Review of the first transformer from ASUS: Eee Pad Transformer TF101. Asus TF101 tablet: specifications, description and features, owner reviews Ports and communications
In the tablet segment Android control 3.x presents the key companies of the IT market. 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 the offers. Thus, most of them have an NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip, which provides comparable performance results. And the use of the same software platform guarantees identical (or close to it) functionality.
It is not surprising that to convince them of the superiority of their model, manufacturers implement additional features that distinguish it from competitors. For example, Samsung relies on the proprietary TouchWiz UX interface, LG is trying to attract attention with the 3D functions of the tablet. ASUS has focused on design.
The result was the emergence of two Android tablets - Slider and Transformer. Both devices received a physical QWERTY keyboard, and the form factor is reflected in the names. In Slider, the keyboard is installed in a sliding case, while in Transformer it is placed on a detachable docking station.
The appearance of such an accessory makes the tablet much more versatile. It is no coincidence that the full name of the ASUS model shows a connection with netbooks, the real boom of which took place somewhat earlier. Will a device like this one be a netbook replacement with high sales? Or will it be a niche product? Let's try to figure it out.
Appearance
First, let's look at the TF101 separately, as a tablet. Due to the use of a 10.1-inch display, it is large and also weighty. The device weighs 680g (without the dock attached), which is more than 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. Holding the Transformer in one hand will be uncomfortable and difficult precisely because of its impressive weight.
The shape of the tablet is also determined by the matrix. Since the latter is widescreen, the body, which follows the proportions of the display, is elongated, the width is significantly greater than the height. For this reason, it is much more comfortable to use the tablet in landscape orientation rather than portrait.
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 design, but are not the main ones). The tablet as a whole is designed quite “expensively” and impressively. The color design of the Transformer is unusual; the plastic has a bronze tint. This choice is both neutral (not catchy or provocative) and unusual, rarely found.
The back of the device (in netbook mode it acts as a cover) has a corrugated surface, which helps prevent slipping. In addition, such a surface makes possible physical damage less noticeable. Practical design is an undeniable 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 the metal edging used at the ends of the case.
The arrangement of elements on the main module of the Eee Pad Transformer is implemented as follows. At the top of the left side, on a short distance from each other, there is a power key and a volume rocker. It is most convenient to press them with your index finger, if you hold the device in weight with both hands. There is a card slot on the right side microSD memory(without plug), miniHDMI port and 3.5 mm audio jack.
At both described ends there are speaker slots. The built-in stereo speakers are very loud; at maximum settings the sound is piercing, and in a quiet environment it is even uncomfortably loud. Using maximum volume does not negatively affect the quality of playback - no noise or other audio distortion was noticed.
The upper end is free of any additional elements, but on the lower end 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 netbook with a 10-inch display diagonal. The area to which the tablet is connected is provided with a hinge. Thanks to this, you can adjust the degree of tilt of the screen in relation to the keyboard, and also fold the TF101 like a laptop. This can be very convenient for transport 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 single body.
The fastening of the tablet to the station is reliable; when folded, the halves of the case do not wobble relative to each other. To disconnect parts, you must use a special lever.
Thanks to the docking station, TF101 owners get a physical QWERTY keyboard. In its design and parameters, it is as similar as possible to the corresponding blocks in netbooks. The keys are square in shape and slightly spaced apart. They are located more densely than in ordinary laptops, so the first time when typing blindly (without prior 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 Android platforms. Thus, in the bottom row there are “Home”, “Search” and “Menu” buttons for performing the corresponding actions.
The entire top 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 settings or the browser, and take screenshots.
The touchpad located under the keyboard unit has a small area, which may cause discomfort at first. When using the touchpad, an unusual pointer appears on the screen - a small ring instead of a mouse. Since all the Android 3 interface elements are large, this does not cause any inconvenience when operating the “transformer” and, in subjective opinion, looks very stylish.
The keys, however, are not the only advantage of the docking station. It has extra battery, extending time battery life(more about this in the corresponding section of the review), as well as additional ports. The two USBs are of greatest interest. The interface is useful for connecting other accessories: a mouse (a regular cursor is displayed on the display when using it), an external drive. Other portable devices(players, smartphones) will also be able to be powered by the tablet when connected via USB. In addition, at the ends of the docking station there is an SD memory card reader and another jack for connecting a proprietary cable.
Display
The Eee Pad Transformer tablet boasts an installed IPS matrix. This gives the model a head start over Android competitors, who most often use TFT displays. Objectively assessing 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 competitors behind.
When comparing the displays of the TF101 and the iPad 2 (both using the same technology) directly, the quality of the latter is slightly higher. This is a little surprising, since based on formal characteristics (pixel density, for example), the ASUS version looks more attractive.
When looking at the Eee Pad Transformer screen in isolation, it leaves an extremely positive impression and is characterized by natural color reproduction, a large reserve 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 matrices.
Functionality
The TF101 model runs Android 3.2. The interface and most of the functionality correspond to the standard set of this platform. In fact, there is one more difference from the original capabilities of the previously tested Acer ICONIA Tab A500 current offer among Android tablets - no. Therefore, it is advisable to get acquainted with key features operating system(desktop view, menu, widget management, standard applications) in the review of the mentioned competitor. Here and now we will study in more detail the distinctive features of the Eee Pad Transformer.
