Asus TF101 tablet: specifications, description and features, owner reviews. Asus TF101 tablet: specifications, description and features, owner reviews Tablet computer asus eee pad

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 it 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, functional keyboard and the discounts 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 the first experience this tablet gave me, I learned how to root and flash and other pitfalls about Android software on this model. 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!

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 deliver full RGB color depth (24-bit, 8-bit 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 the docking station in the form standard keyboard island type. 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.

The tablet itself accommodates wireless adapters Wi-Fi networks 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 representatives of ASUS, the Eee Pad Transformer TF101 demonstrates simply amazing time 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, it is based on the NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform, the device runs under Android control 3.0 Honeycomb. However, Google company at its recent conference announced that they will provide firmware updates to Android 3.1 Honeycomb as early as June.

With the advent of solutions from Nvidia in the form of Tegra several years ago with full support for the Android platform, a good half of the venerable manufacturers of mobile gadgets rushed to conquer the tablet computer segment.

The recipe was extremely simple: we take the most optimal modification of the video accelerator - “Tegra 2”, adapt the interface and standard software to version 4 of Android, and leave the rest to the discretion of the designers. The last thoughts and plans, as always, were stuck, so there seemed to be no problems with originality.

The Xoom series from Motorola can be considered the pioneer of tablet computers. The first pancake, as they say, came out lumpy, but other brands picked up the idea and, taking into account the experience of the American (now Chinese) company, they began to produce quite decent devices.

One of the brightest representatives of this segment is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101. The gadget is presented in several modifications, which differ from each other in the amount of RAM and the version of the composite keyboard. The latter allows you to turn an ordinary mobile device into something like a netbook.

So, we present to your attention a review of the tablet computer - Asus TF101. The characteristics of the gadget, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the advisability of the purchase will be discussed in our article. When compiling the article, the opinions of experts in this field and reviews of ordinary owners of this model were taken into account.

Equipment

The device comes in a nice and stylish box made of thick cardboard with a dark design. The Asus TF101 transformer itself is depicted on the front side, and the characteristics in the form of a brief specification are located on the back side.

The interior decoration is decorated very competently, the accessories do not “quarrel” with each other, but are neatly located along the entire perimeter. This made it possible not to inflate the packaging to the size of a laptop, so it can be transported in a small bag or even easier - under the arm.

Contents of delivery:

• Asus TF101 itself;
• power supply (charger) of a composite type;
• keyboard;
• micro-USB cable for synchronization with PC and recharging;
• documentation with warranty card.

The package can be called standard, some additional accessories like cases, bags or headsets you won’t see here. But, judging by user reviews, it’s for the better, because such items are always bought “to suit your taste and color,” and an extra item in the kit significantly adds to the cost of the gadget.

Appearance

The cover of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is made of corrugated plastic and has a matte finish. It is pleasant to the touch and does not collect fingerprints like a vacuum cleaner, and is more or less resistant to scratches.

The ends have metal inserts, which adds not only protection to the gadget, but also solidity. The frames bordering the screen are a little thick, but they do not spoil the overall style and only have a better effect on ergonomics. Users in their reviews of other tablet computers have repeatedly complained about too thin frames, where accidental clicks were common while watching video content or playing games. There is plenty of room for fingers here.

Operational Asus specifications TF101 is at a completely acceptable level and the build quality can be called excellent: there are no gaps, nothing crunches, does not play or creaks. In a word - a good-quality device with which you can travel without extreme sports.

Interfaces

On the right side there is a classic 3.5 mm mini-jack for a headset, a mini-HDMI video output, a slot for external memory cards and one of two speakers. On the left side there is a volume rocker, a power key and another speaker.

The lower part of the Asus TF101 tablet is reserved for the docking station, and in our case, the keyboard. It can also be used both to recharge the device and to connect other peripherals. The interface itself is located exactly in the middle, and there are guide grooves for the keyboard on the sides.

The interface characteristics of the Asus TF101 allow you to easily synchronize with other mobile gadgets and specific peripherals, so the model can be called the most universal. Judging by user reviews, many service technicians use the model for their professional needs.

Screen

The 10-inch Android tablet has a pretty good IPS matrix that can easily cope with a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels. As such, pixelation is not visible here, but if you look closely, you may be able to see individual dots. At least a good half of the users did not note the presence of this effect in their reviews.

The matrix provides excellent color depth, good brightness and contrast, as well as maximum viewing angles. Therefore, you can safely watch any photo or video content in the company of one or two like-minded people.

