Product Details
- Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 0.3 x 7.1 inches ; 1.3 pounds
- Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
- Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
- ASIN: B0067PLM5E
- Item model number: TF201-B1-GR
- Batteries: 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
By : ASUS
Price : $552.52
Product Description
Size Name: 32 GB|Color Name: Amethyst Gray
Amazon.com Product Description
Paired for PerfectionBreaking free from the normal constraints of a device through constant innovation, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is the perfect example of what a tablet should be. The feature that gives the Eee Pad Transformer Prime its name, the mobile docking station, gives a whole new meaning to the term Paired for Perfection. The new Eee Pad Transformer Prime is mind-blowingly slim and light weight and with a beautiful metallic spun finished design. In fact, it is the slimmest tablet on the market yet, only 0.33" thin and 1.29lbs light. You can easily carry it with you no matter where you go.
Key Features
- 10.1-inch WXGA Super IPS+ capacitive pressure-sensing multi touch display made with Corning® Gorilla® Glass for brilliant HD entertainment and intuitive navigation. 178° viewing angle (1280 x 800)
- Ultra-slim and light (.33" thin and 1.29lbs light) with metallic spun finish design
- Powered by NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 Quad-core CPU for excellent multitasking, 1080p HD video output playback and 3D games for SUPERB performance (Learn more)
- 1.2MP front camera and 8MP auto-focus rear camera with flash, back-illuminated CMOS sensor, and large aperture design to clearly capture every moment. (Learn more)
- Android™ 3.2 Honeycomb (Upgradable to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich) OS with Adobe® Flash® support and over 500,000 downloadable applications on the Android ™ Market.1 (Learn more)
- Optional Docking station with Full QWERTY keyboard adds additional 6 hours of battery life, to instantly turn the Eee Pad Transformer Prime into PC mode with up to 18 hours of battery life.2
Learn More
Performance ; Productivity Being the first tablet that is powered by the world's first Quad-core processor NVIDIA® Tegra® 3, the Eee Pad Transformer Prime browses the web and outputs 1080p HD video at blazing speeds. The snappier response time and better multi-tasking performance make the Eee Pad Transformer Prime a true mobile entertainment powerhouse. The feature that gives the Eee Pad Transformer Prime its name, the mobile docking station, gives a whole new meaning to the term versatility. The innovative design not only seamlessly provides the user with a keyboard, touchpad and expandability options, but also increases battery life to 18 hours for all day computing ; productivity.2
Stunning Visuals ; Sound Equipped with the Super IPS + panel that's protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass with 178° ultra-viewing angle, the Eee Pad Transformer Prime's screen brightness has also been enhanced to make it easier than ever to read outside in the sun. 8MP rear camera with flash, back-illuminated CMOS sensor and large aperture design ensures that every precious moment is being captured while 1.2MP front camera allows for vivid video conferencing. The Eee Pad Transformer Prime houses an updated audio solution offering sound unheard of from any other tablet, powered by SonicMaster technology, one of the industry's renowned codecs for crisp and acoustically accurate audio.
Connectivity ; Expandability Stay connected while you're on the move with the Eee Pad Transformer Prime that comes with MicroSD Card Reader, Micro HDMI port and unlimited free web storage space for a year for easy sharing ; expandability.2 With Android™ 3.2 Honeycomb (Upgradable to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich) OS with Adobe® Flash® support and over 500,000 downloadable applications on the Android™ Market, entertainment is just a finger swipe away.1The convenient ASUS Launcher also allows users to launch software, manage content, access online services and connect devices with a few simple taps.
Relax, ASUS Has You Covered Ranked as the 1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources4, readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. We tirelessly strive to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you turn on your Eee Pad Transformer Prime.
We also back our commitment with the industry's most comprehensive warranty.