Frankly speaking, there are not many branded additions. The base of widgets has not been practically expanded; ASUS has offered differently designed windows with information about the time and unread messages. A more interesting mini-application is MyZine, which collects several blocks of information: new images from the gallery, links to the calendar, mail, weather forecast, library, audio player and recently launched program.
The MyLibrary library combines directly a “reader” of books and text documents stored in the tablet’s memory, as well as an online kiosk with PressReader periodicals. The latter allows (albeit on a paid basis) subscribe and download issues of world famous newspapers and magazines. The list of supported publications is quite large. Downloaded issues can be viewed both as regular newspapers (scrolling through the pages), and by opening texts of individual news or articles adapted for electronics.
Another functional addition from the manufacturer is the MyCloud application, which combines several utilities. Thus, MyContent is connected to the WebStorage service, a remote storage device known from ASUS netbooks. On WebStorage servers you can upload and store your files and access them using various devices. The MyDesktop utility helps you remotely manage your paired PC.
Hello everyone, this is a review of the very first transformer from ASUS. I purchased this device a year ago, then I had no idea how to use the Android system, because I had Symbian and Nokia s40, so I wanted to try it this system. Without much ceremony with the choice, I went to the store and purchased this model. Reasons why I didn't buy another or more newer model, of course, because of the price, the functional keyboard and the discount they offered me. A year later, I regretted buying this device.
Characteristics
Let's start with the kit of this device:
A fairly standard set (sorry, but I threw away the box with all the manuals)
Now let's look at the sides of the device:
On the left side of the case, we see the volume rocker and power button
And here we see the tray, in a closed state, for a 3G SIM card and a dial
SIM card tray, open
Top antenna: Wifi, 3G, GPS
On the right side we see a card slot, speaker, mini-HDMI output, microphone, output 3 and 5 for headphones and microphone
2.And so we got acquainted with the tablet, now we get acquainted with its charging and USB cable. To be honest, I’m not delighted with the quality and workmanship of the USB cable:
This is what I'm talking about, the plastic USB case is simply removable, in addition it cracked and had to be sealed with tape.
3.Charging:
The charging case itself seems to be durable, but it heats up terribly. There is an assumption that this is why the plastic USB case cracked
4.And finally we will look at the Dock or Keyboard for Transformer TF101:
I was pleased with the keyboard, what makes me more happy about this model is that it has an extended battery that allows the device to work in reading mode for up to 14 hours. There are also 2 USB ports, Card Reader, for external drives and usb accessories and useless touchpad (by 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 for this, it cannot recognize disks)
Now we move on to the software part, which is why I regretted buying this model. On board Android 3.2, we can say the ideal software for this model, it’s better not to install newer ones, the tablet is officially updated to 4.0.3, but this firmware is terrible in operation, not stable, buggy. After the update, I suffered for a month and then I rooted and upgraded to 4.2.2, it became more stable in operation, but the functionality of the keyboard decreased, it simply did not see the drives, I thought that they were all damaged. It became, so to speak, not comfortable to work with. I started looking for an alternative, installed up to 5 firmwares a day (I still wonder how my tablet didn’t get damaged), and decided to return everything as is. Of course, 3.2 is not ideal firmware, sometimes it slows down, but I can easily use all the keyboard functions. And yes the sound is louder official firmware.
To make new applications and games work 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 was my first experience this tablet, I learned how to root and flash and others on this model underwater rocks 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’s not a bad device with a dual-core processor from Nvidia Tegra 2. It holds games, some good, some bad, but fortunately there are a lot of applications and games in the Android Market, so with that You won't be bored with your tablet.
Those people who 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!
All tablets are similar to each other. And there’s nothing you can do about it - this genre, for many reasons, requires minimalism in design. So you can’t really go wild with decorative elements. The design of the front side of tablet computers is virtually canonized. The black glossy frame is an indispensable attribute of these devices, and the narrow border around it does not add too much variety. appearance.
For all experiments, designers have the back side. In life, it is not so important how it is framed - no one will really look at it anyway. Even on a store shelf, the tablet will be facing the buyer, so design flourishes won’t play a role here either. Nevertheless, in order not to be completely boring, the designers of most tablets try to do at least something original with the back.
The frame of the Eee Pad Transformer is a single metal piece of light brown color. Back panel- plastic with a rather intricate relief pattern, also brown, but of a darker shade.
The color scheme is for everyone. Perhaps it would be more reasonable to use some standard colors: black, gray, silver, white, finally. Because the most attractive feature of this device in any case is not its appearance, but something completely different - the ability to connect a docking station that turns the tablet into a smartbook.
What’s good is that all the mechanics with which the halves of the tandem are fastened to each other are located in the lower part. The tablet only has a 40-pin connector and two slots into which the latches fit.
This is good because it made it possible to make the tablet part relatively light, and the lower part heavy enough so that the device transformed into a smartbook would stand securely and not turn over. In general, from a mechanical point of view, the Eee Pad Transformer is very good: the lid tilts with the right force, the latches reliably connect the halves of the case - it’s pleasant and convenient to use.
The upper part of the docking station, like the edge of the tablet body, is made of metal. The bottom part is plastic. With exactly the same relief pattern.
