Transforming the budget space

We’ve been checking out some really good hybrids during the past one year, especially after the advent of Windows 8. The problem was, that we weren’t quite impressed with many tablet-laptop hybrids under the ₹50,000 price point.

But Asus, the one manufacturer that has so far managed to keep us on the lookout for new affordable devices (case in point, the Fonepad 7) has delivered another device that boasts of powerful computing with a price tag that doesn’t make our eyes pop out. It’s the Windows 8.1 toting Transformer Book T100, and here’s what we think of it.

The T100 is as simple as a hybrid gets – it’s a tablet with a keyboard dock. And it’s got acceptable dimensions and weight too. The 10-inch tablet weighs just 550 grams, and with the dock, the laptop weighs 1.07kg, like a standard Ultrabook would. The weight is managed decently, and because you can’t tilt the screen beyond a certain point, it won’t tip over that easily.

Unlike Android cousins, the T100 has a plastic build. That said, it doesn’t feel flimsy at all. It’s got a glossy finish, but the keyboard itself has a brushed metal-like finish, so that your palms don’t slip on the surface. And at a total thickness of just above 2cm, it’s not very slim, but not a porker as well.

The Transformer Book T100 comes with an Intel Atom ‘Bay Trail’ quad-core processor that handles everyday computing very easily. Sure, it won’t take on heavy graphics and massive processes that easily, considering it’s just an Atom processor – but for its size and price, it’s very good. There’s 2GB RAM on-board, so multitasking is not choppy. On Novabench, we got an average score of 355 points, an acceptable score for Windows 8 devices in this price range.

The 10.1 IPS HD (1366x768) display is pretty good for multimedia consumption, and glare is managed well. You get the standard SonicMaster audio technology with the speakers, but you are left wanting for louder speakers if you’re an audiophile.

On the tablet, you get the standard USB charging port, along with a microUSB and a microHDMI port. There’s just one front facing camera for video calls etc., unlike conventional tablets which come with a rear-facing camera as well. On the dock, the keys are of good build with good tactile feedback and ample travel space, but the tiny trackpad does feel a little cramped. You do get a single USB 3.0 port on the dock.

The Asus Transformer Book T100 is a very nice compact device with enough power to tackle every day computing, and the ability to be used as a tablet when required. Battery life is good enough – we got 10 hours of continuous usage. It’s also bundled with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 with full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, so it’s an ideal device for students or users who need a laptop and a tablet, but not hardcore PC computing power.

₹34,099

[ Love – Good performance; Long battery life

] Hate – Average speakers; No rear camera

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