It is also worth noting that the screen of the Android tablet is protected by glass from the venerable Gorilla. At least the manufacturer did not go broke on some kind of oleophobic coating, so the display surface collects fingerprints like a magnet, fortunately they are removed without any problems and very quickly.

Performance

Responsible for performance dual core processor, working in tandem with the aforementioned Tegra of the second version from Nvidia. The RAM on board is not enough by modern standards - only 1 GB, but this is enough for the interface to work perfectly and standard applications.

By the way, about the latter. Quite a few distributors and unscrupulous sellers add their own advertisements to the operating system, and, as a rule, it is not possible to remove them using conventional methods. The only hard way to get rid of it is the stock firmware for Asus TF101. You can find it both on the developer’s official resource (Jelly Bean) and on specialized forums like w3bsit3-dns.com.

As for gaming applications, problems may arise with launching “heavy” games. Modern software of this kind is quite demanding, and it is also deliberately adapted specifically for high-performance processors to increase sales of the latter. So in many applications you will have to reset the graphics settings to medium, or even minimum values, provided that they will start at all.

Keyboard

Judging by user reviews, they can’t say anything bad or good about the standard keyboard. Here we have a completely adequate analogue of the usual laptop workspace. You can both type texts and play on it.

Attaching the keyboard, also known as the docking station, is not as easy as it seems at first glance, so you will have to get used to this procedure. It is also worth noting that it is equipped with additional USB interfaces and a card reader.

Autonomy

Under good load, which means the Internet is on, watching videos high resolution and toys, the device will work for about six hours. In mixed mode, battery life can be significantly extended to one or even two days, if you do not get carried away with “heavy” applications and video content.

With a docking station (fully charged), the device approximately doubles its battery life. That is, at maximum load you can work almost the entire day. Users leave entirely positive reviews about the autonomous part of the device. Ordinary tablets are very far from such indicators.

Summarizing

Despite the rather mediocre set of chipsets by modern standards, the tablet is in demand among a wide range of consumers. Naturally, gamers are not included in it. The model is perfect for surfing the Internet and solving some professional problems. So, the money invested in the model, which is a little less than 10 thousand rubles, it works out to the fullest and does not filibuster.

We have already written many times that creating a universal mobile device is almost impossible. Therefore, there is no need to make excessive demands on tablets and netbooks - you just need to understand in what situations and for what 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 still try to satisfy several user expectations at once and create products that expand our understanding of typical use cases. mobile devices. As a rule, such products are interesting in terms of ideas, attractive to researchers, but of little use for use in real life. But there are 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 evokes a strong desire to use it even after the first acquaintance. We are talking about the transformable tablet Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101.

With its name, this device clearly indicates its “pedigree” - netbooks of the EeePC series. As is known, Asustek company computer inc. was one of the pioneers in this area, and perhaps the most successful. And when last year, in the wake of the popularity of tablets, there was talk that they would push netbooks out of the market, ASUS engineers and strategists, presumably, decided to prove that, firstly, it is too early to write off netbooks, and secondly, You can combine the advantages of a netbook and a tablet in one device. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer became such a device.

Information about it first 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 writing this article, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer was well represented in Russian stores, but it is worth noting that we're talking about 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 forming a general impression of it. Fortunately, the 3G version does not offer any significant differences (besides, of course, the presence of a cellular module).

Contents of delivery

The tablet came to us for testing along with the Docking Station (a docking station that 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 also configurations that require the presence of both a tablet and a docking station in one set, but in our testing we had “separate” options.

The boxes contained quick start guides, as well as a charger and a cable for connecting to a computer.

At the same time, the package 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, matrix type) / 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	From 16 to 64 GB	16 or 32 GB	16 or 32 GB	From 16 to 64 GB
Memory card support	no / microSD in version with 3G	microSD	microSD	no (via accessory for photo upload only)
Wireless connection	Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) / 3G (on some models) / BT 3.0		Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) / BT 2.1 + EDR	Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) / 3G (on some 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)	256.7×175.3×8.6	260×177×13	271×171×12.98 *	241.2×185.7×8.8
Weight (g)	565	760	680 *	601
Price** (rubles)	From 18990	From 14990	From 16290 (without docking station)	From 18990

* The weight and dimensions of the tablet only are indicated, without the docking station. Weight of the docking station 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 look at appearance tablet. He looks strict and very respectable. The metal (and not aluminum) edging immediately evokes respect, and thanks to the corrugated plastic back surface, holding the tablet in your hands is very pleasant.