The keyboard is quite comfortable - most of the ones actually used in Android buttons have large dimensions (key pitch - 17 mm). The “arrows” suffered a little, but this is a justified sacrifice - in a “robotic” OS they are still quite of little use.
In place of the usual row F1-F12 there are buttons that control various functions: turning on and off wireless interfaces, changing the volume or brightness and so on. I was especially pleased with the presence of a button that allows you to take screenshots - usually for this purpose in Android devices you have to dance with a tambourine.
The touchpad is large (80x48mm), has the right coating and has easy-to-use buttons. True, you need to use the buttons with caution: the right one in Android works as Back/Exit, so it’s better not to accidentally hit it.
As for the interfaces, ASUS did a very clever thing with them. There are very few ports on the body of the tablet itself: an HDMI output (not quite standard, in the “mini” version), a combined audio jack and a slot for MicroSD cards. And, of course, the 40-pin communication connector with which the tablet is connected to the computer, charger and docking stations.
If you want to work humanely with external drives or peripherals, as well as full-size memory cards, then willy-nilly you will have to fork out for a docking station. But it has two USB ports at once - one on the left, the other on the right, both covered with neat caps.
A positive point: the amount of total disk space can be increased to a very impressive one. After all, you can use two memory cards and two flash drives at once. In addition, the docking station has a second battery, exactly the same as in the tablet itself. That is, in smartbook mode, the Eee Pad Transformer lasts about twice as long.
Negative point: in a fully functional version, the Eee Pad Transformer will cost a very hefty 24 thousand rubles. Moreover, only the 32 GB version of the device is available with the docking station.
The ASUS tablet turned out to be quite large: it is almost a centimeter wider than the Acer Iconia Tab A500, but 7 mm lower. This Taiwanese pair is noticeably larger than most modern tablets.
| Comparison of tablet computer dimensions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Display | Width, mm | Height, mm | Depth, mm | Rough estimate* of volume, cm 3 |
| Acer Iconia Tab A500 | 10.1″ 1280x800 | 260 | 177 | 13,3 | 612 |
| Apple iPad | 9.7″ 1024x768 |
243 | 190 | 13 | 600 |
| Apple iPad 2 | 9.7″ 1024x768 |
241 | 186 | 8,8 | 394 |
| Archos 101 Internet Tablet | 10.1″ 1024x600 |
270 | 150 | 12 | 486 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.1 v1 | 10.1″ 1280x800 |
246 | 170 | 10,99 | 460 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.1 v2 | 10.1″ 1280x800 |
246 | 170 | 8,6 | 360 |
| ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 | 10.1″ 1280x800 |
271 | 171 | 12,98 | 602 |
| * the value was obtained by simply multiplying the dimensions and, due to the complex shape of the cases, does not fully correspond to the actual volume | |||||
In terms of weight, everything is a little better, although the Eee Pad, like all other modern tablets, could still use some weight.
The main problem is that the docking station weighs almost as much as the tablet itself.
As a result, the weight of the device with the keyboard attached is quite large - the Eee Pad Transformer turns out to be heavier than netbooks with the same display size. Why, even some laptops weigh comparable!
Part of the help is the extremely compact and lightweight power supply - even with a massive British plug, it weighs less than 100 grams. But even such a head start does not help the Eee Pad Transformer beat its closest competitors from the PC camp.
However, compared to laptops, the Eee Pad Transformer has one important advantage. The display is head and shoulders above anything that can be found in any, even the most expensive laptop, including Apple products. The Eee Pad's matrix is an IPS type and provides excellent contrast, vibrant colors and maximum viewing angles.
| Technical ASUS specifications Eee Pad Transformer TF101 | |
|---|---|
| CPU | NVIDIA Tegra 250: ARM Cortex A9 MPCore, 1 GHz frequency, two cores |
| Graphics controller | NVIDIA GeForce ULP, integrated into the processor |
| Screen | 10.1″, 1280x800; IPS technology; Capacitive touch screen |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Flash memory | 16/32 GB Free 1-year subscription to ASUS Web Storage with unlimited storage space |
| Interfaces in the tablet | 1 x MicroSD 1 x Mini HDMI 1 x headphone output/microphone input (mini-jack 3.5 mm) 1 x 40 pin connection port |
| Interfaces in the docking station | 1 x SD/MMC 2 x USB 2.0 (host) 1 x 40 pin connection port |
| Wireless connection | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n Bluetooth 2.1+EDR |
| Sound | Two speakers, microphone |
| Nutrition | Li-Pol battery 24.4 Wh Additional Li-Pol 24.4 Wh battery in the docking station Power supply 18 W (5V, 2 A or 15 V, 1.2 A) |
| Other | Keyboard and touchpad docking station, 1.2 MP front webcam, 5 MP rear webcam, rotation sensor, light sensor, GPS module |
| Size, mm | 271x171x13 |
| Weight, g | Tablet - 680 Docking station - 630 |
| operating system | Google Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) |
| Official manufacturer's warranty | 12 months |
| Recommended prices for Russia | RUB 15,990 for the version with 16 GB of flash memory RUB 19,990 for the version with 32 GB of flash memory RUB 23,990 for the version with 32 GB of flash memory and a docking station included |
Like most tablet computers in 2011, ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is built on the NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform and runs the operating system Android systems 3.0 Honeycomb. The amount of preinstalled flash memory is also standard: 16 or 32 GB. As already written above, the drive can be significantly increased in volume using microSD cards or even full-size SD/MMC if you have a docking station.