- 1 year North America warranty
- Free one-way standard shipping
- 24/7 tech support
What's in the Box
- ASUS EeePad Transformer Prime TF201-B1 Tablet
- User manual
- Power adaptor with USB to 40 pin connector
- Warranty card
Specifications
Display10.1-inch WXGA Super IPS+ capacitive multi touch display built with Corning® Gorilla® Glass; 178° viewing angle(1280 x 800)Operating SystemAndroid 3.2 Honeycomb Platform (Upgradeable to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream SandwichChipsetNVIDIA® Tegra® 3 mobile processor | with Quad Core CPU Memory1GB DDR2Wireless802.11b/g/nBluetoothBluetooth v2.1 + EDRStorage32GB eMMC FlashCamera1.2 megapixel (Front); 8.0 Megapixel (Rear)SpeakersBuilt-in Stereo Speakers with SonicMaster Technology
Card ReaderMicro SD Card Reader Input / Output1 x Micro HDMI, 2-in-1 audio jack (head phone/mic-in jack), internal mic Battery Pack25 W/h Li-polymer battery (up to 12 hours)2Dimensions10.35" x 7.12" x 0.33" (W x D x H)Weight1.29lbsColorAmethyst Gray and Champagne Gold
© 2011 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos. All trademarks are registered to their respective companies. ASUS shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. 1 Upgradable to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.Adobe® Flash® update required from Android Market. 2 Actual battery life varies with usage. Battery life tested under power saving mode, playing 720p video playback, Brightness: 60nits, default volume with headphones. Operation lifetime subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations. 3 Compatible with DLNA Certified devices only. 4 Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service ; Reliability Report 2010. Rated number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Q2 2010's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/2010-2nd-Quarter-Computer-Reliability-Report.html.
Check Out Other Great ASUS Products
ASUS Transformer Portfolio Protect your Eee Pad Transformer with the ASUS Portfolio cover designed to fit the tablet perfectly. The portfolio also has a fold-able cover that turns into a keyboard stand or a reader stand, making it convenient to use your Eee Pad comfortably for hours-on-end.
Eee Pad Transformer Docking KeyboardIt is meant to be together. Add a docking keyboard to your Transformer tablet and get up to an amazing 16 hours of battery life. With 2x USB ports, an 4-in-1 card reader, the expansion possibilities are almost limitless. Its full QWERTY keyboard and a row of shortcut keys means you can get what you want done, faster, more efficient.
ASUS Index Sleeve - Black When docked, your Eee Pad Transformer is not just a tablet, it is also a very capable notebook style PC. Don't leave home without a sleeve protecting your Transformer. Check out this water-repellant textured leather sleeve with an soft sued interior.
ASUS Index Sleeve – Pink When docked, your Eee Pad Transformer is not just a tablet, it is also a very capable notebook style PC. Don't leave home without a sleeve protecting your Transformer. Check out this water-repellant textured leather sleeve with an soft sued interior.
10.1" WXGA (1280x800) (LED Capacitive)/NVIDIA Tegra 3/1GB DDR2 RAM/32GB Flash Memory/Android 3.2 (Honeycomb)/802.11BGN/1.2MP Front Camera/8.0MP Rear Camera/Bluetooth 2.1/Up to 12 hours battery/G-Sensor/E-Compass/GPS/Light Sensor/Gyroscope/1YR North American Warranty
See all Product Description
ASUS Transformer Prime TF201-B1-GR Eee Pad 10.1-Inch 32GB Tablet (Amethyst Gray)
Technical Details
- Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS (4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgradable) with ASUS Waveshare UI
- NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 Quad-core CPU
- 10.1" LED Backlight WXGA (1280x800) ScreenSuper IPS+10 finger multi-touch supportCorning® Gorilla® Glass
- 32GB EMMC + 8G life time ASUS Webstorage space
- Eee Pad Transformer Docking Keyboard Not IncludedWLAN 802.11 b/g/n2.4GHzBluetooth V2.1+EDR1.2 MP Front Camera8 MP Rear CameraAuto focus (rear) with flashLarge F2.4 aperture. (rear camera)
Customer Reviews
I've extensively used a lot of tablets, due to both longtime interest in mobile technology, and my line of work. To give you an idea of my frame of reference, I've either owned or used the following tablets: Ipad 2 (owned), HP Touchpad (owned - 2011 firesale!), Motorola Xoom / Galaxy Tab 10.1, LG G, original Asus Transformer (work). Heck, I've owned the following Windows Mobile / PocketPC devices from back in the day - HP Jornada, Toshiba e800. My phone is the iPhone 4.
