS still lacks support for Adobe Flash.
Note also that the Asus Eee Pad Transformer has Polaris Office installed as an office suite, which is becoming more and more popular and will soon, presumably, squeeze Documents To Go.
But, of course, you can install another office suite, as well as a wide variety of additional software. As expected, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer has an Android Market.
In addition, there is also the Tegra Zone games store. As the name implies, it is designed specifically for mobile devices using the NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform and is supported by NVIDIA. A big plus of the store for the user is that the games in it are optimized specifically to work on the NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip (which will be discussed below).
Let's note one more point. For the current version of Asus Eee Pad Transformer there is an unofficial firmware that allows you to connect a 3G modem to the tablet. The disadvantage of such a decision is obvious, but if you really need it, then you should bear in mind this possibility.
Performance and battery life
In terms of the platform used, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer keeps pace with its main competitors: this is the SoC NVIDIA Tegra 2, which includes a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz, as well as 1 GB of RAM. The NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip has become the de facto standard for tablets in 2011 - now we can say for sure. Almost all new items from major manufacturers are based on the Tegra 2 platform. But, of course, with the exception of the iPad 2. However, the Apple A5 chip, which powers the iPad 2, has the same characteristics (dual-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz) and architecture (ARM) ... Therefore, it makes no sense to talk about the superiority of one or the other (and the applications are different, so even adequately testing this is problematic, as we already wrote about in the review of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 tablet).
However, to be fair, here are the results of two tests run on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer: Quadrant Standard (Android application) and SunSpider 0.9.1 (web test). In the Quadrant Standard, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer showed a very strange, implausible result - only 1528 (while other Tegra 2 tablets are gaining more than 2000). Probably, the fact is that at the time of testing the tablet, the Quadrant developers had not yet had time to optimize their test for Android 3.1. But SunSpider reported quite logical results: with different launches, they varied from 2158 to 2143 ms (the fewer the number of milliseconds in this test, the better).
When it comes to battery life, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer without a docking station can compete with the BlackBerry PlayBook and even the iPad. In active mode (online video, installing applications, etc.), its Li-Polymer battery of 24.4 Wh lasts almost 7 hours, but in the “simplified” web surfing mode (without launching “heavy” content ) The Asus Eee Pad Transformer has a lifespan of about 10 hours. As a reminder, the docking station has an additional battery, and in the minimum load mode (thoughtful reading and text editing) the battery life is almost doubled (according to Asus, with the docking station connected, the Eee Pad Transformer tablet can work up to 16 hours). It is clear that this is an incomparably better result than that of "regular" netbooks.
Cameras
Again, in full accordance with modern trends, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer is equipped with two cameras - 1.2 megapixel (front) and 5 megapixel (rear). The quality of the photos taken with the rear camera is not bad, but not outstanding.
But the video pleased us: firstly, the 720p resolution (however, this is already becoming a standard), and secondly, the absence of serious artifacts (even small moving objects are quite distinguishable). For video recording, the H.264 codec is used. The 30-second video is 39.5 MB in size.
conclusions
In general, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 tablet should be recognized as a very successful and interesting product. Moreover, at the moment this is perhaps the best tablet based on Android 3.1 OS. And the 3G version of the tablet, coupled with a docking station, will be a particularly good purchase. True, the cost of such a purchase will probably be in the region of 26 thousand rubles, but for its versatility, good design and excellent quality, this is quite an adequate price for our market. And while it seems to us that the pursuit of universality in the field of mobile devices is an unreliable and not always expedient path, Asus has managed to prove that sometimes excellent results can be achieved along this path.
However, if you only need a tablet and it is based on the Android OS, and not a netbook, then the Asus Eee Pad Transformer looks great in this capacity, and there is no reason not to put this product in the first rows of the list of contenders for purchase.
For the excellent implementation of the original idea, wide functionality and representative appearance, we award the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer tablet (in a package with a docking station) the Original Design award.
More recently, the pioneering ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 was released on the Android 3.1 operating system. Now the company has introduced the TF201. Interestingly, there was already a predecessor, and in the name of the latter we read Prime, which means "first". Most likely, this is due to the fact that this tablet is the first with a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor on board. There are not only similarities between these two models, but also significant differences. Let's see how successful the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 is.
Specifications
Design
To begin with, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 has a compact size of 263x180.8x8.3 mm and a light weight of 586 grams. Accordingly, these dimensions do not include the docking station. Manufacturers offer a choice of tablets in two colors: gray ("Amethyst Gray") and golden ("Champagne Gold"). Both the first and the second color are excellent, and most importantly, they look modern.
At first glance, it is clear that the Prime TF201 can be both stylish and fashionable, as well as very solid. The body of the tablet is all-metal with rounded edges and a smooth matte surface. Although fingerprints remain on it, they are not so visible.