The tablet has a motion sensor, a full-fledged GPS module and a light sensor that adjusts the brightness to external conditions. True, it does not work quite adequately. If you entrust the work to automation, it turns out a little dark. And correct a basic level of, relative to which the brightness will be automatically adjusted in the future, will not work.
The set of wireless interfaces is exactly the same as in the Acer Iconia Tab A500. On this moment Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 are available. According to employees of the Russian representative office of ASUS, the 3G version will not be available until July. But all three modifications without 3G will appear on the shelves very soon - including the package with a docking station.
Of course, there is also a camera. The front one is quite weak, for video calls, and the back one is 5-megapixel. It’s actually kind of embarrassing to talk about the first one. As for the second, the quality of the pictures is about the same level as in the Iconia Tab A500 - that is, none. Plus there is no flash. So the only genre feasible for such cameras—“me and my friends in the bathhouse”—turns out to be of limited accessibility. Well, I didn’t want it to hurt.
ASUS programmers added to standard interface Android 3.0 has several extremely useful features. For example, it should be noted that it is possible to more conveniently work with external drives. When you connect the device, a small window appears in the notification area, allowing you to safely remove the drive or go to view its contents in the pre-installed (and quite sane) file manager.
What’s nice is that external storage devices are mounted not in a folder called “mnt” that is obscure to normal people, but in a more meaningful and much better visible folder in the list “Removable”. You can connect not only flash drives, but also hard disks- and there is support file system NTFS (in tablet computer Acer forgot about it).
If a docking station is connected, the virtual keyboard no longer appears on the screen while you enter text. It is most convenient to switch the layout using the standard Ctrl+Shift key combination. However, you can switch in another way - by clicking on the icon in the notification area.
The entire Internet is replete with inscriptions that the era of netbooks is coming to an end. Tablets are taking their place. However, if you cannot yet change your usual mobile PC to a touchscreen “tablet,” I advise you to take a closer look at the transformer from ASUSTek Computer. This wonderful device is called ASUS Eee Pad Transformer. It can be viewed in two ways: either as a tablet with a docking station, or as a convertible netbook. That is, you can use the device both as a tablet and as a subnotebook. All the hardware is hidden under the display, and the top case houses an additional battery. Agree, the device is very interesting! By the way, Lenovo had a similar idea.
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 received a 10.1-inch IPS touch matrix with support for multi-touch functions, the NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform, two cameras and modules wireless communication. The docking station in the form of a keyboard includes a pair of USB 2.0 ports and a card reader. What else interesting can the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer present to potential buyers, we will try to find out.
Design
Perhaps, for a more accurate description of this device, it would be more appropriate to consider the tablet and docking station separately. So, the “tablet” itself has dimensions of 271x171x13 mm and a mass of 680 grams. She looks very attractive and stylish. The tablet is devoid of hardware buttons; several connectors are located on its edges. The frame and part of the display bezel are made of metal, but the rear convex cover is made of textured plastic. The latter, by the way, bends down quite strongly. The display is frameless. This whole “composition” looks coherent and monolithic.The bottom of the docking station is made of the same matte plastic, but the working area and side edges are made of metal. On the tablet connector you can see a special pad, thanks to which the tablet panel will not be scratched during connection. There are also two ASUS Eee Pad latches, adjustable with a slider. The docking station itself weighs 630 grams, that is, the entire transformer will weigh about 1.3 kg. By the way, you can buy this top case either separately or as a set with the tablet.
Display
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is equipped with a capacitive touch matrix with a diagonal of 10.1 inches. Its resolution is 1280x800 pixels. This LCD display is made using IPS technology. Today, IPS screens are the only LCD panels that always convey full depth RGB colors(24 bits, 8 bits per channel). For example, the display of black is close to ideal. The viewing angles on this screen are close to absolute and reach 178 degrees. This means that the colors will not be inverted at all. The maximum backlight brightness is 230 cd/m2. It can be adjusted either manually or automatically.
The display is covered with Gorilla Glass, which is highly resistant to scratches and impacts. That is, there is no need to worry about the safety of the screen - the developers have already taken care of this for you.
The screen recognizes a huge number of multi-gestures, that is, scaling, flipping, scrolling can be performed with two fingers of one hand. The color reproduction of the matrix is excellent, the colors seem deep, rich and bright. The developers did not forget about the gyroscope and accelerometer, which are responsible for screen orientation.
Keyboard and touchpad
We can assume that the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is equipped with two input devices. This is, in fact, the tablet itself and a docking station in the form of a standard island-type keyboard. The touch matrix responds well to touches; controlling the contents of the desktop with your fingers is quite easy and convenient. There should be no complaints about the screen sensitivity. By the way, you can open a virtual qwerty keyboard on your tablet. On the side there is a volume key and a power button.
As you already understand, by connecting the “tablet” to the top case, the ASUS Eee Pad turns into a full-fledged netbook. The work area is equipped with an island-type keyboard and a touchpad. The docking station makes entering information much easier. You can use it to turn on and off wireless adapters, adjust brightness and volume, and launch the browser. Considering that the transformable netbook runs Android OS, the keyboard must have the corresponding hardware keys. They are. These are “Home”, “Back”, “Search”, “Menu”.
