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Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime – First Look

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[Update: Now that the embargo has lifted, we have released a further five videos showing various demonstrations of the Transformer Prime. We have collected them in this new article, where you can view and discuss the features we’ve shown. The videos were based on questions from our audience, whom we acknowledge in the segments. Enjoy!]

Welcome to the first ever Ritchie’s Room TV segment! Here we take a look at the new Transformer Prime from Asus. Read on below for lots more detail and images.

 

The Transformer Prime is easily the most hyped of all upcoming tablets. The original Transformer took the idea of the keyboard dock and integrated it so well that it became much more than simply functional; it melded design and hardware with the Honeycomb platform in an attractive and useful body.

Look strangely familiar? The Transformer Prime takes many design cues from the new Zenbook range from Asus.

The Transformer Prime is the evolutionary step, taking cues from the recent UX Zenbook series to offer an eye catching, metal finish on both the tablet and keyboard dock. There are improvements to its successful predecessor in pretty much every area, with the exception of the operating system, but an upgrade will be coming soon, we are assured.

As a stand-alone tablet away from the keyboard, the Prime is as sturdy as it is slim, thanks to the rigid metal back that offers no chance of bending or twisting. The spun metal pattern immediately invokes the UX21/31 look and feel, and sits very comfortably beside its two larger cousins.

The spun metal casing is a classy touch, positioning the Transformer Prime at the premium end of the tablet market.

The front layer of Gorilla glass provides another layer of protection, without sacrificing image quality or resulting in increased thickness. We tried banging pretty hard on the glass, and although we didn’t go so far as to try scraping a key across the screen, the display feels like it could take a fair bit of punishment.

As it’s been reported widely, the tablet component is thinner (8.3mm) and lighter (586g) than the iPad 2, and in the hand it feels very easy to handle, both in landscape and portrait positions. With Samsung out of contention in many regions, the Prime will be the one of the most likely direct contenders to the iPad 2. In Australia, pricing indications are that the Prime with keyboard will be around $100 more than the equivalent-capacity iPad 2 and will arrive in 32GB and 64GB versions.

Thinner, faster, lighter... the iPad 2 has a real competitor in the Transformer Prime from a hardware perspective.

With slim form factors inevitably comes some compromises, and in this case the outputs on the Prime aren’t as comprehensive as other models in the market. However, given the Samsung 10.1 had only its proprietary connection that necessitated various adapter purchases, any additional ports are more than welcome. In this case, a micro HDMI port and Micro SD slot are fitted alongside the volume controls.

Slimmer than most, but the Transformer Prime retains a good level of on board ports.

The Super IPS+ screen is an absolute winner. When it comes to tablets, particularly the premium models, visual display needs to be absolutely spot-on, and here the Prime does not disappoint. Wide viewing angles allow sharing to an almost side-on position, and the IPS+ feature boosts the brightness to counteract outdoor lighting to make the Prime readable in almost any condition. By the same token, there is total control to limit the intensity of the light when you’re using the Prime on your bedside or darker environments.

The Super IPS+ screen is great in any bright or dim environment.

This is the best performance I’ve seen in HD video playback as well, no doubt thanks to the upgraded processor. The Tegra 3 is the first quad core chip to power a tablet, and the Prime is the first release to boast the inclusion. 720p and 1080p video files that had previous jittered a little (or a lot) on previous models we’ve tested ran very smoothly.

Video playback is superb. This really illustrates the benefits of a widescreen tablet.

The associated sound coming from the Prime is unexpectedly loud and clear. I say unexpected because the grill could easily be missed as another design feature, but the speaker is as effective as anything I’ve experienced so far on tablets. In fact, I found that by holding the tablet in a way that cups the grill actually enhances the audio quality even more.

This deceptively small grill punches out an impressive level of clear audio.

The upgraded memory is also certain to be a contributor to an overall improved Android experience with the Prime. If you’ve ever used one on of the task killer apps on Android, you’d know that there are a lot of processes happening at any one time, so the extra memory will definitely be a boon to multitasking and open app support.

Another upgrade is the back camera, boosted to 8 megapixels and featuring an f2.4 aperture, plus an LED flash. This sounds suspiciously similar to the iPhone 4S camera, and it might actually encourage more photo-taking with this unit. I wonder, how many people use their tablet as a serious or even casual camera? With improved hardware, there might come increased usage.

The Transformer Prime may find increased use in webchat and photo shoots with better camera specs.

From a software point of view, it’s the familiar Honeycomb 3.2 that we’ve come to know and frequently discuss. I’m sure there were a fair few people holding their breath in wild hope that Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich as it is commonly known, would be released in tablet form with the Prime. Sadly, it was not to be, but everything points to an upgrade, possibly before Xmas. We’ll keep you updated on that point.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts... the Transformer Prime.

What would the Transformer Prime be without the second component, the keyboard dock, that gives it the coolest name in consumer electronics? The keyboard has been slimmed down and there is a UX-inspired tapering of the front of the keyboard, to remind us that we’re in Zen-like company. It almost looks like a netbook-sized Ultrabook.

Like the keyboard before it (which is not cross compatible with the Transformer Prime), the new keyboard places some commonly used Android commands as shortcuts on the keyboard, like back, search and home. If you use the keyboard enough, you’ll find yourself using these quite often while the keyboard is connected. Like a premium netbook, the island keys are well placed for regular and long session use.

Like the previous keyboard, Android shortcut keys become second nature after a few hours of use.

The keyboard also follows the tradition of supplementing the main unit’s battery life with its own battery, giving the total package up to 18 hours battery life. As per the original Transformer, the keyboard can feed a charge to the Prime tablet, keeping the tablet running for the good part of an entire day, or a long international flight.

