Pure multimedia Tab

Why do I have the Asus TF300T (including dock in white) ordered?

I was looking for a stylish Android tablet that of the merits
1. "Always-ON," top battery life, good display
2. Good Browser Performance & support other online applications
3. Android 4.x, Overall performance
4. Office suitability / PDF / Excel etc ..
5. the Transformer concept / mobility

... All united.
In how far the Asus TF300T this (my) claim is justified?

Mandatory task before the freestyle is of course to a processing at the highest level without weaknesses.
So ordered, unpacked:
Modern packaging, contents high attractively presented (TF300T + dock + USB cable + power adapter + Cleaning Cloth) - Tab including Dock valuable aspect right away, the white just looks good. Back processed entirely of plastic, solid. The display fitted clean - nothing creaks / wobbles. During scanning, however, can be found on the back of a pressure point where you can push the housing noticeably - unattractive but annoying during everyday use 0 -> no point deduction. Dock after meticulous examination OK, no weaknesses identified. Pressure point of all keys OK, SD and USB slot works well and covered.

The initial setup (country, language, time) is no problem, just talk switched on and into wireless. A system update immediately after launch went smoothly, after registration in the Google Apps account all be installed (from possibly existing account) and automatically adjusted for the tab system.
3 seconds later, the system works like butter and off you go ...

########### 1. Always-ON / battery life / Display

One of the advantages of Android: Once boot up, then by pressing the On / Off button Ready to go in 1 second. Works! The battery life for working without a dock is about 7 hours +/- 90 minutes depending on the workload - the dock is added at least 3 hours -> TOP! From my smartphone I was quite different accustomed here one is amazed how much "juice" after 3h Surfing / Youtube is still on it. In standby the Tab per hour does not consume 3%. 10h use are realistic and not a problem - vs. normal 3 / 4h -Windows notebook very clear strength.!
-> You "suspect" it already apparent from the hardly existing heat generation -> with a win-notebook can not be compared! -> A dream, so to chill out on the couch / ceiling. No annoying heat, no annoying fan! An absolute Big-Point!

Wireless I have by default, rests the Tab and is awakened by 1H +, the Tab reconnect to the wireless network, which usually takes 3sec - was well implemented and thus contributes to increase runtime.

All this is presented in response to the 1280x800 IPS display. No frayed font etc, in pixels "nose wheel" recognizable. It looks good, but in times where smart phones offer a similar resolution at only 4-5 inches, skin that simply no longer. Always sufficiently sharp, but is by no means standard. The brightness is in the house very well, however, there can be seen only a little - for then you have a 10 "mirror case (Ok, with every touch so - sometimes more, sometimes less).
Measured against the current market anyway not a highlight - at normal reading distance (30cm +) still wonderful to use.

########## 2. Browser Performance, other online applications

Installed is the normal Android 4.x browser, as on the ICS smartphone. Too bad - no innovative gestures or other innovations. It can represent many native - not all! Depending Portal manages the full-screen video display, unfortunately often Hooker or false readings. Youtube runs of course, but partially hakelig - as is preferred the pre-installed YouTube app (convince great !, implemented quality and interface). A live image on ARD.de but I could with the standard browser not look and the ZDF media library runs surprisingly lame - OK for both there are similar apps.
But I note, still you need on an Android multiple browsers, where then * depending on your mood * in which a This, at the other, the running -> Surfing is indisputably one of the core competencies of a tab - not and as such weaknesses are actually acceptable!
Another impression is that all pages viewed must be loaded only at 100% in order to butterweich navigating them can - annoying! Do not wait for you it jerky without end, even to simple text pages. The bucking occurs MMN simply too frequently, that even when zooming images on websites - that I did not expect. The solution is usually, simply wait for the complete loading of the page (if not, the browser crashes just starting). Sure, most are only 3-5 seconds on my Win7 notebook that's still significantly more relaxed * *.
The online offerings of large newspapers are fun, the text display is excellent, the resolution is always sufficient. You can always zoom "only" up to 1: 1 resolution of the image -> not obtained pixel graphics etc. Textzoom works excellently, but here again lags when rendering the font - a pity!

########## 3. Android 4.x / Overall Performance

In addition to the always-on benefits to the system now in:
Preinstalled already 4.x ICS, after the automatic update the Tab works now as soft as butter when wiping the homescreens. App View and all menu structures run flawlessly. The lockscreen, you can adjust how ICS on a smartphone - including unlock etc. The application of the home screens is fun, the pre-install widgets look good and are convenient (eg Battery Meter Dock + Tab separated etc ..). The Android-integrated status bar does not pull down one, it is positioned below. Right date and system icons, left the 3 control touch fields. In Touch on date opens a small status bar, on the one seconds as WLAN switch, adjust the brightness and ZW can choose the system modes -. That works constantly and is really convenient! Downloads, updates, new emails, inserted storage media - everything is clearly displayed on request.
Test with a 32GB microSDHC card / 1TB 2.5 "HDD (without external power supply) / 8GB USB flash drive: Everything is easily recognized, storage media are sporadic but sometimes ignored ...
Then copying or playback of data of all kinds is fixed, just the file management is really well integrated. Here as suspected focus on Musk / images / videos being added to which one always has access in the file browser (shortcuts).
Time and again but to lag, usually in connection with the rendering of images. Camera images (eg 8MP) are immediately shown, quite sharply, however, only after a few seconds. Here and there a hanger, never really dramatic but more frequent - not frustration potential, many lag / bugs but reproducible and therefore annoying.