With that said, this is one of the best tech gadget I've ever owned. The unanimous rave industry reviews (and very positive end user reviewers, even taking wifi issues etc. into account) aren't wrong.
BUILD AND FORM FACTOR: evocative of but actually feels higher quality than the Ipad 2 and Macbook Air, which is a minor miracle at this price point. Beautifully machined aluminum, minimalist but not cold. The resolution of the screen is the best out of any current tablet, and can be crazily bright enough that it is useable outdoors in sunlight. It's definitely a fingerprint magnet though.
COLOR - for those deciding between the gray or champagne, I received the champagne, and I actually called to confirm that I received the right one. It's much more silver than gold, it's basically silver aluminum with some gold highlights when the light catches it the right way. This is exactly what I wanted - it's reminiscent of the classic aluminum MacBook Pros, but with a touch of warmth from the gold. In short - it's not very gold at all.
PROCESSOR - the Tegra 3 quad core processor is noticeably snappy, making the whole experience (even with Honeycomb) feel next gen. I've been getting great battery life, ~ 10-12 hours of normal mixed used, on balanced setting. With the dock, you're at 18+ hours. The NVIDIA fifth "stealth core" does its job seamlessly. It just works. For a quad core tablet with blazing power, this is again pretty mind-bending and next-gen. Is a quad core necessary? Strictly speaking, no. The Tegra 2 / OMAP / Snapdragon tablets do just fine, for the most part (although the un-overclocked Touchpad is noticeably slow), but every non ipad tablet lagged behind the iPad 2 in terms of real world performance (opening menus, browsing, launching apps). This isn't because Apple's processor is faster, but rather because if the sheer level of optimization between Apple hardware and software, which is industry-leading. With the Tegra 3 processor, though, this is the first non Apple tablet that both objectively is, and also noticeably feels, faster, more responsive, and more powerful than the iPad 2. It just brute forces past all of the Apple optimizations. For me, that is huge, especially if I'm going to be spending over $400 on something. Slowly but surely, more and more apps are optimizing for quad core (especially games), but even without that, I'd get a quad core for the general performance benefits alone, as it translates across every app.
OS / SW - I really like the iOS UI for phones, it's simple yet powerful, but for a tablet it's always just felt incredibly limiting / frustrating / slightly condescending. I even prefer WebOS to it. Android Honeycomb is a nice balance between power, customization and being relatively easy to pick up, just perfect for the tablet form factor. My 2 year old toddler figured out how to use it in about 20 seconds (similar to WebOS and iOS). That being said, I'm looking forward to ICS, which should make things even more stable (HC still crashes occasionally)and uniform. The fact that the Prime gets an ICS in a month or two is fantastic. The pre-loaded Asus apps are relatively minimal and unobtrusive, and some actually are quite nice, such as the Asus cloud. Polaris Office is solid. The Android Market could be improved though, especially in terms of sorting and organization. Finding the right app can be a bit of a crapshoot.
CONS: Basically the same nits as others have pointed out.
SPEAKER: the rear-facing speaker placement is a bit dumb, because it gets covered up relatively easily by your hands or when you set it down. However, you can still hear it even if it's completely covered, it's pretty loud, and it's located where the tablet tapers inwards so it doesn't get completely covered by a flat surface when setting it down. I don't mind the lack of a second speaker per se, as you hardly get stereo sound from any of the other tablets that have two speakers. I would say the sound quality of the Prime is on par with any other tablet, but it is just a bit easier to muffle. A jawbone jambox bluetooth speaker or the like works beautifully to supplement this tablet. It's certainly not needed, but it's a nice addition.