The back cover of the tablet has a pleasant smooth surface with concentric circles. On it you can see only the company logo and the rear webcam lens.
As for the upper part of the tablet, there is nothing on it, except for the display itself and the peephole of the built-in front camera. There are no functional buttons on the frame, and the frame itself has the optimal width so that while holding the tablet in your hands, you do not constantly touch the surface of the screen.
By the way, the tablet does not come with a docking station. For it you will have to pay about two hundred American dollars. Those who are going to buy should know that it looks like a regular keyboard from above, only it is endowed with more functionality, in particular a USB port.
The look of the Champagne Gold docking station will be in harmony with the design of the tablet. For example, the surface is made of aluminum and the sanding is present. True, in the Prime TF201 itself, it is concentric, while here there are longitudinal stripes.
By the way, it will be quite easy to connect the docking station to the tablet. A large and rather tight mount is responsible for this. There are rubber feet on the surface, allowing the already "newly formed" device to sit comfortably on the table surface.
Returning to the “one tablet” position is also easy. The mount provides a special lever, by bending which you disconnect the ASUS Transformer Prime TF201 from the docking station.
Display and sound
The TF201 model has a 10.1-inch capacitive display with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. The screen has a tough Gorilla Glass protective coating and is highly scratch and shock resistant. In addition, the matrix has an excellent 600-nits brightness level and high contrast, which will make it possible to use the tablet outdoors in sunny weather. At the same time, both the image and the texts will be clearly distinguishable and rather saturated. Well, you can get used to the fact that the display is glossy, because somehow glare and reflections will be on it.
Separately, we note that the high-quality IPS + screen has sufficiently wide viewing angles (178 degrees), so even two people can see everything that will be on the screen without any distortion. In addition, a feature of the display is the recognition of various gestures. Thus, using the touch screen, you can zoom in and out, use scrolling.
Also, one cannot fail to mention other additional features. For example, thanks to the accelerometer, you can see the image on the display in both portrait and landscape orientations. And with a compass and 3-axis gyroscope, your tablet will know your every move. It is quite convenient when working with cards and in games.
ASUS Transformer Prime TF201 has two webcams. One front, with a resolution of 1.2 megapixels. It is advisable to use it for video calls. There is a light sensor next to it, so the brightness level of the display adjusts automatically depending on the lighting.
The second camera (rear) with LED flash is provided for photos and videos. Its resolution is an order of magnitude higher - 8 megapixels. Note that the rear webcam is equipped with an autofocus function and has the ability to shoot HD video in 1080p. Also, the owner will be able to select the shooting mode and image parameters. In general, both videos and photos will leave a pleasant impression, as they will be clear and natural.
The Prime TF201 has two speakers. The sound coming out through them will not be too loud, but clean enough. For a tablet, this sound is entirely sufficient. Moreover, you can always plug in headphones.
Keyboard and touchpad
You can use the keyboard to type text. Moreover, in addition to the virtual one in the tablet itself, you can use the physical one on the docking station. As mentioned, it can be purchased at an additional cost. The physical keyboard has an almost standard layout. In other words, the functional buttons "Home", "Menu" and "Back", typical for Android devices, have been added to the usual layout. In terms of ergonomics, the keyboard is very comfortable. The buttons are pressed softly with a quiet click. The key sizes are acceptable for fast typing.
By the way, you can take your own notes in the pre-installed SuperNote application. This can be done both with the keyboard and with your fingers.
The touchpad has a small footprint, comparable to the touch area in netbooks. The manipulator is sensitive enough, so there will be no problems in control.
Performance
Tablet ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 runs on the pre-installed operating system Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). This version has a number of features. These include a face unlock function, syncing bookmarks with Google Chrome, and improved multitasking, thanks to which the work with running applications will be faster. In addition, manufacturers have made it easier to access the camera and updated the gallery functionality. In particular, you can process photos in the same place, since the editor is built into the gallery itself.In addition, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 uses a third-generation quad-core processor with an additional fifth core to save battery life. There is also 1 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. In fact, NVIDIA Tegra 3 with a clock speed of 1.4 GHz is several times more productive and energy efficient in comparison with the Tegra 2 processor. Note that this frequency is typical when only one core is loaded. And if all four work, then the frequency will be 1.3 GHz. By the way, with such a CPU and with ULP GeForce graphics, you can play various toys, not only on the tablet screen, but also on the large display. At the same time, gamers will not be able to fail to appreciate the detailed image that allows you to really immerse yourself in what is happening, and the high graphics performance in 3D games. Note that the user can download or buy games in the NVIDIA Tegra Zone.
Note that in case of a shortage of 64 GB of memory, you can use the online storage ASUS WebStorage, which provides another 8 GB of disk space.
By the way, there are no problems with video decoding either. When playing various formats, including Full HD, there were no delays.
