Half tablet, half netbook, total win.
A keyboard-equipped tablet naturally draws comparisons to the device it most closely emulates: the laptop. However, any thought that perhaps the TF300T could replace your primary PC should remain in fantasy -- Android isn’t yet a replacement for a traditional desktop OS.
The keyboard provides a tablet stand and protects the screen in your bag.
ASUS’s Transformer series should really be viewed as an evolution of the netbook. At $599, it sits at the very top tier of netbook prices, so you mustn’t lose sight of the fact that it also does all those wonderful things that only a tablet form factor really allows (curling up in bed with a digital magazine, for instance).
As a tablet, we love this device. The keyboard not only extends the battery life to 12 hours, but it also provides a full-size SD card and full-size USB port. Handy if you use it as a media device on your TV and you want to quickly load the latest creative commons Full HD feature film.
The added bonus of having dedicated function keys -- multimedia, wireless, Android Back and Home, screen cap and so on -- is a blessing I never knew I wanted. Even the touchpad, while a little awkward/redundant, is welcome in some situations, if only because muscle memory often makes me reach for it. Hell, the keyboard even provides a tablet stand and protects the screen when it’s in your bag.
As a tablet, it feels solid, looks good, performs flawlessly and comes with a brag-worthy spec sheet. Once you add in a keyboard, however, it becomes truly lovable.
Special features :
- Quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 processor
- Keyboard with extended battery
- Full size SD and USB ports
Pros : Converts to a netbook.
Cons : Won’t quite replace your laptop.
Verdict : 9 out of 10. Editor's choice!
Available from Asus, retailing for $599.