The bottom corner of the display shows the keyboard battery transferring to the main tablet unit.

The keyboard also adds a couple more inputs not available on the main unit: a full size SD card slot and USB port. I think at least one more USB port could have been added, considering the support for USB devices that Honeycomb, and by extension Ice Cream Sandwich, has now integrated into the platform, making it easier to connect more storage devices and other accessories.

No USB port on the tablet but USB-connected hardware can be accessed via the keyboard dock.

To complete this overview, I have to say that as a single unit, the keyboard and tablet combined still feels reasonably light. At just over 1.1kg combined, it can very easily sneak into a large handbag or a small backpack with no issues. With the inclusion of Polaris Office, and the use of Google Docs, this could very well be the mobile productivity device of choice. The Transformer Prime has made a pleasing progression from the debut model.

More than meets the eye... With the Keyboard dock in place, the Transformer Prime is an Android tablet in disguise.

Without the keyboard, the Transformer Prime is the Android tablet we’ve all been waiting for, in form factor and performance. The keyboard adds another dimension of usability because of its tight integration with the Prime tablet and well-thought key layout.

Along with the Motorola Xoom 2, Samsung 7.7 and other unconfirmed models from major brands, the Prime represents the next generation of Android tablets, adding their own flourishes and customisation to the platform. This new generation looks far removed from the first releases of Honeycomb tablets, and with a growing app library, accessory support and software overhaul just around the corner, the tablet market is primed (sorry!) for big things in 2012.

Are you waiting in anticipation for the release of this new Android tablet?

As always, feel free to leave your comments and questions below.

Comments

  1. Release date and price?

    And please add some comments on how the Webb browser perform and to power of tegra3

    • Hi Rol, pricing and release date are still unknown, but we will update this when that becomes more clear.
      We will be doing a follow up video to show browsing and video playback performance of the Tegra 3. Watch this space.

    • Without trying to sound spammy, I’ve got a website dedicated to the Transformer Prime 🙂 I’ve put the latest info on pricing, and the release date, on this website. The Transformer Prime is actually available for pre-order at a number of US and Canadian retailers, but nobody’s shipping yet.

      If you want more details, visit: http://transformerprimereview.com/pricing/

      • Hi Ritchie,

        Please do that follow up video ASAP as you are the only site on the web with a Transformer Prime in your hands.

        • We will be getting the second video out there on Thursday. Believe me, we are counting down the hours as well!

    • I bought my transformer & keyboard last May, and I haven’t touched my computer or laptop since! I use it in class, at work and other places and never had a problem. The Transformer prime seems like a great upgrade, but I agree with you about the USB posts. I would also like to see NFC….

      • Hi John,
        The USB Hub support does overcome the lack of multiple ports to a certain extent. As for NFC, well Motorola are a member of the official forum, so you never know what they may be planning in terms of wireless connectivity for their upcoming devices!

  2. Hi
    i wanted to know what should be the transformer prime compared to?
    Is it more a tablet, a netbook or could it replace a laptop?

    I am a student and i bring my laptop during class. but, now it’s old, i’ll need to change it soon. so I wanted to know if the transformer prime would be a nice choice.

    thx

    • Hi Morgane,
      Thanks for the question. Being Android, you are restricted to the types of applications that you want through the Android Marketplace. However, there are hundreds of thousands of apps and given it already has built in Office compatibility through the pre-loaded Polaris Office, this may be suitable. However, your class may have security and other programs it needs you to use, so best to check first.

    • Thanks again Morgane. In many circumstances it could, but I’d say it would probably still be a secondary device for most people, but with the added functionality of the keyboard. Being netbook size, most people wouldn’t want to rely on it completely, but it is a great additional device.

    • We will be posting a follow video and some updated pics. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to post some pics from the 8MP camera.

    • As I’m in Australia I don’t have that information. I’ll see if the local Asus contacts have any details. You may need to talk to a local IT retailer.

  7. Hi Ritchie, Great video!
    Do you think australian release date will be similar to the US ones?

    I am thinking of getting this one from US. If the local pricing is not that different maybe I should wait for local release.

    • Hi Sean,
      Yes this is the grey coloured one. I haven’t seen the champagne coloured one in the flesh yet, and I have the feeling that the Australian market will probably be dominant in the grey metal finish.

      • Thanks a lot for the reply!
        Glad to see that the amethyst gray isn’t nearly as purple as the asus stock photo’s makes it look. Preordering it now!

  9. Nice review, and I’m really eager to get one. My dad is coming home from venezuela and he is going to drop by at the nearest houston airport on December 17 and he will sleep at one night in some hotels there. Do you thinks it will be release on or before that day in houston and dou you think there are some nearest shop where he could buy one? THanks.. I wil really appreciate if you will answer me.

    • I believe the expected date of delivery is 9th of December 2011 in the USA so should be ok for release if they don’t delay it. That being said, they say the pre-order amount is pretty high, so there may be no stock available.

      I am so jealous but, i so wish I knew someone going there.

    • Hi Timothy,
      Thanks for your positive comments. As I’m based in Australia I couldn’t give you firm international dates, indeed even our local stock has not been 100% confirmed yet. Hope your dad has a safe trip home from Venezuela!

  10. Hi Ritchie,

    Great review info, expecially coming from Australia!

    Regarding your pricing comment in the article above, 32Gb would cost around $790 ($140 more than USA) and 64Gb would cost around $900 ($150 more than USA).

    How do Asus justify that?! I guess they don’t have to. They might come up with some excuse about distribution costs, which may be true with regards to Europe, but certainly isn’t where Australia is concerned.