It is also worth noting that the tablet heats up noticeably under load. However, it does not create much discomfort.
Ports and communications
We will consider the location of ports in the Transformer Prime TF201 in landscape orientation.So, on the left side of the tablet is the micro-HDMI interface. It can be used to display an image or video on an external display. Also on the left there is a slot for MicroSD, a microphone and a rocker button, with which you can adjust the sound level. It should be added that thanks to the SD card, you can increase the memory capacity.
On the opposite side of the Transformer Prime TF201, there is only a headphone / microphone combo jack.
As for the other two ends, at the bottom there is a connector for connecting a docking station (it is also for charging) and two holes for its attachment, and at the top there is a tablet power button and a microphone. When you purchase a docking station, you can use an additional USB 2.0 port, hidden by a cover, and an SD card slot. There is also a charging connector on the docking station.
The owner of this tablet can use both Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n and Bluetooth version 2.1. But the 3G module is not provided here. But in the Eee Pad TF201 there is support for the GPS function, which allows you to determine the location of objects.
Battery
The Prime TF201 has a 3380mAh (25Wh) lithium polymer battery. However, you have the option of getting another battery in the docking station. This battery has a capacity of 22 Wh. Note that if the tablet is powered only by a battery in the tablet, then the time when playing 720p video and half the volume will be about 9 hours, working with texts will take at least 11, and you can play for 8 hours. By the way, provided the Super IPS + mode is turned off, the tablet will work even longer without recharging. If you purchase a docking station and connect it to the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, then you can safely add another 4-5 hours.To extend the battery life, you can set one or another performance mode. For example, "Energy Saving" or "Balanced".
We add that charging the tablet lasts no more than three hours.
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Conclusion
So, this tablet is worthy of the closest attention. It is quite efficient, since it is equipped with a powerful Tegra 3, functional, ergonomic. In addition, the Transformer Prime TF201 pays attention to the appearance (stylish and solid design at the same time) and the practical side (metal body). If you want to get not just a tablet, but a full-fledged netbook on the Android operating system, you will have to add a few hundred dollars to purchase a docking station.
Apparently, such a device will appeal to literally everyone, both those who often travel, and everyone who likes to while away an hour or two at home playing a game or to listen to music.
In the segment of tablets running Android 3.x, key companies of the IT market are represented. The ability to choose among competing options is an absolute advantage for the buyer, but he must be prepared for a high degree of similarity between offers. So, most of them have an NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip, which provides comparable performance. And the use of the same software platform guarantees identical (or close to it) functionality.
It is not surprising that in order to convince in the superiority of their model, manufacturers implement additional features that distinguish it from competitors. For example, Samsung is betting on the proprietary TouchWiz UX interface, while LG is trying to attract attention with the tablet's 3D functions. ASUS focused on design.
The result was the emergence of two Android tablets - Slider and Transformer. Both devices received a physical QWERTY keyboard, the form factor is reflected in the names. In the Slider, the keyboard is housed in a sliding case, while in the Transformer it is housed in a detachable docking station.
The advent of such an accessory makes the tablet much more versatile. It is no coincidence that the full name of the ASUS model can be traced back to netbooks, which had a real boom a little earlier. Will a device like the one under review replace high-selling netbooks? Or will it be a niche product? Let's try to figure it out.
Appearance
Let's take a look at the TF101 separately as a tablet first. Due to the use of a 10.1-inch display, it is large and also weighty. The device weighs 680g (without docking station attached), which is over 100g heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. On the other hand, another competitor of the reviewed tablet, Acer ICONIA Tab A500, weighs 760 g. It will be inconvenient and difficult to hold the Transformer in one hand precisely because of its impressive weight.
The shape of the tablet is also determined by the matrix. Since the latter is widescreen, the body, repeating the proportions of the display, is elongated, the width is much greater than the height. For this reason, it is much more comfortable to use the tablet in landscape orientation rather than portrait orientation.
The body is made of plastic, but the design of the material leaves a “metallic” impression upon first acquaintance (as will be mentioned a little later, metal elements are indeed present in the structure, but they are not the main ones). The tablet as a whole is decorated quite "expensive", effectively. The Transformer color scheme is unusual, the plastic has a bronze tint. Such a choice is both neutral (not flashy, not defiant) and unusual, rare.
The back of the device (in netbook mode it acts as a lid) has a grooved surface to avoid slipping. In addition, such a surface makes possible physical damage less visible. Practical design is an indisputable advantage of the model. The assembly is of high quality, the body gives the impression of being strong and resistant to external influences. The structure is strengthened by a metal edging used at the ends of the case.
