ASUS Transformer Prime: The Android tablet to rule them all

Spider

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By James Kendrick | November 29, 2011, 4:00am PST
Summary: The ASUS Transformer Prime will be available in just a week or two, and definitely looks like the tablet to beat.

This tablet obsession is a sickness, I admit it. The thinner the slate, the lighter the weight makes for an outstanding tablet in its own right. Top it off with great hardware specifications and special accessories and you may have the best tablet ever produced. The ASUS Transformer Prime is coming to market in just a few weeks, and it is looking like the best Android tablet of the lot. The list of specifications on the Transformer Prime is as good as it gets:

  • Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor
  • Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich (ships with Honeycomb, first tablet to get upgraded)
  • Super IPS+ display (1280×800) with Corning Gorilla Glass
  • 8MP rear camera (F2.4 aperture), 1.2MP front camera
  • 1 GB memory; 32/64 GB storage; microSD slot; microHDMI port
  • 12 hour battery life
  • Dimensions: 263 x 180.8 x 8.3 mm; 586 g (10.35 x 7.11 x 0.32 inches; 1.29 lbs.)
These specifications make the Transformer Prime the most powerful tablet, encased in the thinnest and lightest package. Throw in the ASUS claim that this will get Ice Cream Sandwich this year and you have a winner.
The Transformer Prime is the tablet to get for anyone in the market for an Android tablet based on what we have covered so far. What sets it even further ahead of the pack is the keyboard dock that turns the Prime into a full laptop replacement. Many consumers aren’t willing to give up the keyboard, and this solution is as good as any.
The mobile dock for the Transformer Prime is as feature rich as the tablet that pops into it:

  • Full QWERTY keyboard
  • Large trackpad
  • USB 2.0 port
  • Full SD slot
  • Second battery
  • 1123 g, 2.47 lbs both tablet and laptop dock
The Transformer Prime tablet snaps into the laptop dock for transport just like a thin notebook. The “lid” opens to expose the two pieces working as one, not much thicker than the ASUS Zenbook it resembles. The chiclet keys look as good as that on many laptops, and include special keys to control the Transformer Prime without lifting hands off the keyboard.

The USB port and SD card slot aren’t the only benefits added by the laptop dock. There is a second battery that not only extends the tablet battery life to 18 hours, it also charges the tablet while docked. This arrangement is finally thin and light enough to make it a viable option for my work. I could use the tablet most of the time and pop it into the dock when I need to do some serious writing.

The ASUS Transformer Prime will retail for $499/$599 (32GB/64GB), and the laptop dock an extra $149. This is not cheap but is competitive with the iPad 2. I can’t wait to get my hands on one for a full review, along with the laptop dock. Hear that, ASUS?
To appreciate the value of the ASUS Transformer Prime and dock, take a look at this video from Ritchie’s Room.
 

redcloud

Member
Aug 24, 2011
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Is there any chance we could see some Tegra 3 tablets with more than 1GB RAM in the next year or so?

According to rumors, Lenovo is working on a new tablet that will have the option of 2GB of memory on their tagra 3 rendition. According to speculation, we will have to wait until 2012 to see what Lenovo comes up with. Then we can make a valuation of Lenovo vs. the venerable Asus.
 
Dec 17, 2010
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Wikipedia says both Wayne and Grey will be released in 2012. When could we expect to see tablets with these chips? I'm thinking about getting the Transformer Prime, but not if the next big tablet is scheduled to be released only a few months later.
 

Pamster

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Nov 14, 2011
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Wow, INCREDIBLE! Thank you for the interesting information:

Throw in the ASUS claim that this will get Ice Cream Sandwich this year and you have a winner.

Wow, that's just a mind blower. I wonder if this will drop too after they unveil the Quad Core chips at CES next year? *drools*
 

Weebee

Senior Member
Dec 1, 2011
164
18
Oh boy, I just got through telling myself no more toys for awhile. Does three weeks qualify as awhile? Looks like I'll be trading in my TF!
 

Spider

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Well, that's 21 dog weeks. Sounds long enough to me.:cool:
 

Weebee

Senior Member
Dec 1, 2011
164
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LOL! Me too. Now if I can just convince the boss that I really need to upgrade....
 
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