    If this is true I am going to get one shipped from the US (by a friend), even with the cost of shipping I will save $100. I would much rather buy it locally though because if it breaks down I may have warranty problems.

    Please can you find out a firm Australian release date as this will make a difference too as to whether I buy from US or AU.

    Thanks very much,
    Wayne in WA

    • Hi Wayne,
      Global pricing is a big issue now and we’re seeing it impact more and more products, particularly IT goods. As I am in the retail industry, I would hope that the combination of good service and a physical location to return it to would help convince you to buy locally.
      As soon as I have word on exact dates, I’ll update this article.
      Thanks for your positive comments, as an Australian I’m pretty proud that this article has a global audience.
      Cheers!

      • Thanks Ritchie. There is nothing I would like more than buying locally. I find Australian retailers very good when it comes to returns and repairs etc (much better than the UK where I used to live, where they give you the third degree and try to wriggle out of any responsibility to help you), but at the end of the day it just isn’t fair that Asus sell out wholesale at the sort of price that requires Australian retailers to charge more than retailers do in the USA. The global economy is much more prevalent these days with the growth of the internet and cross border buying. I don’t want to buy one in the USA and have it shipped to Australia and have no comebacks with a local retailer, but I don’t want to be taken advantage of by Asus charging more than the product is worth (in the USA) either. I don’t know what the answer is, I can’t see the situation improving, it’s a free market and they can charge what they like. I wonder if they can be bought cheaper in poorer countries where the market wont bear higher prices?

        • Update: TigerDirect will ship to Australia for $120! If that is the cost of shipping to save $150 on the price of the unit then I will buy locally to make sure I don;t get any warranty issues and have the retailer support.

          I can’t help feeling I am being ripped off here though. 🙁

          • Wayne,

            Check out ComGateway. They can reship items on your behalf and apparently offer pretty fast turnaround times. The cost for this item (tablet plus dock) is about USD$50 according to their site and my best guess on package dimensions. I’m planning on ordering from Amazon US and organising shipment via ComGateway as soon as the Prime is listed over there.

          • Thanks guys. I calc ComGateway to be about $40 and BHPhotoVideo gave me a price of $72. I am going to wait and see what the Australian price is when released and decide then. I also have friends in the UK, so will do a comparison of all the options when all the prices are known. Would really like to buy form Australian supplier for US prices, but that is probably too much to ask!

  11. I have to admit, I wanted it before this video, but this video only confirms that it is an amazing machine. If the rumors about the Ipad 3’s retina display is coming out in like the first quarter of 2012 don’t pan out, I would love to buy one. I just wish it would come out in Australia soon, as rumor is in the next few months.. which could mean 1- 6 months.

    Is it possible to check the power brick on the Transformer Prime. Does it support 100V – 250V 50~60hz. Also how big and heavy is the power brick/ I want to travel with it, so that is important to me.

    Also does the micro sd slot and/or the full size SD slot support SDXC Cards?

    I also would like to know about the browser, as I have heard stories that the browser on the Transformer TF101 performance wise is bad and crashes often.

    • Hi Gerhard,
      You’re in luck, the power module is indeed 100-240V at 50/60Hz, and it is only a small switchmode-style component, so no issue with travel.
      Not sure about SDXC cards, that seemed to be an issue for the original Transformer.
      In terms of the browser, we have been using it on the sample we have and haven’t seen any major issues.

    • i have seen on another website that one of the advantages of prime was the support for sdxc cards, on the dock.

  12. Sorry for the double post, forgot to ask, does it come with an International Warranty or just a local Warranty. Also is there an option to extend it or is it just 1 year?

  13. Hi, Ritchie.

    Thanks for the video! I’m highly anticipating this tablet, but I’m disappointed that it will sport only one USB port on the dock. Would you know if Honeycomb or Android 4 will support common USB wireless mice? If so, would the wireless transmitter still work if plugged into a hub? Thanks .

    Daryl

    • Hi Daryl,
      You must have been spying on our new video we were making today! Wireless mice do work either directly into the USB port or via a USB hub. We’ll be showing that off and more with our video update.

  16. Hi Richie, great review!

    But how on Earth did you get your hands on it here in Australia?
    Also, have you heard any rumours about a 3G version?

  19. How can you you upload or download information from the tablet without the USB ports on the keyboard?

    • Hi Kalahari,
      That’s an excellent question, because some Android tablets only use the SD Card or Micro SD slot as a storage device to read from, not to transfer from. If this is the same for the Prime then you would need to hook up the dock for local transfers. I’ll have to find out from Asus if the Micro-SD slot can be used for transfers to and from the main unit.

      • Richie,

        Nice review!

        If it’s like the original transformer, then there’s a bundled Windows app (Asus Sync). Without the keyboard dock, you would then hook up the tablet using the supplied USB cable (connected to the connector normally reserved for use by the dock). Then you can access both the micro SD card storage and also internal flash memory storage (for both copying to and from). If you need to transfer files between internal and removable storage options on the tablet itself then you can use the Asus Android file manager app. For Apple Mac users there’s Android File Transfer (http://www.android.com/filetransfer/). I assume this should also work for the Prime, but I don’t have mine yet. So it’s probably a good idea to confirm if you have OS X.

        You don’t necessarily need to physically connect up your tablet to a PC though. For ease of transfer there are over wi-fi solutions (using Network Sharing) such as ES File Manager (which is available for free on the Android market). Or you can stream content such as video using either the built-in solution (which is DNLA compliant) or more recently on the original transformer I’ve found http://www.skifta.com/ to be a nicer option.

