Asus said that its Windows 8-based Transformer AiO (P1801), which made an appearance in January during CES 2013 in Las Vegas, will ship sometime during 2Q13 for a starting price of $1,300 USD. It's slated as the world's first AIO PC with a detachable display that can be used as a standalone tablet.
This new AIO PC consists of a desktop station with a third-generation Intel Core processor, and a detachable 18.4-inch display packed with its own quad-core Tegra 3 SoC and Google's Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" OS. Asus claims that users will be able to switch "seamlessly" between Windows 8 and Android, both of which will take advantage of the IPS screen's 10-point multi-touch support.
"When detached from the PC Station, [the] Asus Transformer AiO’s display can be used as two different types of king-size tablet," the company said. "First, wireless Remote Desktop technology with dual-band Wi-Fi provides complete multi-touch control over Windows 8 on the PC Station for easy access to popular productivity and entertainment software around the home."
Alternatively, users can switch over to Android 4.1 at the press of a button, the company claims. The screen provides up to five hours of battery life, a conventional carrying handle and a folding stand because, let's face it, 18.4-inches is a big step up from the typical 10-inch form factor we've grown accustomed to. It also weighs around 5.29 pounds, far heavier than Apple's 9.7-inch iPad.
On the PC station side, customers will have a choice between three processors: the Core i7-3770, the Core i5-3350P, and the Core i3-3220. It will also feature a GeForce GT 730M GPU with 2 GB of VRAM, between 4 GB and 8 GB of DDR3 RAM at 1600 MHz, and a DVD writer. Connectivity options consist of Ethernet, dual-band Wireless N, and Bluetooth 4.0 while included ports range from four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI out, a 3-in-1 card reader and more.
On the tablet side, it has its own 2 GB of DDR3 memory at 1600 MHz, 32 GB of internal storage, dual-band Wireless N and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, a 1MP camera, and a built-in microphone. There's also a microSD card reader, a mini USB 2.0 port, 2-in-1 audio jacks, and a Kensington lock. The screen itself supports a Full HD resolution, and features LED-backlighting and a 178° wide viewing angle.
So far, an actual ship date is unknown, so keep checking back with Asus. It's an interesting concept, but will customers buy into carrying around an 18.4-inch tablet?