The Transformer Prime manages to pull off the rare feat of combining power and style: It’s sleek and sexy, yet also jam-packed with robust functionality. And it’s armed with a secret weapon: Asus’ optional keyboard dock, a slim attachment that instantly turns the tablet into a full-fledged laptop computer. The tablet itself costs $499 for a 32GB model and $599 for a 64GB model; the dock is sold separately for $149.
On paper, this thing has it all. So how does it perform in the real world? I spent several days putting it to the test to find out.
Body and display
First, the surface-level stuff: As I mentioned, Asus’s new tablet is no slouch in the looks department. The Transformer Prime features a 10.1-in. display guarded by a gorgeous metallic-spun back, available in “Amethyst Gray” or “Champagne Gold” color schemes. Both designs look classy and — yes — expensive.
The tablet is thinner than any other on the market today, with a depth of just 8.3mm. It’s light, too, weighing in at a waif-like 1.29 lb. In the big picture, of course, we’re talking fingernail-sized differences from one tablet to another — the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is 8.6mm thick and 1.25 lb., while the iPad 2 is 8.8mm thick and 1.33 lb. — but all comparisons aside, the Prime looks fantastic and feels great to hold.
Despite its slight frame, the Transformer Prime doesn’t seem the least bit delicate; on the contrary, it has a solid and sturdy feel. The screen uses Corning Gorilla Glass, which protects it from nicks and scratches. Coupled with the tough outer casing, the Prime is a lightweight tablet with heavyweight-quality materials.
Speaking of the screen, the Transformer Prime features a 1280 x 800 Super IPS+ display that rivals any other tablet display I’ve seen. Images are crisp and clear; colors are rich and brilliant. The screen includes an outdoor viewing mode that, according to Asus, boosts brightness up to a level 1.5 times higher than any competing tablet; with this mode activated, I found the Prime perfectly easy to view even in bright sunlight.
The Asus Transformer Prime has a microSD slot, a micro-HDMI port and a volume rocker along its left side; a power button on the far left of its top edge; and a 3.5mm headphone jack along its right side. The bottom of the tablet holds a 40-pin connector port for charging along with two connectors for attaching the tablet to Asus’s keyboard dock.
There is one speaker on the back of the unit along the rig
via Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime: The Rolls-Royce of Android tablets – Computerworld.