        • Hi Robert,
          Thank you so much for your detailed reply for data and file transferring, you’ve definitely spent a lot of hands on time with the Transformer Mk1! I’m sure the tips will be useful to our readers.
          Cheers, Ritchie

          • December can’t come soon enough lol. My wife will be getting my current transforner to replace her iPad which she sold, primarily because there were some web sites that she couldn’t access properly due to the lack of flash. I’m glad that Adobe/Google are bringing flash to ICS. Even if ultimately it lessens in importance due to other solution such as Html 5. But as I don’thave a time machine, the Prime will suit me just fine. 🙂

            Ritchie, can you confirm there is just the one speaer grill on the tabet? So whilst clear sounding there’s a lack of any apparent stereo separation. Correct? Does audio sound noticably fuller when docked (there is meant to be an extra sub speaker in the keyboard dock so I was curious as to how effective you felt it was).

  20. hi,
    will it be able to run windows 8? ive seen some vids by microsoft … running windows on tegra 3 tablets…
    thnx..
    sumit

    • Hi Sumit,
      With Windows 8 a fair way away from launch, at least mid next year, anything is possible, and would make sense if Microsoft want to get the support of the tablet manufacturers. It’s much too early to say if it will be compatible on the Prime.

    • Hi Pratt,
      We used the keyboard a fair bit over the last couple of days and we didn’t notice much lag. However, because it is a netbook sized keyboard, I found myself typing with more care, and therefore slower than I would with a standard sized keyboard. To me, lag shouldn’t be much of an issue because you are a bit more careful. Handy hint: beware the half-size shift key on the right hand side 🙂

  22. Hi Ritchie, Great review. Did you have a price for the Aus transformer along with release dates? I really hope we dont get ripped off as usual. Also could you check if the price includes the keyboard and if Asus plans on providing international warranty.

    • Hi, thanks for the nice comment. Pricing is only as indicated, $100 more than the similar sized Wi-Fi only iPad 2s.I have asked Asus about international warranty, will update when advised.

  23. The hardware looks amazing, but I’m waiting to see how it works w/ ICS. How will it integrate the keyboard and touchpad? I want to be hopeful, but it seems like android has always been one-update-away- from being awesome, and it’s been like that since eclair.

    • Hey Ed, I’m keen to see it soon as well, and indeed NVidia have already shown some demonstrations of ICS on the Prime. It will depend how far different the localised commands are that will determine the validity of the shortcut buttons. Otherwise, a keyboard for entering text is still welcome from a business or heavy email user point of view.
      Cheers, Ritchie

  24. Hey Ritchie,

    Thanks for the preview, I cannot wait until this comes out…I was just wondering after seeing your reply to a few posts…Do you think that it will be out in Australia before the 20th of December or will it definitely no be released here this year?? If it doesn’t get released, do you think buying the old transformer is a significant downgrade…because it has become really cheap. A comparison of looks and speed would be much appreciated for your next video!

    Thanks heaps!

    • Hi Lucas,
      I’m pretty certain that the Prime will grace our shores before the 20th of December. As for the original Transformer being a downgrade, remember it was only launched early this year and still compares well against other brands in the market. It will depend on your budget, as I hear the original models will be reduced in price to clear.

  25. These are all US sites that do not ship internationally. I am getting a friend in the US to order it and ship it to me. Interested in the warranty too. Thanks

  26. Any news on when the 3G version comes out? I would totally buy this device but I dont intent to rely on WIFI connection only.
    thanks!

  28. Thanks for the review
    how good is the display in outdoors? does the IPS+ really make a diffrence ?
    can you read with it in outdoors ?

    • Really good question, and it’s a two fold answer. Firstly, I own the PRS-T1 Sony eReader that uses e-ink and is easily the best reading device in any external light source, just like reading paper. Secondly, the IPS screen can’t compare directly to it but still manages to outshine (sorry for the pun) most other tablets for sunlight reading and viewing. We actually have a follow up video in which we show this coming soon.

  29. Thank for the info.
    I’m a Mac user, I’m wondering will the microSD slot read HFS+ or exFAT format? as I have a 32GB microSD card, I’d like to take the advantage of it for 1080p movies, and file size tent to be over 4GB so can’t use FAT32 for it.

    Thanks again

    • Hi Louis, great question, not sure if the SD or Micro SD will accept formats other an FAT32. I’ll put it to my contacts at Asus and see what they come back with.

        • If it’s like the original transformer, then it won’t read HFS+ or exFAT in either the internal micro SD card slot or via the keyboard dock. However, it does read SD cards or USB devices formatted with NTFS. The difference is due to what’s supported natively by Android and the support that Asus added through their work with a company called Tuxera.

          • I guess this may depend on whether or not the MicroSd and SD Card readers on the tablet and/or dock accept SDXC standard as the SDXC standard cards are supposed to be formatted in exFAT.

          • @Gerhard Plesch, The original transformer supports SDXC cards in the keyboard dock but it won’t read exFAT. The are user comments in some of the transformer forums where someone had stated their cards couldn’t be seen by the tablet. But as far as I’m aware in all cases it was because the card need needed to be reformatted. I guess ExFAT is not supported natively by the filing system within Android.

    • Don’t count on it. It may be 12/9, it may not. GameStop has revised that page before and ASUS has not announced any official dates. Going by dates, or anything else, on retailer sites is iffy. Remember Best Buy recently listed the ‘Nexus Prime’ instead of the ‘Galaxy Nexus’ and caused a furor of speculation when in the end it was just their error. Other sites, like Amazon and Best Buy, don’t list a date. Amazon had it for pre-order, but switched the pages to sign up pages for notification of availability. If it was coming as soon as 12/9 that’d be a bit surprising.

