I know we’ve talked a lot about the EEE Pad Transformer here on AllTouchTablet.com (I recommend you read the detailed hands on and head to head comparison with iPad 2) but this is one of the most talked about Honeycomb, one that’s worth buying if you find yourself needing more work related functionality on a tablet, and that’s all possible with the EEE Pad Transformer thanks to its keyboard docking station that adds a few additional ports to the 10 inch tablet and an internal battery that will almost double the autonomy of the whole assembly.

    So let’s get through specs quickly to get an idea what we have in hand:

    • 10.1 inch multi-touch IPS display, 16:10 aspect ratio (1280 x 800 resolution), with Gorilla glass protective layer
    • Nvidia Tegra 2 dual core CPU @1.0 GHz
    • 1 GB RAM
    • 16/32 GB internal storage
    • WiFi N, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, A-GPS, optional 3G (not available yet)
    • Ports: microSD, micro HDMI 1.3a, 3.5mm audio jack
    • Sensors: accelerometer, proximity sensor, g-sensor, light-sensor, gyroscope
    • dual cameras, 5 MPx camera in the back, 1.3 MPx camera on the front
    • Li-Ion 24.2Wh rated at 9.5 hours
    • (Optional) Docking station with extended battery, 2xUSB 2.0 slots, standard HDMI slot, 4-in-1 card reader
    • Android 3.0 Honeycomb Operating System
    • Weight: 1.49 lbs (680 g)
    • Dimensions: 10.6 x 6.9 x 0.51 inches  (271 x 176 x 12.9 mm)

    As you can see, besides the docking keyboard (that’s optional) the EEE Pad Transformer from ASUS is one of the most powerful tablets to date, so you do get a top notch tablet that’s a little bit thicker and bulkier than the iPad 2, but it also costs less (399 vs 499 USD for the basic 16 GB version). So it’s up to you if you want to spend more for a refined operating system (Honeycomb is not just there yet) with more apps to chose from or get a more flexible tablet, with an excellent keyboard dock that increases battery life significantly over that of the iPad2.

    And since I’ve covered most important aspects of the EEE Pad Transformer in the previous articles I’ll focus in this post on the long term experience and the docking station, two aspects that were’n detailed in previous articles on AllTouchTablet.

    One interesting aspect about construction, is that the EEE Pad Transformer is more comfortable to use after a few hours than the iPad 2, which gives you the feeling it’s slipping from your hand as it’s too thin and doesn’t features a rubbery back finish as the Transformer, so you don’t get good grip. The weight is another story, as a tablet that’s as light as the iPad 2 will always put less strain on your wrist no matter how you use it.

    The docking keyboard

    This is the one factor which sets the Transformer apart and plays a major role in the model’s name. What’s more impressive is that the docking add-on will be compatible with future generations of ASUS tablets, so it’s a good investment in the long term. The $149 docking station adds the following things: extended battery, 93% Full size keyboard, trackpad and two more USB 2.0 ports, a standard HDMI slot and a 4-in-1 card reader. It’s a very good deal and the typing experience is as good as on most netbooks with no flex and nicely spaced keys.

    There are differences, of course, consisting of special keys for Android OS like the Back, Menu and Home dedicated keys. The trackpad is good sized, doesn’t support multi touch gestured (unfortunately) and adds a cursor on the screen to help you see ‘where you are’ at a given time.

    And as the battery life aspect is concerned, the tablet lasts around 6-7 hours on one charge. Docking the Transformer adds a few hours more to around 10-12 hours of usage, depending on your usage pattern. That’s impressive and guarantees the Transformer will last you through one day of continuous use no matter what you do.

    Availability and price

    The EEE Pad Transformer will be available in US and Canada starting April 26 with a base price of $399 for the 16 GB model, $499 for the 32 GB model and the docking keyboard can be yours for $149. Personally I believe it makes no sense not to get the keyboard dock, as it adds functionality, a number of ports and increases battery life. Plus it docks nicely with the tablet, making for a portable device that’s easy to carry in a small bag. I’ll update this post with buying options in a few days so make sure you come back.

    Buy the EEE Pad Tranformer from here

    Buy or pass?

    As I’ve said many times, the biggest problem with Honeycomb tablets is, well, the Android operating system, that’s still buggy and lacks refinement, just like it was rushed to market by Google, thus needing a few finishing touches to take advantage of the powerful hardware behind most tablets sold or announced today. And the scarcity of apps optimized for Honeycomb (less that 100 at the time of writing this article) doesn’t do any good either. That’s something which will be solved in a matter of months, but the first impression for most consumers is that they got an unfinished product, something completely different from the iPad 2 experience, and that’s one of the reasons Apple’s tablet is so successful.

    Before ending I invite you to watch below a few videos detailing the ASUS EEE Pad Transformer (courtesy of Tablet Bite):

    Exterior and docking

    The keyboard

    Performance

    Conclusions