There is a place for a touchpad under the keyboard. A double mouse rocker button is hidden under the touch pad. If you use the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer as a netbook, a touchpad and keyboard will obviously not be superfluous.
Processor and performance
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is powered by a dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor clocked at 1 GHz (both Cortex-A9 cores operate at 1 GHz). This CPU is a system on a chip (SoC). That is, NVIDIA Tegra 2 incorporates an ARM processor, GPU, memory controllers and peripheral devices. Energy consumption, at the same time, is quite low.You also have 1 GB at your disposal random access memory DDR2 and SSD drives with a capacity of 16, 32 or 64 GB. There is also access to the so-called online storage ASUS WebStorage.
Ports and communications
Once again, ASUS Eee Pad Transformer can be considered as two different devices: tablet and docking station. On the “tablet” itself there was a place for a volume control, an audio jack (headphones/microphone), a mini HDMI port, a microSD slot and two web cameras: front and main. The first has a resolution of 1.2 megapixels, and it is used for video chatting. But with the help of the main camera you can take quite high-quality pictures. It has a resolution of 5 megapixels and is equipped with autofocus.
On the bottom edge of the tablet there is a connector for the docking station and two holes for fixing. The developers did not forget about the connector for a 3G SIM card (optional). To exchange data and charge the tablet, you will have to use a proprietary cable. On the top case itself you can find two USB port 2.0 and SD card reader.
Adapters fit into the tablet itself wireless networks Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. There are models also equipped with a 3G module (optional). By the way, the developers also did not forget about E-Compass and GPS.
Battery
According to ASUS representatives, the Eee Pad Transformer TF101 demonstrates simply amazing battery life. Thus, the device is equipped with a lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 24 Wh. Moreover, a tablet without a docking station can work for about 8 hours without recharging, and the entire “transformer” will work in offline mode for about 16 hours. Agree, it's impressive.Conclusion
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer – tablet and netbook rolled into one. When taken together, this device looks like a full-fledged laptop. But “with a slight movement of the hand” it can turn into a “tablet”. The diagonal of the multi-touch display is 10.1 inches, based on the NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform, the device runs Android 3.0 Honeycomb. However, Google announced at its recent conference that they will provide firmware updates to Android 3.1 Honeycomb in June.After Apple launched first the first and then the second iPad, it seemed that it was simply impossible to produce something in the world of tablets, if not fundamentally new, then at least evolutionarily developing in the industry. Nothing is impossible - ASUS did the math and announced a tablet-netbook hybrid.
What seemed good was on the surface, but required competent implementation. The new device is not called Transformer for nothing; it really knows how to transform before our eyes from one type of equipment into a consonant, but completely different one. And if the model is “assembled”, then an ignorant person will not even think that this stylish mini-computer in fact is not such a thing.
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 was the combination of the screen and the docking station? How does Android behave in the context of cutting-edge innovation? The journey into the world of a hybrid device is definitely going to be exciting - open the boxes and...
Design
We see neatly packed in protective film docking station and the tablet itself. When you pick it up, you immediately understand that the industry does not live on design “a la iPad” alone, and you don’t need to invent something extraordinary for your own “face.” The front side is made in the spirit of the latest tablets and is completely devoid of controls - these are provided by default in Android 3.x, which made it possible to completely deprive the front part of the buttons.
The main trump card of the model lies in back cover. It is made of durable plastic covered with a deep relief mesh with a pattern. This has never happened in any tablet before and, if you don’t constrain 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 eliminates any hints of preserving fingerprints (which cannot be said about the screen) and any other contamination. In addition, it allows the device to lie firmly in your hand and not try to slip out. There is a edging along the sides, not made of aluminum, but of metal with a “copper” color to match the entire tablet. By the way, the same Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 did not escape complaints - the lid is made of smooth plastic, which is subjectively significantly inferior in strength to the Transformer, moreover, it noticeably flexes on the hard “bottom”, creating voids.
Transformer is heavy, there's no hiding it. It weighs 680 grams and is unlikely to be comfortable for long-term use for girls “on weight”. However, the mass is distributed evenly and does not cause critical pressure on the fingers. And I don’t want to call the heaviness a disadvantage - it’s 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, Acer's record ICONIA Tab with 765 grams he failed to beat. Absolutely all the connectors of the tablet are located on its sides, thereby saving the model from the “disease” of many colleagues in the workshop – the removable cover. By its very presence, it increased the likelihood of breakdown and often contributed to the formation of creaks and backlashes.
One of the reviews said that with the advent of the iPad 2, manufacturers suddenly set a course for an extreme reduction in thickness and weight. So, ASUS did not succumb to the trend, as we can see this only benefited the tablet. Its solidity is undeniable, and the question of build quality itself seems somewhat unnatural.
Overall, the device looks stylish, all its elements fit together perfectly and make the Transformer stand out against the background of competitors’ crafts. The main goal 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 for Android based 3.x are distinguished by the complete absence of buttons on the front panel. In theory, they are replaced by painted buttons placed on a panel at the bottom of the screen, which, by the way, noticeably distinguishes such tablets from the iPad, which the rampant Apple “protects” with all its might. TF101 was no exception in this regard.