  31. If they only had windows 8 on it, i would be at the front of the line to buy this. Oh well. Next year the revolution for tablets? 🙂

    • Hi Evan,
      You are very right, there will be lots more choices in the second half of next year with Windows 8, a possible new iPad and new iterations of Android tablets. Who will be the victor? I think the outcome will depend on many factors including developer support, manufacturer form factors and content.

    • Hi Drew,
      We tried using standard Quadrant and a comparison benchmark app but neither worked on this machine. I’m not sure whether it was because this is a pre-production sample we are trying out or if its database hasn’t been updated with the Tegra 3 details.

  34. Hi Ritchie,
    thanks for the review!
    Is the 40 pin connector on the prime the same as that in original transformer? would the USB & SD card kit that connected on 40 pin port work on the transformer prime as well?

  35. the original Transformer 1 had 1GB of RAM as well, so you should correct it in the review (you said it even with the video). There hasn’t been any change in operating memory AFAIK.

  37. Hi Ritchie,
    nice Preview/Review and thanks for taking your time to answer so many questions. That tablet sure gets some attention from users.

    Have you ever tried using a micro HDMI – VGA adapter to project something like a Powerpoint presentation via a beamer? That would be an application I would use a lot.

    Many thanks.

    felix

  38. This is the device that I really get it

    For me is one of the best devices, but I am confident that best falling

    In the near future we will see a lawsuit from the company with Apple Almarovernm by rat

    Because he is gorgeous, but more than that

    A company like Asus does not make for consumption, but made ​​history. That changes the meaning of life

    Sincere and friendly tip my hat to respect and homage to Asus

  40. Hello Ritchie it is a nice video I was thinking does transformer prime can lag even use the keyboard dock and I heard there 64 GB micro memory card this is the first time they have 64 GB I thought only 32GB?

  41. Can you put the screen on backwards and close the lid to give you the extra battery life and somewhere to keep the keyboard, but still use it as a (thicker) touch screen tablet?

    • I would imagine (like the original transformer) that the dock connector is only designed to dock one way, so the answer to that would be no.

  43. Hi, thanks for a great review!

    How is the response from the trackpad? How would you rate it against say a MBP trackpad? And did you find it usefull to have the option to use it instead of touching the screen like you would with an ipad with a connected keyboard?

  45. I’m curious how the Tegra 3 handles .MKV files. Did you get a chance to test with any 720P/1080P encoded mkv’s? I know it will likely depend on the bitrate used when encoding but if you had or will have a chance to test some files I’d be interested in what you find.

  46. Hi,
    you told us about a new Video.
    How much time have we to wait for it?
    We’d like to see the Prime in action!
    Good review!
    Let us know about it!

  47. Hey, kudos on the video. I already pre-ordered this amazing tablet and dock from best buy and was just wondering were you guys able to test out a stylus on here? I am a senior in college and taking 6 classes so the main reason I ordered the prime was so that I could take notes in a more organized and neat fashion. I watched videos on youtube showcasing the ability to write notes on the original Transformer. Also do you recommend a specific brand of stylus for note taking on the Epad transformer?

  49. Do a battery rundown test like CNET does. You know loop a 720p video at ideal viewing brightness while downloading via wifi. Tell us how long the battery actually lasts with and without the dock. Not just the advertised life.

    Also is the USB 3.0?

    Can you access the micro SD and normal slot at the same time?

    Any idea if 4g version will be released or if USB 4g modem works?

  50. Great first look Ritchie, the Prime is the only tablet that has interested me so far, and I’m looking to get one for keeping in contact with friends and writing a daily blog when doing some volunteering in South Africa at the end of January.
    My main concern though is whether it is possible to transfer pictures from an SDHC card to an external HDD, or will I have to use high capacity USB sticks?
    I know most tablets have problems in this regard, would be nice if ICS (when it becomes available) can iron out this annoying omission!!
    Looking forward to your next installment!

  51. How are the responsiveness of the keyboard and touchpad? The mouse cursor was slightly laggy in the first gen Transformer, and the keyboard needed some extra push to respond. Is the new keyboard dock more responsive, say as responsive as a netbook?

  52. Nice review and video. One minor correction. You state ” The upgraded memory is also certain to be a contributor to an overall improved Android experience with the Prime”

    The original Transformer has 1 GB RAM as does the Prime. Correct?

    • Hi Jeremy,
      Thanks for the positive comment. You are 100% correct, the original Transformer did indeed have 1GB RAM. I was probably comparing to the iPad 2 in my mind rather than to its predecessor. Great pick up! Cheers, Ritchie.

      • As a matter of fact, the Transformer Prime has 1GB of LPDDR2 @1066MHz, while the ‘OG’ Transformer had 1GB of LPDDR2 @667MHz. It’s still a pretty decent increase (although somewhat disappointing in that Tegra 3 also supports DDR3-L @1500MHz.)

        Great article by the way. 😀

  53. I’m curious if the Prime is worth the price difference after the original Transformer inevitably gets discounted. I’m sure it’s faster, but is the screen any better? Is the build quality higher? The Transformer has hardly been out long enough to require a refresh, especially once going to ICS. Any thoughts?

    • Hi Evan,
      Poor tech products, they don’t seem to have much of a chance to breathe and develop a following before they fall away in the face of shinier, lighter and brighter toys.
      In this case I think the upgrade is definitely justified with a major overhaul of the entire system – processor, screen, and capacity have all been improved. The IPS screen probably needs to be seen in person to be believed. The term “iPad killer” has been used for many products – I’m not saying this is the one, but it’s definitely an awesome alternative.