CHARGER - the proprietary charger really annoys me. Until Asus comes out with more accessories, I'm basically stuck with using my one charging cord. Even charging via the dock requires the proprietary connector. It's not worth deducting a star for (at least for me), because it's more of an annoyance in light of how great the rest of the device is, but sheesh.
PRODUCT LAUNCH - for a $21 billion company of 110,000+ employees, Asus still can't do a good product launch to save its life. This doesn't detract from the end product per se, but it's worth mentioning because so many pre-orders (on Amazon and elsewhere) were bungled or delayed. Asus is starting to consistently put out really great products, but in order to get to the "next level"(Sony, Apple etc.) in the eyes of the average consumer, they're going to really need to work on marketing and sales execution.
OVERALL: this thing is pretty ingenious, especially with the accessory dock / keyboard. Hopefully a harbinger of good things to come in the Android tablet space.
<<UPDATES AS OF 1/24/2012
These are discussed more in the comments, but I thought it would be useful to update the main review.
ICS - I updated to ICS the first day it was out (good job Asus in pushing this out two days earlier), to absolutely no problems. It was like any other firmware update. The system notifies you that there's an update available, you tap yes, and voila. ~10 minutes later, ICS is installed. It's pretty seamless - no loss of applications or data. I haven't noticed wholesale differences, but everything is smoother, more streamlined, and sometimes faster. It's a definite plus. Asus has already provided multiple firmware updates (on top of ICS), which is a very good sign that this product is being actively supported.
WiFi - it's been pretty definitively proven that an all-aluminum back-plate is not the best for enhancing WiFI signals. Asus attempted to make up for this via "antenna differentiation," a fancy way for saying that there are two antennas instead of one. In practice, mine has very good wifi reception up to about 25-30 feet from the router. Specific numbers: wifi analyzer average value of -50 to -60, and speedtest of up to 18mbps, exactly on par with my laptop. However, once you get really far away from the router (i.e. outside, or more than 75 feet from the router), the performance erodes at a higher rate than the comparison laptop (wifi analyzer -90). For my purposes, this is extremely useable, and I never noticed the supposedly weak wifi until I started doing actual tests out of curiosity. A lot of people have had luck with installing repeaters and / or more powerful routers, but I haven't needed to go that route. Asus has announced that they're making a new Transformer Prime variant, the 700T, due in a few months (supposedly). This one will have a different, non-metallic backplate, similar to the original Transformer (i.e. plastic). For me, I'm happy to sacrifice a slight amount of WiFi range for the distinctive spun-aluminum backplate; those who don't feel this way should perhaps wait for the 700T if they can.
Dock - my champagne dock finally shipped yesterday, about a month after the actual tablet arrived. I can understand this somewhat if this device were sold out by the millions, but I don't think that that's the case (even though it looks like this tablet is, deservedly, a hit as far as Android tabs go). It's just an almost mind-bogglingly bad manufacturing / supply issue with Asus. It's like they make 10 at a time and call it a day. Hopefully it's just the first month hiccup - it looks like there are more docks (esp. the grey) among different retailers and that's a good sign. My original criticism stands though - Asus is insanely bad at product launches.
Accessories - I ended up purchasing this MoKo(TM) Premium Quality Slim-Fit Folio Cover Case with built-in Multi-Angle Stand for Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 10.1-Inch Android Tablet, and the Skinomi Techskin screen protector. The case is not as whiz-bang as some iPad cases - it's the same tired black pseudo leather, but it's cheap and it gets the job done in terms of functionality. The skin is ok but seems to, ironically, scratch easily. I've had better luck with Invisibleshield with past devices.
Overall - I'm pleased to report that the tablet is still working great. After a month of use, I'd say what really sets it apart is the Tegra 3 quad core, which is an unadulterated good. I can't imagine using a tablet without one now. The form factor and build are great, but with the caveats noted above.
Update January 23, 2012: I thought I would post that I have decided to return my Prime TF201. I'm on my second one actually because of a few problems. I still think that this is a great device for those that aren't having the problems. But for me, it just wasn't worth the hassle.
