Asus Transformer Book Duet TD300 Hands-on Preview

By Photos and Video by Alex Davies, Marcus Yam
published

Living the dual life of an Android tablet and a Windows 8 machine.

Earlier this week we brought you news of the Transformer Book Duet (TD300) by Asus, a dual-OS hybrid that lets users switch from Windows 8.1 to Android 4.1 with just the press of an "Instant Switch" button. It's a concept best seen in action, so check our our hands-on video and photos.

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Photos and Video by Alex Davies
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • youngblood97
    Going to keep my eye on this one. Might have to "accidentally" break my 5 year old HP laptop when this one comes out :)
    Reply
  • robert123_74
    I think this is going to turn out to be another mistake for Microsoft (allowing another OS on a PC with theirs). I think their doing this as a way of increasing Windows 8.1 exposure (because of all the bad press and consumer complaints) but it’s going to backfire. I think a lot of people are going to buy this and other hybrids because they need another computer and it runs Windows. Their going to end up hating Windows 8.1 (as most people do), their going to try Android on the desktop (which they my not have been willing to try), and like it because it reminds them of what that loved about the old Windows OS’s (that familiarity) and their going to end up realizing they don’t need Windows as much as they thought they did. This will only increase Androids presence on the desktop.
    Reply
  • Jim_L9
    I like this, at least conceptually. How hard would it be to have an Android VM on a Win 8 machine?
    Reply
  • fleeb
    ^ MS has nothing to do with what Asus is doing.
    Reply
  • zodiacfml
    Wth, available at the end of this quarter? it seems like eternity to me.....maybe, to sell more of their T100's
    Reply
  • Avus
    If this duel OS (windows + android) gaining traction, it will be the death of Metro.
    Reply
  • oj88
    Am I missing something here? In the video, it takes 147 seconds (0:55 to 3:22) to switch.
    Reply
  • rexter
    My old Asus laptop is due for replacement and this one seems to be a promising candidate. Wonder what the competition are up their sleeve. Exciting!
    Reply
  • Omid_m_19
    I have been reading the comments in forums and about win8 metro and reading that how everybody hated windows 8 and metro.to be honest I hadn't used win8 and had remained with 7.But a few weeks ago I bought a used acer iconia tab w500 that had win8 preinstalled by previous owner and I upgrade to win 8.1(32-bit).At first I had lot's of problems.I was frustrated really(Wi-fi dropping and other problems with wifi,G-sensor driver problem,bluetooth not working,etc.).To be honest my biggest problem with win8 was unfamiliarity.I have been using PCs (even commodore 64,then 286,etc.!!!),and have worked with lot's of OS,but win 8 really bothered me.Even I saw that all the hype about returning of start menu to win8.1 was nothing more than a lie.Anyhow,I began to use it,and believe me I'm really loving it and I'm planning to upgrade to win 8.1 on my desktop.But the thing is win8.1 is mostly focused on touch screen,and I think I won't have a good experience in desktop.By the way I have an Sony-ericsson XPERIA PRO and android 4.0.1(ICS) installed,my wife has SAMSUNG galaxy grand dual sim(4.1.1 JB) phone,and we have a SAMSUNG galaxy tab 2.0(with android 4.1 JB) tablet.So I'm completely familiar with android and I always defended android against iOS and windows.But to be honest after really using metro UI and win 8.1,I really love it and believe me android can't even be compared to win 8.1.You can do anything in win8.1,because it's a full blown OS.You can download most of the apps that are available on android from windows store.Believe me guys,if you overcome the unfamiliarity of win 8 you will love it.It really is nice.I said all of these things for one of the comments above that had said this dual config will backfire to microsoft.I don't think so.Because I'm completely sure that after using both of the OSs,nobody will go back to android,EXCEPT for some games like Plants Vs zombies 2,Or angry birds GO! that are not available for windows YET.
    Reply
  • Omid_m_19
    And I forgot to mention that those games can be played in wiondows through virtual machine and/or apps like bluestacks!(I'm already using bluestacks to play anthill and plants vs zombies2)!!!
    Reply