  56. Meanwhile I sold my “old” Transformer +dock with a loss of € 125,– because I want this Prime the day before yesterday…….
    The Prime should be for sale in Holland on January 6th. Can’t wait that long, grrrrrrrrrrrrrr…………..

  57. Could you try to connect mouse and full hd tv and give us experience about that combination?

    Have we just like the Motorola here a full browser and comfortably work on the big screen?

  58. And second question:
    1. If Windows 8 will support ARM.
    2. If Asus launch tablet like Prime with it in Q3.
    … it will be possible to install on own hand Win8 on that Prime?

  59. Hi Ritchie.
    Could you please ask you ASUS contact if there are any plans to produce a mirco-HDMI to VGA adapter for use with older projectors? I’ve looked everywhere online but all I can find is the adapter for the TF101 which had a mini-HDMI port.
    By the way thanks for the review and I eagerly await your future updates.

  60. Hey,

    I have a Western Digital 2.5 inch USB 2.0 1 terrabyte external harddrive. Do you know if I could use it with the prime?

    Thanks!

  61. Hi there,
    Sorry for the basic question – not a tech guru like the rest of you guys – just a mere medical student wanting to find out whether I can use a stylus on the new TP screen. My objective is to download slide presentations at Uni and be able to handwrite/annotate with a stylus as the lecturer expands on subject. Can I do this on the new TP? I test run the Samsung on the weekend and this feature is incredible on the Samsung, but I don’t like the separate keyboard (or the $1599 price!). Hoping that TP will have this feature? Thanks for your assistance.

    • You will be able to use a capacitive stylus on the prime. The problem with this is that you either need a notes app that has palm recognition (so if your palm is on the screen it doesnt register it as a touch and mess up your writing) or just find a way to not touch the screen with your hand at the same time (ive heard of people using gloves or a screen cleaner under the palm). There also wont be any sort of pressure sensitivity but for notes that really shouldn’t be needed.

      I plan on getting the prime for university notes as well so ill be trying out a few different things im sure!

  62. Thanks for the video and review! I’m actually waiting for a tablet that can replace pen and paper (writing over pdf’s, words, excel files etc…) iPad does the job nicely from what I’ve seen, but it hasn’t got a USB port which I need.
    Could you please post a video of you writing over a pdf, for example? I’d like to know how accurate it is and how “fast” can you write and still make it readable… From what I tried, the ASUS Transformer (not prime) is not that good… I tried to write on the built in app for notes and it didn’t recognize most of the letters if writing a bit faster.
    Thanks!

  63. Did you happen to notice If there was an LED indicator light for notifications? I believe that was absent from the original transformer

  65. does the exterior seem like a fingerprint magnet, or anything? I am leaning toward the “champagne” color, but wanted some input on what might look better through wear and tear and regular handling.

    Also, did you find palm hitting the trackpad and selecting whatever the cursor is on while trying to type? I’ve used a few transformers, and ended up having to turn off the track pad because it was such an issue… thought maybe they had changed something in the trackpad sensor to alleviate this issue

  66. Great video and article Richie, I also think it is great that you are so actively responding to people’s inquiries. A lot of good information here.

    Do you have plans to do a segment on tethering your TF2 to your cell phone in order to use 3G+ networks? Can you tell us a bit about it here? I am hoping to tether my TF2 to my Blackberry in order to surf the web on the go.

    Thanks again.

  67. Ok hi everyone, the response to the article and the video has been overwhelming to say the least. However during this same time we have also been in discussions with ASUS Australia (about??? I can’t really say) and have agreed to hold back releasing the follow up video until DEC 1. We appologise for any inconvenience but rest assured the video is ready to go and will be released on that date. A little frustrating I know, but will be worth the wait. Thanks for all your support guys, keep the conversation going.

    • Very disappointing to hear that Ritchie, first it was a Brazilian web site (Ztop.com.br) that Asus ask to remove a review from a sample Prime, later an South African reviewer and now is you.
      Really bad moves from Asus.

      • Thanks for the support Andres. We’d love to get the next video out as well because we want to give back to the community that has supported this, but it will have to wait until December 1st. We will definitely be letting everyone know when it’s released.

  68. Hi Ritchie,
    Great review and good to hear a local doing tech reviews.

    I have a couple of questions that you may be able to help me with if you still have it. Can you use a 3G/4G usb in it? and Is the USB port on the dock able to power an portable drive?

    • Hi Mark, the follow up video will be coming out on Thursday, 1st of December – put it in your diary!

  71. 48hrs isn’t too long to wait to see what I’m amusing will be the most comprehensive video on this device. If I could put a pre-order in for this in Oz I would, funny how our US brothers get to pre-order and now have a Dec 8th release date, yet we here (in Oz) have a full review unit and a video that has yet to be taken down. Who are you in with Ritchie?! I want names! 🙂

    • Hi Glen, we think it’s important to give back to the readers and viewers,as we appreciate the time taken to spend with us. I think you’ll be happy with the detail we show. Just two more days!

  72. Hi,
    so i have an Asus PC (g73jh) and i love it. But my question is: is this tablet the same quality as the usual Asus brand? To me Asus makes some pretty good stuff, and i want to make sure it lives up to its company. Like are there any problems? Is the frame is good, no misplaced or misaligned stuff, no light bleeding (i heard there was a problem with that on the TF101), and other occurrences? Sorry, just need to make sure :/

    I also want to say that you are great at responding to people’s questions, and answering with real answers. Ill definitely be relying on this site for my tech needs ^_^

      • It’s a stereo speaker but is in one grill location. We don’t have much more detail than that right now except that it is powered by Sonicmaster as per the pre-sale website.