Although it is quite weighty (apparently due to the metal). I'm glad that Asus designers did not imitate Apple - the “transformer” has its own personality, its own face.

The situation with the connectors and buttons on the tablet itself is as follows: on the left is the volume rocker and the on/off button (all made of metal). There are no connectors or buttons on the top, on the right there is a headphone jack, mini HDMI and a card slot microSD memory.

At the bottom is the Dock Connector: a docking station, a charger are connected through it, and you can also connect the tablet to a desktop computer using the included cable.

To the right and left of this connector we see slots for snap 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 appearance and functionality of the device can be radically transformed thanks to the docking station. Let's connect it and see what we got.

Dock design

The docking station looks like a keyboard with a touchpad and is made of the same materials and in the same color scheme(combination of black and dark bronze). Weight of the docking station 640 g, dimensions: 271 x 185 x 28 mm.

The entire surface on 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 magnificent.

This is exactly what a business netbook should look like (if such a phrase is possible). Yes, yes, exactly a netbook! At first glance at the Asus Eee Pad Transformer with a docking station connected, you wouldn’t even think that it’s based on a tablet! The only thing that gives away the “composite” origin of this device is the metal cradle into which the tablet is actually installed. The cradle has a latch that automatically releases when the tablet is installed. If you want to pull out the tablet, then simply move the latch lever to the left - and the tablet is easily detached!

Now about the connectors. As we mentioned a little 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 connecting to a docking station).

There is nothing on the user-facing edge, but on the right there is a slot for working with SD cards (working 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 clogged there. However, when you want to connect a flash drive, these plugs get in the way - you can’t connect the flash drive with one hand.

When the tablet is docked, a “Dock Connected” notification appears on the screen in the lower right corner, and when you select a typing language, not only the virtual keyboard is offered, but also the Asus keyboard.

Keyboard layout and positioning devices

The keyboard layout deserves a separate discussion. The manufacturer quite rightly decided that a standard laptop layout will not work here; the keyboard must be adapted to the Android OS. And this adaptation was a great success.

The Android keys on the Eee Pad Transformer keyboard are located in the bottom and top rows. At the bottom 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 the buttons “Back”, “Turn on/off Wi-Fi”, “Turn on/off Bluetooth”, “Turn on/off touchpad”, “Reduce brightness”, “Increase brightness”, “Automatic brightness”, “Remove” screenshot" (very valuable in Android button!), “Browser”, “Settings”, three playback control keys, three sound control keys (“Turn off”, “Decrease” and “Increase”) and a button to exit to standby mode.

The key travel is pleasant, the Asus keyboard is much more pleasant to work with than the keyboard of most netbooks that I have seen - here Asus has maintained the quality standard that is typical for laptops from this company.

There is also a touchpad - there are no complaints about it, as well as about the keyboard, it works without problems.

Screen

The tablet is equipped with a 10.1-inch screen based on an IPS matrix. Resolution - 1280×800. Thus, owners of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer will receive a picture of no less quality than iPad owners. And, by the way, Asus is one of the few manufacturers that use IPS matrix screens in their tablets. This is a very big plus. As for the subjective impressions of the screen of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, they are the best: the colors are saturated, the brightness is sufficient (although in the sun you have to turn it up to maximum), there are no complaints about the responsiveness of the screen.

In connection with the screen, we note an interesting feature that relates to ergonomic issues. As you already understand, 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 function keys on the keyboard, using a touchpad, a mouse connected via USB, and also using the touch screen. And at first glance, there is some redundancy in this. But you get used to such opportunities very quickly. And then, when you switch 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

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 runs latest version OS Google Android- 3.1. On the Russian market, this is the first tablet with 3.1 - Samsung tablets with the same OS version will come later, and the Acer Iconia Tab A500 is sold with 3.0 (however, an upgrade to 3.1 is available to users). By the way, Transformer owners can already upgrade to version 3.2, but we studied the tablet with version 3.1 installed by default.

The differences in version 3.1 include, first of all, greater 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, but this limit has now been removed. It has become possible to connect various devices, joysticks, gamepads, etc.

In addition, a step forward has been made in terms of support for various video formats, although the situation here is still not entirely clear: where is the “border” between “areas of responsibility”? operating system, software player (with a set of codecs) and the device itself? We will definitely return to this issue in future articles. And, in addition, we will definitely explore the cloud capabilities of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer - they are provided with a number of exclusive pre-installed applications Asus. This is MyNet, which allows you to transfer multimedia files wirelessly home network, and MyCloud, which provides access to digital content on the Internet and allows remote access to a computer (PC or Mac).