The front panel is covered with highly glare protective glass. There is a peephole at the top of the screen front camera, and to the right of it is the name-logo of the manufacturer.
All physical buttons, including three, are located on the left side: turning the tablet on/off and adjusting the volume. A little lower behind the small perforations is the speaker.
The right side accommodates all connectors: 3.5 mm audio output, Mini HDMI, microSD memory card slot. There is also a second speaker here.
At the bottom end there is a connector for connecting charging and synchronization with the computer is carried out through it. There are a pair of ventilation holes on either side of it. There is nothing on the top end.
The back cover completely covers the device and is non-removable. In addition to the manufacturer's logo, there is a camera peephole in the upper part.
Dock station
The main difference between the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 and many similar tablets is its attachment with a keyboard, touchpad and additional connectors. As such, this accessory is more reminiscent of a docking station than a means of increasing the convenience of working with the 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. At its top there is a curved metal grip that can only be rotated when you insert a 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 grip opens quite tightly.
As for the layout, in some places it is quite different from the usual one, which, however, is natural. But the symbol keys are located in their usual places and no problems should arise here. The only pity is that the TF101 keyboard does not yet come with Cyrillic alphabet. But I was 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 one on the right. The arrow block is “squeezed” into the two lower rows of keys, which does not have the best effect on the ease of use. However, here we can make a allowance for the fact that we are not dealing with a laptop or netbook, and therefore we will not have to use this unit often.
The most important difference lies in the top row of keys. Instead of a block of function keys, there is a continuous row of 17 keys for various purposes. So there is a return key (a kind of analogue), a couple more are responsible for the operation of wireless controllers, adjusting screen brightness and volume, the rest call various applications and control playback in the media player. In addition, in the bottom row there are a couple of “non-standard” keys. In particular, these are “Home”, “Search” and calling an additional menu.
In general, typing on such a keyboard is no less comfortable than on any 11.6-inch laptop. Certainly, office suite Android is completely different from Windows, but if necessary, working with documents can be done without any problems. True, the multi-window mode is missing, but these are details. The main thing is that if an urgent need arises, it will be quite simple to quickly create or edit a particular file with text.
The touchpad seems to help speed up the work to a lesser extent. Actually, a mouse in an operating system focused on touch control is not so much in demand. We were well 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.
Here we will say a few words about the touch panel. It is quite large for the TF101 docking station. The designers took advantage of all the available space. As a result, the height of the touchpad is maximum, but still 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 hard to press.
Strictly speaking, we don’t see much use from the touchpad for an Android tablet. However, there is a “side” plus that appeared precisely because of the addition of the touchpad - the work area. It comfortably rests your wrists, making typing easier and reducing fatigue. The keyboard for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is devoid of such “excess”, which somewhat reduces the number 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, it adds several 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 synchronization with PC are duplicated. The latter, when connected to a dock, becomes even more relevant, since a second battery is hidden inside the accessory - it’s not for nothing that the keyboard is so heavy and massive.
I am very pleased that the USB connectors are full. That is, you can connect not only a storage medium to them, but also, for example, a regular mouse. The latter works great, complementing the touchpad as if we were dealing with a regular laptop. Of course, it’s unlikely that anyone can guarantee the functionality of any peripheral, even a regular printer (due to the lack of drivers for Android, and not because of the connector itself), but such functionality is already more than enough.
Coupled with USB, two card readers (the second on the tablet itself) and an HDMI output, the ASUS TF101 tablet can really become a good business device. Without a docking station, this is a solid tablet, but with it, it’s almost a full-fledged laptop, with which you can quite comfortably and quickly complete urgent and not so urgent tasks.
Screen
The first generation of tablets based on Android 3.0 had the same resolution of 1280x800 pixels. This was required by the artificially imposed limitations of the system, and therefore most tablets automatically became potential iPad competitors. With the release of Android 3.2, the restriction was lifted, but 10.1-inch models, which include the ASUS TF101, did not change the screen resolution and are unlikely to change it (unless it is increased).
In general, 1280x800 for 10.1" is quite good. The picture is quite clear, working with websites is a pleasure, you can view large PDF documents, it is convenient to work with text files and spreadsheets. What can we say - just 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 thing is the type IPS matrices. It has long been known that this type provides the best viewing angles and color rendition. Confirmation of this is clearly visible from every 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 samsung screen Galaxy Tab 10.1. The latter is based on PLS technology, recently launched commercially by Samsung. In terms of its operating principles, it is very similar to IPS, but is approximately 15% cheaper to produce. However, PLS has a well-known disadvantage of IPS - the screen filled with black color gives off a strong purple tint. Moreover, IPS technology has practically gotten 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
Transformer has front and rear cameras, both located at the top of the lids in the center. If the location on the back cover is not important, then on the screen, just like in a netbook, it facilitates 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. There is no LED flash or proximity or light sensors.
There are very few shooting settings, which is surprising after Android 2.3 on smartphones. The user sets the image quality, exposure, white balance, color effects and literally a few more settings.
The quality of the images is mixed. It would seem that under the same weather conditions, Transformer can produce both acceptable pictures and frankly blurry ones. This is the main disadvantage of shooting - the camera does not guarantee stable quality and from time to time gives the exact 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.
