Review : Asus Transformer Book

Review : Asus Transformer Book

Asus Transformer Book - Our arrival of a new hybrid device between a tablet and a laptop made by ASUS also that ASUS Transformer Book. This hybrid device has a screen size of the laptop is 13.3 inches. In addition, the appearance and depth of the device is also equivalent to the specifications of the latest laptops. How our assessment of this jumbo sized portable device? Please read the review below.

Specifications

• 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
• Windows 8 64-bit
• Intel HD 4000 GPU
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 13-3-inch IPS screen FHD
• 128GB SSD + 500 GB HDD
• USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi
• 5MP camera + 0.9MP
• Battery 5000mAh (tablets); 3200mAh (dock)

Design

Book Transformer tablet uses a similar design with a range of top-class laptop ASUS patterned circles on the back and a shiny gray, which looks also like the design of the MacBook Air. In addition to the glass on the front and buttons, the whole body following tablet dock made of aluminum metal material which makes it a premium feel when held.

The minus side, the weight of the tablet is quite heavy, reaching 2 pounds (shared dock) where each about one kilo. Moreover, because the components are in the tablet core, then the back of the tablet has a fan that vents to rapidly increase the temperature if it is used mainly on the left rear body. With dimensions of 33.8 x 21.8 x combined 2.4 cm then the device is certainly not seportabel other tablets.

You can easily install and remove the tablet to the dock only with a slider key that is in the dock, which will automatically appear premium laptop device where the Windows logo at the bottom of the tablet be closed, and the combination of different colors between the tablet and the dock. The keyboard dock has an adjustable backlight levels of explanation. ASUS also includes shortcuts on the keyboard for superior management software that is like Splendid Technology (screen), Power4Gear Hybrid (battery), special applications ASUS Transformer Book (resources), and Life Frames (camera).

Screen

ASUS Transformer Book using FullHD 1080p resolution IPS display with 13.3-inch size. The quality is not questionable, because the display looks sharp and smooth, the colors too bright, but slightly yellowish. ASUS includes an application called Splendid Technology, which through this application you can set the screen coloring composition to suit your preferences. You can set it manually or based on existing options like Theather to change the character screen becomes yellowish and Vivid change the character of the screen becomes blue.

Viewing angle is also good, ASUS claims this screen is able to provide the best view up to 178 degrees. Unfortunately layer of glass used is quite reflective and easy to stick a finger spots. One thing that can interfere with FullHD resolution is shrinking the size of the interface where the effect to follow the resolution touch narrower space. You could have a larger set, but of course the result will not be as sharp and smooth as if to follow the existing pixels.

Camera

Book Transformer tablet has two cameras, with a resolution of 0.9MP front and rear 5MP autofocus. In addition to using the default application Windows 8, to take a picture you can also use Life Frame application that provides a variety of interesting effects.

The quality of photos taken with the front camera is quite good even though it looks quite a lot of noise but it is quite good when compared to other manufacturers. For the main camera, the result looks sharp and bright enough, but it looks a bit pale and appeared noise in low light conditions.

With 5MP resolution you can also do video recording up to 1080p resolution. Video of the recording will be saved in MP4 format. The results of the actual picture looks good, but unfortunately very broken movement is not smooth.

Other 

ASUS Transformer Book using the operating system Windows 8 64-bit version. As we know, Windows 8 is a version of Windows that is really optimized for the touch screen. Surely this operating system can run very smoothly here. However we feel some bugs that removing and installing the tablet to the dock, as the cursor is missing.

In addition to the default software such as Splendid Technology, Power4 Gear Hybrid, ASUS Transformer Book, ASUS Instant On, and Life Frame, in the default you will also find applications such as World Clock, Fresh Paint, ASUS Tutor, and some such as Microsoft's Xbox game Solitaire Collection, Taptiles , and others.

For business audio, ASUS cooperation with leading companies in the field of audio Bang & Olufsen ICEpower which produces output stereo sound via speakers behind clear quality tablet not shrill and painful ear, unfortunately not too tight though it is set to the maximum position.

Connectivity

As a tablet, the Transformer Book has pretty much connectivity as a 3.5mm headset port, microHDMI, microSD slot, and a magnetic charging port dock port for connectivity.

Not only as a complement laptop form, but this keyboard dock also has a storage capacity of 500 GB HDD memory of 128 GB SSD additional on the tablet. Available ports commonly found disebuah laptop like magnetized charging port, slot card reader, Ethernet port, two USB 3.0 ports, and a Thunderbolt port.

Battery Life

As we mentioned above, the ASUS trasformer Book powered by 5000 mAh Lithium Polymer battery in the tablet, and 3200 mAh in the dock. With the battery in the dock does not mean you have a spare battery, because the battery is used to activate the disk and the existing ports. Nevertheless it is possible that you take advantage of this to extend the battery life of the tablet, because in applications ASUS Transformer Book there is a choice Battery Up which will disable the hard drive and the port in order to supply energy to the tablet.

If used continuously for a variety of activities such as browsing, watching videos, and more, the tablet is able to survive for about 3 hours with the brightness of the display medium. If the stand-by mode tablet can last up to 10 days. For the filling from empty to full power, take up to 3 hours.

Excess

• Premium materials
• Specifications upscale
• Unique form factor (tablet-laptop)

Shortage

• The price is quite high
• Fairly heavy weights

Conclusion

Priced at a quite high, about 15 million dollars for the Intel i5 configuration, the ASUS Transformer Book offers laptop tablet hybrid device (which is more to a laptop because it uses a standard size laptop) that have qualified specifications to support the activities of the user. With aluminum material of this device would look much less premium design similar to the Ultrabook. Perhaps the factor that you should consider if the price is not an issue is how often you will bring the 13.3-inch tablet? and also the durability of the device if the tablets are often removed and plugged into the dock remains to be seen.