The layout of the Eee Pad Transformer main unit is as follows. In the upper part of the left side, at a short distance from each other, there is a power button and a volume rocker. It is most convenient to press them with your index finger if you hold the device with both hands on the weight. On the right side there is a slot for microSD memory cards (without a cap), a miniHDMI port and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Speaker slots are located at both ends described. The built-in stereo speakers are very loud, the sound is shrill at maximum values, and even uncomfortably loud in a quiet environment. Using the maximum volume does not negatively affect the playback quality - no noise or other audio distortions were noticed.
The top end is free of any additional elements, but on the bottom you can find a proprietary connector designed to connect a cable, charger or docking station. On both sides of it there are grooves that serve to attach the tablet itself to the docking station. Let's tell you more about it.
Dock station
Thanks to the docking station, the device in question takes on the appearance typical of an ordinary 10-inch netbook. The area to which the tablet is connected is provided with a hinge. This allows you to adjust the tilt of the screen in relation to the keyboard and fold the TF101 like a laptop. This can be very convenient when transporting compared to carrying the two body parts separately. For example, a similar accessory was presented for the popular Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. However, the latter has a fixed mount in the docking station; it will not be possible to fold both parts into a one-piece case.
The tablet is securely attached to the station; when folded, the halves of the case do not stagger relative to each other. To detach parts, you must use a special lever.
The docking station gives TF101 owners a physical QWERTY keyboard. By its design and parameters, it is as similar as possible to the corresponding blocks in netbooks. The keys are square, slightly spaced apart. They are located more densely than in ordinary laptops, so the first time when typing blindly (without previous experience using netbooks), there is a high probability of false presses of adjacent buttons.
In addition to alphanumeric designations, there is also a set of function keys adapted for the Android platform. So, in the bottom row there are buttons "Home", "Search" and "Menu" for performing the corresponding actions.
The whole upper row of buttons is also filled with function keys. With their help, you can turn on wireless modules, control the player, change the volume and brightness of the backlight, go to the settings or browser, take screenshots.
The touchpad, located under the keyboard unit, has a small area, which can cause discomfort at first. When the touchpad is used, an unusual pointer appears on the screen - a small ring instead of a mouse. Since all the elements of the Android 3 interface are large, this does not cause inconvenience when controlling the "transformer" and, in the subjective opinion, looks very stylish.
The keys, however, are not the only advantage of the docking station. It has an additional battery that extends the battery life (more on this in the corresponding section of the review), as well as additional ports. Of most interest are the two USBs. The interface is useful for connecting other accessories: a mouse (a normal cursor is displayed on the display when using it), an external storage device. Other portable devices (players, smartphones) can also be powered from the tablet when connected via USB. In addition, at the ends of the docking station there is a reader for SD memory cards and one more jack for connecting a proprietary cable.
Display
The Eee Pad Transformer boasts an installed IPS matrix. This gives the model a head start over its Android competitors, which most often use TFT displays. Objectively evaluating the screen, you can see the advantages of IPS technology (better contrast or resistance to sunlight), but it would be wrong to say that they leave the competition behind.
A head-to-head comparison of the TF101 and iPad 2 displays (both made using the same technology) is slightly better in quality. This is a bit surprising, since the ASUS variant looks more attractive in formal terms (pixel density, for example).
When looking at the screen of the Eee Pad Transformer in isolation, it leaves an extremely positive impression and is characterized by natural color reproduction, a large margin of brightness, maximum viewing angles, and a sensitive capacitive sensor. Among the current offers in the class of Android tablets, this is definitely one of the best matrixes.
Functionality
The TF101 model runs Android 3.2. The interface and most of the functionality follows the standard set of this platform. In fact, there are no differences from the original capabilities of the previously tested Acer ICONIA Tab A500 - another current proposal among Android tablets. Therefore, it is advisable to get acquainted with the key features of the operating system (desktop view, menus, widget management, standard applications) in the review of the mentioned competitor. Here and now, let's take a closer look at the distinctive features of the Eee Pad Transformer.
Frankly speaking, there are not so many branded additions. The widget base is practically not expanded, ASUS offered differently designed windows with information about the time, unread letters. A more interesting gadget is MyZine, which contains several blocks of information: new images from the gallery, links to go to calendar, mail, weather forecast, library, audio player and recently launched program.
Library MyLibrary combines directly the "reader" stored in the memory of the tablet books and text documents, as well as the online kiosk with periodicals PressReader. The latter allows (albeit on a paid basis) to subscribe and download issues of world famous newspapers and magazines. The list of supported editions is quite long. Downloaded issues can be viewed both as ordinary newspapers (flipping through the pages), and by opening the texts of individual news or articles adapted for electronics.
Another functional addition from the manufacturer is the MyCloud application, which combines several utilities. So, MyContent is connected with the WebStorage service known for ASUS netbooks - a remote drive. On WebStorage servers, you can upload, store, and access your files from a variety of devices. The MyDesktop utility helps you manage your paired PC remotely.