Characteristics
IN model range ASUS Eee Pad tablet Transformer TF101 is not the only device. There is also a modification of the TF101G 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 device under review with its direct competitor - the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
The characteristics of the TF101 are not very impressive. If you think about it, then flagship smartphones even better than the largest Google tablets. However, it is obvious that such a configuration is quite sufficient for comfortable work. Manufacturers did not put pressure on high clock frequency processor, preferring a balance between CPU frequency, graphics accelerator and number of cores. The NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip is quite suitable for these purposes. Its ARM component operates at 1 GHz and has two cores, and the ULP GeForce graphics card is considered one of the best on the smartphone and tablet market.
Partially communication capabilities both tablets are also very similar. They are equipped with Wi-Fi controllers (supporting 802.11n) and Bluetooth. However, the latter of the ASUS TF101 is less advanced - it is based on version 2.1, while the 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 on tablets is the same. However, regarding the latter, options are possible. So there is a version of TF101 with 32 GB of memory, and samsung device can be equipped with a solid-state drive of 32 and 64 GB.
However, the TF101's possible lack of internal memory is more than compensated for 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 connectors on the dock to which you can connect external drives.
In terms of connectors, the ASUS tablet is also very good. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has only a 3.5 mm audio jack, while the TF101 is distinguished by the presence of Mini HDMI and the already mentioned USB on the dock. Mini HDMI can be useful for giving a presentation or even watching a movie on big screen on vacation or business trip.
As for device screens, we wrote above about the difference between PLS and IPS technologies, and their resolution and diagonal are the same. It remains to mention the cameras. The front one turned out to be better in Samsung, and the rear one in ASUS. But, in our opinion, the difference in resolution in this case is not fundamental at all. Here you can easily get by with less – it’s unlikely that anyone will often use a tablet as a camera.
We wrote above about the advantages of an aluminum body. However, its disadvantage is more weight. Compared to the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the ASUS tablet weighs more than 100 grams more, which is noticeable. The docking station adds another 640 grams (almost the same as the TF101), for a total weight of 1.32 kg. Typically, 10.1-inch netbooks weigh less, although they are made of plastic. But this weight is comparable to a 13.3-inch MacBook Air or any equivalent. However, all these laptops are not equipped with a pair of batteries, which contribute a noticeable share of the weight.
What remains are the operating systems. Both tablets were initially available with Android 3.0, but Samsung still began mass shipping 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 installed very simply, which we will discuss below. In the meantime, let's see which tablet is faster at work.
Performance testing
Both tablets being compared are based on the same processor and have the same amount of RAM and storage. The only difference between them is the different versions of the operating system and shell that were preinstalled by the manufacturer. So for the most part, expect relative parity.
Benchmarks testing the overall system performance showed approximately equal results, with a very slight superiority of the ASUS TF101. It will clearly not be noticeable during operation.
The popular Quadrant test, on the contrary, showed noticeable superiority 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 are neck and neck. The difference between them easily fits into the measurement error.
Browser tests also showed nothing unexpected. There is a difference between the tablets, but it is quite insignificant, which is what we predicted above.
It will be interesting to look at the results in 3D game electopia. She suggests running the test in the native screen resolution of the device, or in a kind of “compatibility mode,” which means a resolution of 800x480. 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, you should look at their other parameters.
BY
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 the one that was installed in the first batches of the device. And here ASUS has shown a worthy example for current and future manufacturers of Android tablets.
The company has organized a quick and simple way that allows the user to painlessly carry out the system update operation. If we 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 find itself new version The OS will prompt you to update. Then just a few touches will lead to the system automatically “growing up” to the latest version.
What’s even more impressive is that they are completely saved after the update. system settings and files in internal memory. Therefore, the user does not have to make any “backups”. ASUS has clearly shown that its installation mechanism has been worked out, so with the release of Ice Cream Sandwich, no additional steps will need to be taken to deploy it.
Installing Android 3.2 gives a noticeable increase in performance, menu transitions become smoother and faster, and the list of preinstalled services also expands noticeably.
When you turn on the tablet, you can see an unlock ring similar to HTS Sense. Remove the “lock” and get to the main menu. In it, Android shows its ever-more visible commitment to separating smartphones from tablets with the introduction of the local taskbar.
In the lower left corner are the very buttons that allowed the device to get rid of physical control buttons: returning to the previous screen, going to the main desktop and calling up a vertical list of recently launched tasks.
By right side 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.
To create a working environment, only five desktops are presented. The central one is also subject to change, which is necessary in light of the far from best set of labels.
In the upper right corner, by clicking on the “+” button, the user is taken to the screen element settings menu. Here in the appropriate bookmarks there are widgets, shortcuts to all available programs and wallpapers.
Let's go to the application menu, where we will study the preinstalled elements.
First on the list is the Kindle online store, in the only possible way English version with the only possible books in English. How necessary its presence is in tablets sold in the CIS is rather a rhetorical question.
As always, there was a place for Google services, always present mail client Gmail, Google Talk and Google search. In addition to Gmail, there is also an “omnivorous” email program.
An interesting element is the Layar service, which is missing from new Galaxy Tab 10.1. It is a kind of program from the future and is intended for use with a camera. While walking around the city, you can point your lens at various architectural structures and receive information on them without manual search, if any. The app detects the user's viewing direction and location to display information.