Browser in Android 3.1 supports Adobe Flash and quite correctly displays sites with a wide variety of multimedia content. Perhaps for convenience Android browser 3.x beats Safari on iPad. Needless to say about functionality - iOS still lacks support for Adobe Flash.

We also note that Polaris Office is installed as an office suite on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, which is becoming more and more popular and will soon, presumably, supplant Documents To Go.

But, of course, you can install another office package, as well as a wide variety of additional software. As expected, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer has the Android Market.

In addition, there is also a Tegra Zone game store. As the name suggests, it is designed specifically for mobile devices using the NVIDIA Tegra 2 platform and is supported by NVIDIA. The big advantage of the store for the user is that the games in it are optimized specifically for running on the NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip (about it we'll talk below).

Let us note one more point. For the current version of Asus Eee Pad Transformer there is unofficial firmware, which allows you to connect a 3G modem to the tablet. The disadvantage of this solution is obvious, but if it is really necessary, then it is worth keeping this possibility in mind.

Performance and battery life

In terms of the platform used, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer keeps pace with its main competitors: this is the NVIDIA Tegra 2 SoC, 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 this for sure. Almost all new products 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 on which the iPad 2 runs has the same characteristics (dual-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz) and architecture (ARM) . Therefore, there is no point in talking 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, we will present the results of two tests run on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer: Quadrant Standard (Android application) and SunSpider 0.9.1 (web test). In Quadrant Standard, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer tablet showed a very strange, implausible result - only 1528 (while other Tegra 2 tablets score more than 2000). Probably the fact is that at the time of testing the tablet, Quadrant developers had not yet managed to optimize their test for Android 3.1 OS. But SunSpider reported quite logical results: for different runs they varied from 2158 to 2143 ms (the lower the number of milliseconds in this test, the better).

As for battery life, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer without a docking station can easily compete with the BlackBerry PlayBook and even the iPad. In active mode (online video, installing applications, etc.), its 24.4 Wh Li-Polymer battery lasts for almost 7 hours, but in “simplified” web surfing mode (without launching “heavy” content) ) Asus Eee Pad Transformer will last about 10 hours. Let us remind you that the docking station has an additional battery, and in the mode with minimal load (thoughtful reading and text editing), the battery life almost doubles (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 tablet is equipped with two cameras - 1.2 MP (front) and 5 MP (rear). The quality of photos taken with the rear camera is good, but not outstanding.

But I was pleased with the video: firstly, with a resolution of 720p (however, this is also becoming a standard), and secondly, with the absence of serious artifacts (even small moving objects are quite distinguishable). The H.264 codec is used for video recording. A 30-second video weighs 39.5 MB.

conclusions

In general, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 tablet should be considered a very successful and interesting product. Moreover, at the moment it is probably best tablet based on Android 3.1 OS. And a particularly good purchase would be the 3G version of the tablet coupled with a docking station. True, the cost of such a purchase will probably be around 26 thousand rubles, but for its versatility, good design and excellent quality, this is a completely reasonable price for our market. And although it still seems to us that the pursuit of universality in the field of mobile devices is an unreliable path and not always advisable, Asus managed to prove that sometimes excellent results can be achieved on this path.

However, if you only need a tablet based on 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 at the top of the list of candidates for purchase.

For the excellent implementation of the original idea, wide functionality and representative appearance, we award the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer tablet (complete with a docking station) the Original Design award.

Key IT market companies are represented in the tablet segment running Android 3.x. 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. On the right side there is a slot for microSD memory cards (without a cover), a miniHDMI port and a 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 from any additional elements, but on the lower end you can find a proprietary connector designed for connecting 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 transportation 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 symbols, there is also a set of function keys adapted for the Android platform. Thus, in the bottom row there are buttons “Home”, “Search” and “Menu” 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 elements Android interface 3 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 is installed extra battery, which extends 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 are no differences from the original capabilities of the previously tested Acer ICONIA Tab A500 - another current offering among Android tablets. Therefore, it is advisable to get to know 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 a direct “reader” of books stored in the tablet’s memory and text documents, as well as an online kiosk with PressReader periodicals. The latter allows (albeit for a fee) to 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 associated with the famous ASUS netbooks WebStorage service - remote storage. 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.