I have 2 problems. First are the physical defect on both that I received. The first one, as I mentioned below in my initial review, was the scratch on the Gorilla Glass. Had I put the scratch there, I wouldn't have a problem because it isn't scratch proof, rather, it is only scratch resistant. So I went on to tablet 2 and there are no scratches on the screen this time, however, there are dents on the silver border around the screen when looking at it straight on. One at the top and 2 at the bottom. While this may not bother some, I'm paying good money for this and I want it as close to flawless as possible. Also, the port for charging seems to be dented a little as well. It still fit the charger, but it looks like someone pressed really hard on the metal around the port and bent it downward. AGHH
Problem 2: The second problem, on both devices is that once upgraded to ICS, I have numerous lockups and reboot problems. Too many to consider keeping it. I feel that this isn't really the Prime's fault but more an ICS problem, and may be fixed in a future update, but I can't take it. On the first tablet, it happens while doing any simple task, like scrolling thru a page on the default browser, or playing a simple game, or using the camera. It is just not acceptable for me. It locks up for about what seems to be 20 seconds, then automatically reboots itself. Then it is good for a short while, like 15 minutes, and then it does the same thing. I really hate making this decision but it just has to be done. Also, for those concerned, the GPS update seemed to help mine slightly for locking onto satellites with no WIFI turned on, but was still not very strong. And the Wifi strength, after careful testing and review, was just too weak. Dropping it a star due to both of them having physical defects.
Update January 9, 2012: I just received my Ice Cream Sandwich update to 4.0.3 and it went smoothly, plus there was another camera update as well right afterwards. When the tablet boots up now, it gives the option to unlock and go to the main screen if you swipe to the right, or go straight to the camera if you swipe to the left.
I was hoping for the ability to move apps to the SD card, but no such luck yet. Mine is not rooted. Although my bootup time went from 3 mins 30 secs down to 1 min 31 secs with ICS then even down to 1 min 20 secs the next time I booted up. I like the long hold on the main screen for Live Wallpapers and plain photo wallpapers.
For those that thought ICS may improve GPS functionality, it did not for mine. I figured as much, but thought I'd test it out. Wifi seems the same as before the update. Though mine seems very good cause I'm always near the router. (But like I said below, I'm NOT using this for GPS functionality. If you are, and you like the Prime for the specs, wait for the new Prime TF700t. Even though in my opinion, it doesn't look as nice and it costs more. Or wait for the smaller 7" tablet, unnamed as of yet, which will also run ICS and have the Tegra 3 processor. ANd it will only be $249.00. Or look around. Lots to choose from.)
Looks like they also included an updated version of the web browser. I also see a Downloads App in the app section.
I like the transitions from screen to screen in the app section as well. Although, while scrolling to the Widgets section after the apps, mine just locked up and this was after 5 mins from a fresh boot. Not sure what that was about. I couldn't do anything but the tablet rebooted on its own. I'm sure there will be updates to come to clear any glitches.
Update January 3, 2012: for those concerned about the locked bootloader, Asus made an announcement they they will provide an unlock key to allow root access at the risk of the user voiding the warranty. Here is hoping that Asus holds true to their promise, but they usually do. GPS is another issue for those concerned about it. I put my star rating back to 5 because Asus has been very good with updates and listening to the buyers. I just wish there was a way to get a plastic backing to replace the aluminum one for those that need GPS fixed to their wishes. I hope you all are enjoying your Prime as much as I am. And those of you waiting for yours to arrive, I'm sure you will enjoy it, just be aware of the issues before getting it. Or cancel your order and wait for a better option. Don't forget CES 2012 is right around the corner Jan 10-13. Maybe there will be something more suited to your needs.
Update January 1, 2012: I added a few photos to the image gallery here on Amazon that I took with the rear camera. Keep in mind that the photo upload here does not allow the full sized image. They seem to be compressed and shrunk down in size so you can't see it in full detail, but you get the idea, i hope.