    • Hi Gabriel, the tablet is definitely of high quality. You’ll see more screen shots on Thursday when we release our next video.
      And thanks for the kind words, we think it’s important to recognise the efforts our readers put in to having dialogue with us, so it’s only right to response in kind. Cheers!

      • Thanks for the info, cant wiat to see the shots on Thurs. So one grill, interesting. But judging by the sound i have heard (from samples) it must be good, i just needed to know, because there’s been alot of speculation.

        Thanks!
        Gabriel 😀

  73. I agree that Asus should release more info only because I want that info because at the same time I have to say the hype for this product is fueling itself. Most sites that offered any pre-order options are now showing sold out. I suspect Asus can hold off on big expenditures like heavy advertising right up to the official launch because a lot of us have already spoken for the first (maybe 2nd+) batches of these devices.

    Even if they wait until launch before they make some waves with announcements and advertising people will still have to wait to get these tablets as I expect the preorder numbers to be impressive. I am looking forward to not only getting my TF2 but I am anxious to hear the sales numbers as well, you got a winner here ASUS!

    • It definitely is a winner, and you’ll see more of why on Thursday when we release the next video with more detail. See you back there then!

  75. Thanks Ritchie for the nice clip and fielding millions of questions. Lots of interest and clever marketing stratgey for nice looking product. I read an old T1 review that the original suffered from the pad /keyboard combo being a tad top heavy and a little awkward balance wise. Is this a problem with T2?

    • Hi Brett, thanks for the kind words, there definitely is a fair bit of interest! I didn’t find balancing to be an issue while we were filming. The fact that both components are thinner and lighter may contribute to the steadiness of it. You’ll see a fair bit more of keyboard dock action on Thursday when we see release our next video with more details as per our viewer’s questions.

  76. Hello,
    Thanks for this nice review! Richie you wrote ” the speaker is as effective as anything I’ve experienced so far on tablets”, ok but is the sound better (and I mean louder too) than on the EEE Pad transformer? Because to be honest I found the sound on my EEE Pad Transformer so low that I can not ear a thing but the night when everything is quiet…
    Thanks for you help

    • Hi Lloyd, and appreciate the positive words! It’s definitely an improvement but we haven’t explored the speaker in so much detail. We should be able to do that when we next have the Prime in our hands for another look.

  77. Hi
    If we preorder from the USA, from b&h, does the included in box 1 year warranty allow us to take the prime up asus australia if something happens to it?

    And can you do a supernote 1 min review!? Preferably with a stylus?!
    I really want the prime for school… 🙂

    Thanks

  78. How is the temperature of the tablet? Will it feel warm after awhile. Especially the back of the tablet?

  79. Hi Ritchie,

    Please could you confirm if the wireless is dual band, i.e. 802.11abgn? I’ve seem some conflicting information and this was a big miss for me on the original Transformer…

    Thanks

  80. My wife has the first generation Transformer and it is a splendid device, although by no means without its flaws. (I have an iPad 2 and the same thing can be said of that – they are both great, but have different strengths.) One limitation of the Transformer we have discovered is that it won’t recognise a DVD drive plugged into its USB socket. It will recognise an external hard drive and various other things, but not a DVD drive, which means you can’t watch a DVD on it unless you first rip that DVD using your computer. I believe (perhaps wrongly) that this is a limitation of Android rather than of the Transformer itself.

    So my question is: is there any chance that this limitation is removed for the Transformer Prime? Can you plug a DVD drive into it and watch a DVD? And if you can’t with Honeycomb, is there any chance that it will be possible with ICS?

    • Hi Jonathan,
      The USB won’t pick up any device that required a fair amount of power to use, like a spinning portable hard drive. Also, the tablets were designed to use video files in isolation, they probably won’t be thinking much about older style media like hard drives. ICS may include support, but I think it’s unlikely and it’s still restricted by the power issue.
      Thanks for your question!

  81. Hi Ritchie,
    I wanted to ask, is the part between aluminum backs and the display, there where you find ports etc. , made out of plastic? Thx

    • Hi Neky,
      The ports are integrated into the casing, so there’s no area between the glass and the case – it’s pretty much sealed into the slim metal body.
      Thanks for the question.

  82. Hope I haven’t overlooked the question or spec. Does the Transformer support Apple’s apps and Cloud ?

    • Hi Mia,
      The Transformer, and indeed any Honeycomb tablet, won’t connect to Apple’s app store or any of its services. There may be apps that do cross over, but that is a duplication on the part of the developer. Android has its own cloud in Google Docs and Cloud Connect.

  83. Ritchie, I’m a professional photographer. How is it for displaying photos? I know the samsung is over saturated in colors. Are the colors of the Prime fairly accurate?

    

    • Hi Ladyk,
      From memory the only LED was on the side of the Keyboard to show charging status. Cheers!

  85. Hi Ritchie,

    Did you guys try to compare the screen with other tablets? how does it stock against Samsung galaxy tab 10.1 and the iPad?

  87. I’m very clumsy and tend to drop these precious devices. What is the drop test result from about a meter high?

    • Hi Raymond,
      We didn’t do THAT particular test with the Prime we had, and aren’t too keen to try it on the next play. We’ll see if Asus have any info to that effect, but as they are not ruggedised it would be safe to assume some damage may come from a tall fall. A good reason to invest in a nice thick protective case!

  88. Wow. This is some great stuff. I just pre-ordered my Prime after seeing this review. I was thinking about it anyways, but I wanted to see how it held up in the hand as far as weight and distribution and how the screen would look. The specs are spot on and although I spent a little more than I originally intended ($499), it was worth the extra to get ahead of the curve.

