Packaging and delivery:
Unfortunately, the scope of supply for around 500 euros precipitates absolutely disappointing. In addition to the EeePad found in the carton nor the USB data cable, which is then with adapter plug for charger. A Quick Start Guide in the form of a paperback book is still with it, that was it but also already. No cases, cleaning cloths or other, even a simple cloth / paper sleeve for the transition to storage until there is proper bags for your device, Asus does not specify when. That's a shame, where significantly more scope one is used mainly in the motherboard sector.
First impression and processing:
The EeePad is in 16: 9 format and therefore built slightly wider than the iPad, on the thickness of the device give her nothing. The Transformer acts subjectively even a touch lighter than the "old" iPad for me. Both devices have a glare display, which indeed promises sharp imaging, but it is also tends to mirror. Visually, the transformer acts valent, even if the back surface only consists of plastic. Here one would have perhaps desired real brushed metal instead of plastic Carbon Copy, on the other hand here weight is saved and Acer has demonstrated with notebooks the 554x series, the plastic lid certainly have their advantages, just what fingerprints and especially scratches As.
Technology:
The Transformer has Tegra II processor and relies on Android 3 Honeycomb alias. Thus, it is currently one of the moon first device with the current operating system. Unfortunately it does not provide USB ports, but at least one SD card slot for easy memory expansion and - what personally delighted me - two cameras, a front camera with 2MP for webcam transmissions, and a rear camera with 5 megapixels for surprisingly good photos in daylight, as long as you do not directly photographed in the sun. The Tegra II promises Moreover, graphical performance, because the IGP originates in the case of nVidia. Kenner should here draw the comparison versus Intel IGP nVidia ION, so the Tablet also has potential for mobile entertainment / gaming console.
Initial power:
Yes, Honeycomb is really great. The operation runs enormously slight of hand, it jerky nothing, the controls are intuitive and customized widgets are just fun, because the "desktop" equal to the most important information at a glance displays when you "wake" the unit. A similar picture emerges when browsing websites. Whether the built-in browser is the Ideal, will certainly show yet, but web pages are displayed more quickly in any event, as is the case with the iPad. Even the annoying loading of open tabs in the background is omitted and of course you can directly display the Tegra Tablet Flash content - was only strange that the Flash Player is not installed in advance. On the first call you will be asked to agree to the installation, and then loads the Flash Player automatically runtert.
Continuous operation:
The manufacturer promises up to 9 hours of battery life - much anticipated, in daylight it will be guaranteed none 9 hours But as with the iPad after 3 hours of web browsing and chatting even 71 percent in the battery, which is the best result of all the tablets that I had next to the iPad. The brightness of the screen can convince, if you turn off the automatic sensor, unfortunately this does not always know what level of brightness is best in daylight. In direct comparison to the Ipad Transformer is minimal weaker in the luminosity, but it looks sharper due to the higher screen resolution.
Games and offer:
The biggest criticism sometimes is currently the most deficient range of apps. Although many renowned game developers such as Popcap or offer Gameloft Android games, unfortunately, run this on Honeycomb still poorly or not. nVidia still has the Tegra zone, a kind of own marketplace specially optimized for TEGRA games, however, the offer is also very small and the games are currently not compare with "in-between titles" or card games. Of course, it is impressive to see what the Tegra can make that graphic the Tegra Games is consistently amazing, only this covers not just the need for simple and classic games from. Here, the iPad full points, the IOS market is almost overflowing with apps and everyone can find something to his liking. On the other hand, one must not of course forget that Honeycomb will now really take off, thus there will certainly be other devices with the new Android software nor in the near future, to which then the matching apps will appear.
Finally, I can still say that at least almost all browser games, which are known from the PC eg, under Honeycomb browser also work - because the iPad can not keep up.
Multimedia:
A vexed issue for Apple is synchronization, which must always be done with iTunes. Here you have it easier with Android - Connecting the Sync cable and copy either on the device with Asus Sync or directly via SD access data. Toll thing -> in Android, there is a file browser with which I can also easily delete and move files. So if you do not want to sync everything, can also simply create a folder with MP3s, into copying files there or move, and then play. The same goes for films. Common formats such as MP3, AVI / XVID MKV or are not a problem and then run as expected Tegra dual core liquid. Noticeable here is the sound better than the iPad, which is probably among other things on the Stero playback.
Conclusion:
Whether the Transformer can completely replace my iPad, will be seen in the next few weeks. Operation is intuitive, the interface in my opinion much more appealing than the iPad's and the "open" system allows easier data exchange and better communication with other devices. Only the app selection for Honeycomb makes me a little more to create. nVidia and even Google themselves have already announced several times now to go right all the stops to make Android Honeycomb attractive for everyone, but I wish really quality rather than quantity - after all, at least 40 percent of apps are also in the App Store useless or unnecessary ,
A BUY recommendation therefore gets the Asus EeePad Transformer only for those who have the app offer the Android MarketPlace been tested and found to be adequate. The device is great and can really convince, now we are just waiting for the developers who pounce hopefully Hauf on the new platform and offer us soon the most popular apps for Android 3.x!
