Asus Eee Pad Transformer Tablet Review
/
Asus Tablet Review
First Published Date: September 14, 2011
I spent roughly two months researching all new tablets and checking out some of them physically at stores. It’s very hard to decide on a tablet these days as manufacturers are flooding the market with new models every few months. During my research, I ruled out the iPad due to its high cost and restrictive hardware/software. I also ruled out the BlackBerry Playbook and the HP Touchpad due to their inferior operating systems. I decided that I’d be buying an Android tablet, and I narrowed down the list to three finalists with 10 inch screens that would fit my needs and lifestyle:
– Samsung Galaxy Tab
– Toshiba Tablet
– Asus Eee Pad Transformer
I was already leaning towards one of these, but I decided to ask my nephew Shim to do another round of research and pick the best of the three. And guess what? We both came up with the same pick: the Asus Eee Pad Transformer 10.1.
Why Not Toshiba Tablet and Samsung Galaxy?
Here are the reasons why I did not pick the above mentioned two tabs:
– Samsung Galaxy does not offer any ports like MicroSD, SD, USB, or HDMI.
– The Galaxy’s back is too smooth and starts slipping out of your hand if you hold onto it for a while.
– Toshiba’s front camera sticks out (as it is shiny and not blended
into its own color) and looks ugly.
– Toshiba tablet is heavier, bulkier, and ugly looking. If I want a tablet, I want it to be a slim and good looking.
– The option to add a keyboard doc and transform Asus Eee Pad Transformer to a laptop was my main plus point to go for Asus.
Hardware Pluses for Asus Eee Pad
-Beautiful, clear screen
-Easy to grip
-HDMI port
-Extra Storage (MicroSD)
Software Pluses
- Android’s Widgets are a huge plus, and iPad lacks them
-Flash video, which the iPad also lacks.
Hardware Minuses
-No USB Port on the pad itself (its on the dock)
-Screen gets fingerprints very easily (worse than the iPad)
Software Minuses
-Honeycomb still needs some fine tuning, browser sometimes crashed when playing video
-No built-in task killer, software must be downloaded to enable this
-Android Market doesn’t have as many free apps as Apple’s app store
What I Like Most About Asus Tablet
Its price and the option to use it as both a tablet and a laptop.
What I Don’t Like About Asus Tablet
Its power supply cord is too small.
As I write this review, stores in Canada are getting ready to launch Sony’s new Tablet. In 2-3 years, expect to see even more great tablets on the market. The fierce competition will drive prices down and make them much more affordable.
