The Eee Pad Transformer is aptly named; there's more to this thing than meets the eye. Asus is the first to market with a tablet that pulls double-duty, attempting to replace your notebook, too. We put it through the paces to see how it really stacks up.
Do you want to win an Eee Pad Transformer of your own? How about a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, an Acer Iconia Tab A500, or a Lenovo IdeaPad K1? We're giving away all of those Nvidia Tegra 2-powered tablets and more (special thanks to the TegraZone team for providing the prizes)!
Read through our Eee Pad Transformer review and, on the last page, follow the link to fill out our entry form on SurveyGizmo. Good luck, Tom's Hardware readers!
Some of the best conversations we have are with writers from other sites. Lately, the buzz between our colleagues has been about HP’s recent decision to discontinue the TouchPad and put webOS up on a shelf. After writing and then publishing our own TouchPad review, we thought the device might be in a bit of trouble. But we didn't anticipate HP ending things the way it did. But what does that mean for the tablet scene? We’re now down to two players working on tablet-oriented operating environments: Apple and Google. While the iPad 2 continues to set the standard, there’s a growing collection of Android-based tablets legitimately putting pressure on Apple.
Beyond what they cost, functionality is the major barrier preventing tablets from enjoying even greater success. The devices continue to operate best as consumption-oriented tools. They augment your computing experience, rather than replacing it. As a result, it's difficult for many folks to justify spending big bucks on a piece of hardware that merely complements other systems.
Several vendors are trying to bridge the gap between tablet and notebook, hoping to turn the former into a true successor to the latter. The most interesting implementation we've seen so far comes from Asus. Dubbed the Eee Pad Transformer, it’s the first tablet we’ve tested that performs double duty as both devices.
The Eee Pad Transformer is slimmer than the Xoom and A500, but its beveled edge makes the comparison difficult. Asus tapers the Transformer near the sides, where it’s slightly thinner at 0.35". Functionally, this doesn't really matter because you still need a cover that accommodates the tablet at its thickest point, which is 0.5". And at 1.5 pounds, Asus' tablet weighs roughly the same as Motorola's Xoom.
Thickness Compared to AA Battery
| iPad (3G) | iPad 2 (3G) | Xoom | Iconia A500 | Eee Pad Transformer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 9.56" | 9.5" | 9.8" | 10.2" | 10.7" |
| Width | 7.47" | 7.31" | 6.6" | 7" | 7" |
| Height | .5" | .34" | 0.5" | 0.5" | 0.5" |
| Screen Size | 9.7" | 9.7" | 10.1" | 10.1" | 10.1" |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 | 16:10 | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Weight | 1.6 lb | 1.33 lb | 1.5 lb | 1.65 lb | 1.5 lb |
As with the Xoom and A500 (and unlike either iPad), Asus employs a wide-aspect (16:10) display. That's really the common choice being made by manufacturers selling Android-based tablets. They're focusing on video playback, it seems, which is why most folks hold these devices in landscape mode.
We discussed this in the Xoom review, but Apple takes a different approach, replicating the experience of using a pad of paper. That's why it employs a standard (4:3) aspect ratio. Nothing prevents you from using a wide-aspect display in portrait mode, but it's a little awkward since you lose horizontal workspace.
The layout of the buttons and I/O ports also reflects the expectation you'll be using the Transformer in landscape mode. On the left, you have the power button and volume rocker. On the right side, you have the headphone, microphone, miniHDMI, and microSD ports.
Bottom: Docking Slot, USB connectivity, Docking Slot
The proprietary connector on the bottom of the Eee Pad Transformer serves three functions. With the included proprietary cable provided by Asus, you can charge the tablet or sync to a computer. If you own a docking station (more on that in a bit), the port also operates as a pass-through connector that lets the Transformer function as a notebook.
