I actually got this tablet and loved it, except that there was a mistake and I ended up having the 16 GB version shipped when I ordered the 32 GB. So I returned the tablet for that reason, but I got to try it out briefly and all the glowing reports about this tablet are on the money, such a great device.
But with that said, I did not end up replacing the item with the one I had originally ordered. The next generation is around the corner, reports just out that the Asus Tranformer 2 will be released November 7. And the price has officially been confirmed. Shen (CEO of Asus) confirmed that the Transformer 2 will cost $499, which is $100 more than the original.
Not all the details have been released, but what is known is that it will have a quad core processor that has been already benchmarked as twice as fast as the current dual core processor, the first tablet with that processor, the latest andriod operating system, honeycomb's replacement called ice cream sandwich (ICS), it supposedly is going to be slimer (which raises the issue if that is true of whether the current docking keyboard would work with it) and a host of other goodies are being speculated on. To me that is worth waiting a few weeks for and spending $100 more on. That said, with three and a half weeks until the newer model's release, it is at least worth it to me to see the final specs on the newer version to compare the two. And the price on the current model, being then a generation behind, may drop further, be part of a gold box deal, etc. The choice though would be up to you all though as to whether to wait and see or buy this one. The current version is cheaper and is, as I said, an amazing machine in and of itelf.
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101-B1 10.1-Inch Tablet Computer (Tablet Only)
Edit:
Here is a youtube of the new Asus Prime (just saw links do not work, just do a search in youtube then):
[...]
And a review of the features. Note how thin the new one is, LESS THAN A THIRD OF AN INCH THICK (Wow!), so no use of old docking keyboard I would think. It looks and sounds to be amazing. It has the new aluminum shell Asus is using on its new notebooks. here is the review with new details:
Asus Unveils Eee Pad Transformer Prime Tablet
By Ian Paul, PCWorld Oct 20, 2011 8:29 AM
Asus recently gave a sneak peek of its new Eee Pad Transformer, a next-generation Android-powered 10-inch tablet called the Transformer Prime that features a Nvidia quad-core processor, and is just 0.32 inches thick. It's unclear whether the Prime will have Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich at launch.
Just like the original Eee Pad Transformer, Prime will include the option of purchasing a keyboard dock to emulate a clamshell laptop form factor. Asus CEO Jonney Shih revealed the new device during the AsiaD conference in Hong Kong, and the company plans to officially launch the tablet Nov. 9. Asus did not say if the Prime's official unveiling in three weeks will include information about pricing and availability.
Transformer Prime
The 10-inch Asus Transformer Prime sounds like it will be an impressive device and may be one of the earliest tablets out of the gate rocking Nvidia's anticipated Kal-el quad-core chip for mobile devices. Prime also includes a mini-HDMI port, SD card slot, and Asus claims the device has a 16.5 hour battery life when connected to the keyboard docking station. Asus did not reveal a number of specs, including screen resolution, a complete list of ports, storage, memory, processor speed and connectivity options. The Transformer Prime has an aluminum finish similar to its new Zen Ultrabooks.
Asus' sneak preview of Prime follows the company's release of a Transformer Prime teaser trailer on Wednesday, when the device was referred to as the Eee Pad Transformer 2. The trailer doesn't discuss the specs for the new device, but it does give you a sense of what the Transformer Prime will look like. You can check it out below.
Shih also discussed Asus' upcoming Padfone, a smartphone that can connect to a tablet shell. Shih said the company's current plans are to launch the Padfone in early 2012 running Ice Cream Sandwich.
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EDIT NUMBER TWO: RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED TRANFROMENR 2 (CALLED TRANSFORMER PRIME). AGAIN, NO LINK POSSIBLE, BUT JUST GOOGLE TRANSFORMER PRIME AND LOOK AT THE NEWS SECTION. I AM SO GETTING THIS ON THE 9TH:
Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime To Launch November 9th, Followed By "Hero Products" [Asus Strategy Slides At Investor Conference Spill The Beans On The Transformer Prime's Launch Date, Also Hint At "Hero" Products To Come Next Year]
Published on TFTS by Steve Andersen, 31 October, 2011 at 1:28 pm
The folks at Asus have tipped their hand in regards to just when the Transformer Prime tablet is getting its release date, and as it turns out, it's a lot sooner than you might have expected. The current word says the Transformer Prime tablet will launch November 9th, but it's not the only item Asus has in mind to launch.
We've all been looking forward to hearing more about this one, the newest version of the tablet that's actually gone toe to toe previously with the iPad and not come out badly beaten in the process. Even better considering that the Transformer Prime is set to be the first quad-core tablet, as well as pack in plenty of other great features like a gig of RAM, 32 gigs of storage and a 10.1 inch display. And, based on a slide from an investor's conference, the launch date is indeed right around a week and a half out, which is going to give it a pretty good place indeed to walk into the holiday shopping season as what should be the first quad core tablet. But what's particularly interesting here is that that same slide also tipped off a couple new products set to emerge in 2012.
Read: Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime To Launch November 9th, Followed By "Hero Products" [Asus Strategy Slides At Investor Conference Spill The Beans On The Transformer Prime's Launch Date, Also Hint At "Hero" Products To Come Next Year] TFTS
| Standing screen display size | 10.1 Inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 1280 x 800 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1280 x 800 Pixels |
| Processor | 1 GHz tegra_2_0 |
| RAM | 1 GB DDR2 |
| Hard Drive | 32 GB Flash |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce |
| Chipset Brand | Nvidia |
| Wireless Type | 802.11n, 802.11bgn |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 9.5 Hours |