Book reading is organized in a separate application with a visual shelf of available publications.
Movie Studio remains a mystery to us. Logically speaking, it is designed to edit images, but it did not accept any of the proposed files. More precisely, it 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 accessible wherever you are. MyDesktop allows you to remotely control your computer, again regardless of its location.
PressReader and Zinio Reader are convenient services for purchasing magazines and newspapers, of which there are hundreds of items on a wide variety of subjects to choose from. For those who don't want to pay for content, PressReader will be most appealing. It has enough Russian publications, and for each half a dozen of the latest issues you can download for free.
MyNet suggests an analogy with Samsung AllShare and allows access to materials on the tablet from other devices within reach via Wi-Fi.
The standard Gallery may well disappoint - there are practically no editing options, which is an unforgivable omission compared to the 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 copy, cut and delete operations.
There will also be a Tegra Zone store, where games specifically for NVIDIA Tegra are presented. The titles have extremely attractive graphics, but so far there are too few of them - we think that over time the range will become much larger, since the NVIDIA hardware platform has become almost the standard for 10-inch tablets.
Navigation is more than standard; Google services are always ready to find the way and indicate where the user is.
The updated Android Market shows a tiled menu, but may also return to a more familiar list of application categories.
Music is one of the main disappointments of Android 3.2. The settings are kept to a bare minimum; there is not even an equalizer or sorting of tracks by artist.
Despite the absence of a shortcut, the system has a built-in player that flatly refuses to be “friendly” with 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. With the same files on Samsung smartphone Galaxy R, based on the same hardware platform, had no problems. Let's make a reservation that the reason for this may be the high screen resolution. In addition, an absolutely identical situation is observed with the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
In continuation of common tasks, let’s mention reading PDF files. It is almost impossible - if the overall rendering of the page takes a tolerable couple of seconds, then any approximation will force you to wait up to 30-40 seconds, which is simply unacceptable.
Strange changes have occurred with the keyboard - ASUS decided to replace the standard Android unit with a proprietary solution, but one that is extremely far from ideal and also extremely paradoxical. The gray palette with blurry edges is a direct greeting 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 from independent developers.
The browser compensates for Transformer's limited functionality. First and foremost, it supports full tabs. That is, on the top panel you see a list of all tabs, just like on a computer. The browser consistently rendered bulky sites, did not crash frequently, and worked on high level. Except that not all videos, with the exception of those from YouTube, were willing to be launched.
Just for show, let's mention ordinary applications whose visual variations do not in any way affect the main purpose: 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 Android capabilities and the lack of multi-window mode. Let's say you won't be able to see a player open in one window. Text Document and browser. However, if there is no need for this, then Transformer turns out to be an extremely successful solution.
The main advantage of the docking station is that, together with it, the tablet looks like an absolutely finalized ready-made solution, which other manufacturers can only rely on. He can say with confidence that in terms of design, materials, execution and overall thoughtfulness, Transformer will not have even far-fetched competitors for a long time. And this is another victory over the iPad, since Apple doesn’t even have anything like that in its plans.
As we already wrote, the docking station is equipped with two USB ports. ASUS could have limited itself to one port, but this would have looked like a demonstration opportunity; here the unit turns the hybrid into an effective workstation.
Connection of a regular USB mouse is supported. The matter is not limited to this, the device is even able to recognize and work correctly with external keyboards! Flash drives are also serviced correctly, although Android cannot cope with hard drives.
Not only an external mouse is suitable for control, but also a built-in touchpad with two buttons. The left one is responsible for “clicking”, while the right one returns to the previous screen. Regardless of the connected devices, the touch screen remains functional. This is extremely convenient, since sometimes it is faster to directly point your finger at the required element than to point at it with the mouse pointer. The mouse really isn't very useful on Android. This system is designed for finger control, while the mouse pointer is useful for aiming at something small. In the browser it is more or less useful, when working with documents it is also quite good, but otherwise there is little use for a touchpad or an external mouse.
The keyboard takes some getting used to, just like any other keyboard on a regular netbook. Further, the short key travel ensures fast typing, and the Polaris Office suite provides a viable alternative Microsoft Office. If you have not yet come across this open package, let us clarify that it performs all the basic viewing and editing functions in text and spreadsheet documents. Therefore, both for students in lectures and for those who simply 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 Transformer an ideal solution for long trips and air travel.
Conclusion
To summarize, I would like to draw attention to the Transformer as a completely new generation of tablet devices that change the idea of purpose and capabilities of this class devices. After Transformer, questions about why analysts began to equate tablets with computers in their reports disappear.
From the point of view of practicality, ASUS has created an ideal product. It has no design flaws; the body is made of strong and reliable materials, as is the docking station. The set is convenient and organically combined with touch controls, and support external devices and storage, coupled with a sensitive touchpad, completely elevate the Transformer to a level previously unattainable for tablets.
And how impressive is the work done? ASUS work, the “dampness” of Android, even in version 3.2, is so disappointing. The system still has not learned to read PDF normally, and the small set of codecs and poor optimization make viewing video in 720p format almost impossible.
Be that as it may, Transformer looks like a reasonable and complete product, and software flaws, unlike hardware ones, can always be fixed, which is what Google is constantly doing.