Asus opts for a cleaner aesthetic design than what we've seen on competing tablets. Forget about a dual-tone color scheme or the use of rubber and aluminum. The Eee Pad Transformer's chassis is made of molded ABS plastic with a simple logo plastered dead-center. The case has a subtle texture that helps you maintain a firm grip, but it also helps hide traces of fingerprints.
| Camera | iPad 2 | Xoom | Iconia A500 | Eee Pad Transformer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front-Facing | 0.3 MP (640x480) | 2.0 MP (1600 x 1200) | 2.0 MP (1600 x 1200) | 1.2 MP (1024 x 768) |
| Rear-Facing | 0.7 MP (960x720) | 5.0 MP (2592 x 1944) | 5.0 MP (2592 x 1944) | 5.0 MP (2592 x 1944) |
| Flash | None | Dual-LED flash | Single-LED flash | None |
The camera setup is a bit of a disappointment. While the front-facing 1.2 MP camera is sufficient for Skype, it still falls shy of what you'd get from a competing Android-based tablet. With that said, our bigger complaint involves the lack of a flash on the rear-facing 5.0 MP camera, which is something we get from other Android-based tablets like the Xoom and A500.
The two stereo speakers on the sides of Asus' tablet offer better audio performance than the iPad's mono speaker, but they're too weak to be of any practical use, other than for receiving generic audio notifications. Of the Android-based tablets we've reviewed, the Xoom's speakers sound the best. That's still not a ringing endorsement, though. If you plan to watch a movie or listen to music, use the audio port on the left side to connect a pair of headphones instead.
- Meet Asus' Eee Pad Transformer
- Asus' Android Enhancements And Honeycomb 3.2
- GPU Performance: Nvidia Tegra 2
- Display Quality: Color Gamut
- Display Quality: Black And White Uniformity
- HDMI Output And Camera Quality
- Benchmark Results: Real-World
- Battery Life And Recharge Time
- Eee Pad Transformer: More Than Meets The Eye
- Benchmark Results: Wireless Performance
- Asus Innovates; We Want To See A Tegra 3-Based Transformer






The Transformer is a not-insignificant step forward for Android tablets. As an optimist, I believe the next iteration will be pretty damn good. But like the TouchPad, who knows how much longer it's going to be around?
Yeah, if you are American. Hey Toms, how about you find some way to only display the comp if the reader is on an American IP address.
Or better yet, find a way to let us enter.
What is the point of a 32gb model when the tablets has a micro sd slot? I can get 2 32gb mSD cards for the extra $100 bucks.
They could do international possibly, if any international persons agreed to help pay shipping (I bet). A UK site I won't name allows international entries and lets them know up front they'd try to work with you on the shipping costs, etc.
Wanted to add. I bought a transformer and dock for my mother. She's in her 60s and loves it. She takes it to work, to the coffee shop. I set it up for her, my first time with Android, and it definitely has its uses.
under 18
and i live in aus
isnt tomshardware from germany?
Heavens forbid, it sounds decent outdoors too thoug OLED is probably better.
Heavens forbid, it sounds decent outdoors too thoug OLED is probably better.
Heavens forbid, it sounds decent outdoors too thoug OLED is probably better.
I have entered every contest I could, haven't won, but will always be a loyal follower!
To the other posters about this being US only. It's not the shipping costs, it's the laws and regulations on sending US hardware to other countries. Not impossible but too much of a bureaucratic pain to try to send anywhere in the world.
I purchased my ASUS Transformer for only $299(that was my ceiling price for a tablet) on sale and did so knowing that this tablet was not meant to replace my notebook for content creation.
I can say since my wife and I have owned this tablet (2 months now) we have only used our laptop 1 time (and it was very frustrating using it that 1 time). The tablet is the perfect utility for doing couch surfing, social networking, light casual gaming, and QUICK information lookup on the web (which is what we do most often). This tablet was the perfect escape from the 5+ minute bootup and 3 minute shutdown of our laptop for situations where all we wanted was to hop on the internet and look up some information real quick.
We never turn the tablet completely off and the touch of the power button and it is ready to go instantly. The battery will literally last an entire day (even with heavy usage), we stream netflix, and stream movies-pictures-videos straight from my server.
All in all we are 100% happy with our Asus transformer and dont regret the purchase in any way.