Also, i noticed on Google Earth, everything freezes up after using it for a few minutes. Then the tablet reboots itself. This also happened on my original transformer as well. Did anyone else notice this?
Even with these glitches that I mention, i am very happy with this tablet. Just want to point out things that i notice when i play around with it. I suspect that many things will run smoother when ICS comes along, or with future updates by Asus.
I know i mentioned it before but i have to stress how easy it is to clean the screen when the fingerprints get bad. People seem to point out how easy it is to get fingerprints on it but nobody seems to say how easy they wipe off.
Lastly, i have been reading a lot of negative feedback about the gps. I did say in my review how mine is slightly off and that for me this is not an issue since i really won't be using this function. So if you are worried about very accurate gps, you may want to try the prime out at bestbuy or somewhere first. I have a dedicated gps and cell phone that does gps for me. I tested my Prime with the 'gps test' app and I lock onto 6 to 10 satellites within 20 seconds indoors but the strength rarely goes above 25 per satellite, (should be over 40). A lot of reviews on the old original transformer complained about the plastic backing, and Asus switches to aluminum and people complain because it blocks wifi and gps. Watch what you wish for. I'm still a very satisfied customer overall.
Update December 30, 2011: Another update to my review. I have noticed when recording a movie in HD, the auto focus is nice to have, but when it changes focus, upon playback you can hear clicking while it changes focus. Nothing major but worth noting.
Also, when recording in lower light the movie can go out of focus. I had to move the camera down to the floor then backto the subject for it to refocus. Annoying, but tolerable. Anyone else notice this? I still love the tablet tho.
Update December 23, 2011: I wanted to add an additional comment. Please inspect your screen carefully. When I got the tablet, I had noticed a small scratch on the Gorilla Glass screen in the upper right side. I contemplated not doing anything about it, but finally decided that I paid good money for this and deserve a defective-free quality product. I used Amazon's Help link and chatted online with someone who helped me resolve this rather quickly. I will do a replacement of my tablet, and since it will be within the return timeframe, it will be at no cost to me. My concern about this was that it is in high demand and I may not get the new one for quite a while. I would rather wait a little longer and get a tablet that has no noticeable defect like this. Some people may not have noticed it because it is a very fine scratch, but it is about 3/4 of an inch long. I tried wiping it with the provided cloth, thinking it was something on the glass, but sure enough, it is a scratch. I am currently dropping my star rating to 4 stars because of the promotion of the Gorilla Glass as being scratch resistant. Here is a quote right from Gorilla Glass' website, "Gorilla Glass features exceptional damage resistance to the scratches, drops, and bumps of everyday use." I am one who takes extra special care of my electronics, and there was nothing that came into contact with the screen except my finger and the provided cloth. Plus I noticed the scratch as soon as I opened it, but got more worried about it as the days went on. I really hate to return it, but I can't see living with this, knowing that the screen may scratch even more later. Maybe someone in the factory did something that caused it to scratch? I have no idea, but I will be returning it for a new Tablet of the same model and color. I thought it would be fair to mention this to other people considering buying it. I really don't see this as an Asus issue as much as a Gorilla Glass (Corning) issue, but I like to be as fair as possible. I will update again once I get my new replacement item. Hopefully there will be no other worse defects.
Also, for those that want to know, I ran the free AnTuTu Benchmark v2.5 and here are my results while using Honeycomb OS.
RAM: 2109, CPU integer: 3662, CPU float-point: 2794, 2D Graphics: 283, 3D Graphics: 1190, Database IO: 400, SD Card Write: (8.3 MB/s) 83, SD Card Read: (20.2 MB/s) 189, CPU Frequency: 1400 MHz, Total Score: 10710. I did not test battery life, but it lasts a good while without having to recharge with everyday usage.
Now back to my original review:
OK, so I will start by saying that my Amazon order was not canceled, and I received my tablet on Tuesday... Read more›
ASUS Transformer Prime TF201-B1-GR Eee Pad 10.1-Inch 32GB Tablet (Amethyst Gray)
No comments:
Post a Comment