The tablet runs a total calm and stable, but 100% liquid, it is then not. A jerky Google Maps I have certainly not expected.

########## 4. Office suitability / PDF / Excel etc ..

First of all: Here I expected a lot more! Ok, you know in advance that is not a full office suite installed and currently nothing adequate for Android there is - nevertheless: even when zooming from simple PDF's jerky - extremely annoying for me! The edit Word / Excel / PowerPoint files with the help of other apps, you can still only be described as a last resort, has nothing to do in any case, with effective work. Print? - This command does not know Android (yet?).
Without go far back these few things for people who are professional added value due to the great mobility hope real ko criteria!
Who the gimmick with the installed Notes app enough - given:) This recognizes amazingly good handwriting and scaled this convincingly - in part from everyday stress for me is no alternative.

So you have nothing nice speeches - an Android Tab is not a professionally useful usable device (and it will possibly be not at all). This point made to me for disillusionment and point deduction (and below knowledge ...).

########## 5. Transformer concept / mobility

Here the unique selling point, even if there are just as keyboards for other Tabs: The Art & manner of implementation of the Asus 'Transformer' principle is class - which can currently not be better!
Not only the secure connection of Dock & pad, the cover feature of the dock during transport, the wonderfully successful integration into the Android OS - it just looks thoughtful! Fully functional USB port on the Dock + integrated, separately loadable battery! - Top! Both still combines a wonderfully sleek device, where nothing wobbles.
Criticisms only after extensive testing:
You can not unlock the screen using the keyboard - but now it comes:
The arrangement of the physical buttons and interfaces is "unhappy" - Everything that follows has been corrected cope with the successor model TF700:
1. Example: 3.5mm output and high / Leist-rocker: Opposite! ie, you can sit comfortably with the Tab on the lap and would have to adjust the volume to opt: 3.5mm below? = Uncomfortable / 3.5mm above = good for cables -> rocker bottom = impractical.
2. Example: speakers are built side -> Tab held edgewise -> speakers either "free" (above) = volume rocker below // or vice versa you have access to top rocker, then concealed, however below the speaker sound ... Error!
3. Example: closed with the dock you will find the 3.5mm output only at the table, namely ~ 12cm above the table top right -> super impractical !, sees the bargain "weird" out with connecting cables

-> One can only come to the conclusion that the Tab is designed primarily for use in landscape orientation. This is not really a negative, but just change the fixed betw. The formats is indeed one of the charms of a tab ... in my eyes anyway :)

The weight of Tab and Dock is acceptable. No more easy, but by no means interfere with long-term use. Unfolded is a top-heavy due to the heavy Tabs, on the table, it is still safe even at well above 90 degree opening. The slim design lends itself for the briefcase on prima. The tab is folded well protected by the dock - the unit looks solid enough.

########## Summary / Other:

Is it a largely around running Android tablet with latest features: YES.
Is it too high demands on quality and design: YES!
Does it graze fun with evenings relaxing surf the Internet / news pages? YES.
You can enjoy all the pictures and e-books in good quality? YES

Now to what it still can, for me, however, 0 Purchase reason is: high gaming performance thanks Tegra3 optimized Games (quite impressive for a device of this class) camera at the back without flash: making decent pictures - (but so far most examined the function - > to make the idea of ​​using a Tablet Pictures :) I was probably not come, the front camera is good for chatting all!

########## My Conclusion:

I bought the unit due to wrong expectations. For office use, it is not intended, and thus incapable. Rather, it is a fun device to let off steam in the multimedia field, whether audio / video or images. Surfing makes so fun, even if you have to often by testing multiple browsers to enjoy the content you want in the usual quality. Here and there the weaknesses of Android are therefore still present - a Windows notebook, the TF300T therefore not replace full. At least not as long as it "Look what I have" as a gimmick and about more.

The desire for the stylish always-on device with which I can professionally "do something" - is clearly disappointed.
The facts after it remains a luxury device (because unnecessary) to play, surf and be inspired.
What a pity, but this delimitation seems to be stepped up - in a few months you could do with the Transformer series all 1000 subnotebook / Ultrabooks finished off. Design and feel are at the top level (see also Asus Infinity) - only (for me) important core competencies are specifically ignored (?).

So you buy an Android Tab betw. 490 (TF300) and 700 (Infinity), the then but can not replace the old laptop.
Now want (wanted) I do not refer to Windows Tabs, but apparently the one familiar from the "will-have" -geleiteten market. At this stage dances known for years with flying colors .... Apple!

So if the money has left and a lifestyle toy looking is right here! For almost 500 you get done wonderful a largely mature Tab the many multimedia tasks. The concept as an online fun device can convince only if you just look for such.

For me it is clear: Tablet = toys. As a complement to a Win / Mac computer a great product, not thought of as a stand-alone and unusable.

Those looking for a pure multimedia Tab and has lie 500 - Accessing :)!

MfG