Review: ASUS Transformer Pad
ASUS, Transformer Pad TF103C
Price: $429 (for the 16GB model)
Rating: 3.5/5
Should you buy it?
If you want a cheap, simple workhorse with no bells and whistles, then yes.
Review:
I have a mate who would really struggle with the ASUS Transformer Pad.
Not with the technology, or with the simple-to-use interface.
It's the keyboard.
You see, he has, shall we say, enlarged fingers.
And typos on the Transformer's keyboard are pretty dam easy, even for the thin fingered amongst us - let alone those with enlarged digits.
But before we get into the positives of this snappy little device, here are another few annoying titbits:
1. Every time you press the Transformers' touch pad, the on-screen arrow moves - which can get pretty, pretty annoying.
2. The power shutdown in the final stage as I was registering to the device didn't help my affinity to it.
3. Don't bother charging the devise through a USB connection to another computer as you'll probably have to drain the motherboard to get enough power to charge it.
4. It's a little heavy, and clunky.
5. Note to ASUS' marketing team Transformer Pad TF103C doesn't really roll off the tongue.
The Transformer Pad screen.
But, when you're paying $429 for what is essentially a tablet and a laptop, you can't complain too much.
It is a fun and easy-to-use device.
And if we're talking a value-for-money tablet with keyboard, the Transformer Pad hits all the other marks relatively well and has got to be one of the better-value 10-inch Android tablets available.
When you open the Transformer Pad ASUS proudly states it's "in search of incredible" - it's not quite there yet.
If it has of said "in search of a cheap, practical devices for the less discerning tech user" that would be more appropriate.
