A compact, lightweight, unlocked 10.1 inch tablet great for van-camping and other travel
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101-B1 32GB 10.1-Inch Tablet
Specifications
- 10.1-inch WSVGA IPS capacitive pressure-sensing multi touch display for brilliant HD entertainment and intuitive navigation. 178° viewing angle (1280 x 800)
- Powered by NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 mobile processor for best web experience with up to two times faster browsing, hardware accelerated Flash, and console-quality gaming
- Front (1.2 MP) and rear (5 MP) cameras for face-to-face video chats and on-the-go video and picture capturing
- Mini HDMI port to supersize your entertainment to compatible HDTVs and external displays
- Optional Docking station with QWERTY keyboard adds additional 6.5 hours of battery life, to instantly turn the Transformer into PC mode with up to 16 hours of battery life.
Staying organized and connected while on extended road trips can be difficult. So, we continually put a number of compact mobile digital devices to the test while travelling. How does the ASUS Transformer measure up?
First Impressions
The ASUS Transformer is an attractive little tablet. This is a 10-inch tablet, with Tegra power, great viewing angles and it has good sound. The device feels very solid in hand, not too light, not too heavy, with enough memory for lots of apps and it functions very well. The optional keyboard docking station adds even greater usability and versatility. Battery life is excellent too!
On The Road or In Camp
I purchased the ASUS Transformer based on the excellent reviews it was getting and it does not disappoint. In addition to the tablet, I decided to get the keyboard docking station, which is really an amazing accessory. The tablet itself is super responsive, has a decent amount of memory and is light enough to use for long periods.
For travel, it is more durable than some of my other devices and with the optional keyboard it is like having a mini laptop. It streams media such as Netflix, HULU, HBOGo, etc. without any lag and runs nicely. The 10.1 inch screen is great, but I actually like a bit smaller screen, so my 9.7 is the go-to tablet for travel. Nonetheless, I really do think this tablet is an excellent value, and highly recommend it.
The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 Mobile Docking station keyboard is made for the Transformer TF101 and is a great accessory. The docking station not only extends the tablet’s battery life up to 16 hours, but also features added functionalities which include a near full-sized QWERTY keyboard, a multi-touch touchpad, 2 USB 2.0 ports, and a 4-in-1 SD card reader.
You can also use any wireless mouse with the docking station, which is great if you are not a big fan of just the touchpad or touch screen. I prefer a smaller mouse so I am using the Ckeyin Bluetooth Optical Mini Mouse for Computers and Android Tablets, Smartphones.
There is also a wide selection of cases for it too, like the PadFolio Smart Cover Stand Alone Case. Its soft interior protects from bumps and scratches, offers easy access to all ports, the secured velcro locks in your tablet in to place, the cover has flip capability to transform the case into a horizontal viewing stand, and it has a magnetic closure. Available in a variety of colors.
In The Long Run
The ASUS Transformer is a pretty slick tablet for travel. The docking station adds even more features and capabilities. Even with the docking station, when folded together it is compact and stows in all those small Westy spaces. It also provides me the flexibility to work on the road if I need to. It has plenty of internal data storage and two options for expandable storage, a micro SD slot in the table and a full SD slot in the docking station, for other media, like videos. The display is bright, colorful crisp screen is great for watching movies. For the price, I would definitely recommend this tablet.
Hits: long battery life (without the keyboard dock’s extra power source), lightweight, Well made, sturdy construction quality and capabilities for the price
Misses: bottom speakers can get blocked during handheld use, would be nice if it included a longer charging cord.