  90. Hi Ritchie. I just want to say Thanks! for all the time and effort you’ve taken to answer all the questions that have been coming your way since this review was posted. Like everyone else, I’m itching to get my hands on the Prime and have been digging through the net to find some good information. This review and the follow-on comments has quenched my thirst for “Prime-alade” (if that word takes off, I copyright it here and now ;P ). Looking forward to the next video. This site will be a regular visit from now on. Cheers!

    • Thanks Horace! Really appreciate your words of encouragement and hopefully you’ve now seen our latest videos as well!

  91. I cannot wait for this device to be released!!! Heres hoping that when they release it in Melbourne its not a rip off price like everything else released in Australia >_>* it’s 499.99 in US which means we’ll probably get it for what, 600 or 700 dollars? Gah… everything is rip off in Oz @@

  92. Great review Ritchie! I can not wait to get my hands on it!

    Question: Will you be able to hook the prime up to a computer and drag and drop files onto the prime from there? Sorry if this was already answered!

    • Hi Mike,
      Copying and pasting files to and from Honeycomb is supported by the Media Transport Protocol, via USB, show the Prime should be no different.
      Thanks for your kind words too!

  93. IMPORTANT: Beyond testing that daily non-user replaceable battery-life, please ask Asus if & how the tablet’s battery (& keyboard dock’s battery) can be serviced including cost even past day 365 (its one year warranty) otherwise its promise can not be fully realized & Apple will continue to point to the iPad’s serviceability (e.g. to keep such tablets out of landfills). -Thanks Ritchie & look forward to the reviews!

  94. It’s after 5p in Sydney, no? Am I missing the videos somewhere? I’ve been waiting all night! lol

  95. Hi Casey,
    No you’re not missing them, they are being uploaded as we speak! We will create a new page once they arrive.
    Thanks for visiting as always!
    Ritchie

  97. Would like to know what ASUS Australia is doing to make Prime available in Australia sooner rather than later. The strong economy, the love-affair between technology and Australians, and the Christmas season gives the Transformer Prime the best market to sell it in. May 2012 is just not good enough.

    • Hi GimmiK, we’re just as eager to find out when it’s going to land here. As soon as we know, I’ll be spreading the news!

  98. The screen resolution will be outgunned very soon and of course releasing it with Honeycomb will hinder its success, otherwise it is a very nice piece of hardware.

    Thanks Ritchie

    • Hi Greg,
      The 1280 x 800 screen displays images and websites very nicely. We haven’t taken it through its paces for HD video yet, but we will when we get another unit to play with. The upgrade to ICS is apparently not too far away, and we are waiting in anticipation for that upgrade.

  99. Another review site said that the back is merely plastic made to look like metal. Is this the case, or was he mistaken? Thanks for clarifying this! Also, fantastic review!

    • It was stated in a lot of places that its some kind of aluminium and cold to the touch, so I doubt its plastic.

      • Yeah, I figured the guy was wrong. I’ve read a lot of reviews, and he’s the only one who said it was plastic. Just wanted to check for certain with someone who actually had it in hand =)

        Thanks!

  100. Thanks for the videos! They were great, but I’d like to ask more specific questions. I’m a student and I started hating the PC. The idea of a huge “box”(compared to a tablet) that takes a lot of time to start and is not portable at all seems awful now that there are so many great little alternatives. Unfortunately, all those tablets seemed to be just toys. The Transformer Prime really seems to make a difference and it appeals to me a lot. Now, I’ve been thinking whether I should choose it, a more expensive ultrabook or a simple notebook. Now, my mundane tasks are: surfing the web, chating, checking email and so on and I know a tablet can easily handle those. But sometimes I have to manage more complicated things like administrating a blog(blogger–nothing special), editing some photos or videos(not PS quality, of course, but something reliable), writing docs, spreadsheets or creating presentations(polaris?) and most notably, writing c++ programs. I know there is an app for the latter(c4droid) and I am not sure if you could help me with that but basically I want to write simple programs for school and test them. That being said, do you think this tablet could replace an ordinary computer in managing all this, even though it weren’t at the same level? Thanks in advance and sorry for my bad english..

  101. Hello Richie, very nice review/video. I live in Holland and I pre-ordered the Prime at Amazon Germany. Now they conformed me that the dock will be delivered with a German keyboard so with QWERTZ. The pictures on their site shows QWERTY. Who must I believe??

    • Hi Harold,
      Thanks for the nice comments, we appreciate it. The site may be using stock images that are distributed for the global launch. You may want to reconfirm one more time and reference the QWERTY pic they have on the site. Let us know how you go!

      • Hi Harold,
        I would also like to know if you managed to get a qwerty keyboard from amazon.de, because I also preordered from there and would very much prefer a standard qwerty layout to the qwertz.

        I could probably live with the qwertz, if they only ship with it, because I dont look at the keyboard so often, but I would probably cancel the preorder if I could find a standard kbd version in the EU… pity that they dont plan to ship anything for at least a month.

  102. Just saw that Amazon customers have gotten an email that states that due to Asus not being able to supply them with Transformer Primes Amazon has been forced to cancel your order. Anything from Asus on this lack of product availability issue?

  103. Hi Robert,
    Thanks again for the heads up and sharing this with our readers.
    In Australia, the local Asus office hadn’t actually confirmed any dates for release locally, so there wasn’t a firm expectation over here. We’ll see what we can find out.
    Once again, thanks for your contribution Robert!

  104. Hi Eth, maybe you can check again with Amazon Germany regarding the “German” keyboard and the QWERTY picture on their site. There should be a standard keybord in the EU, which might be availabe on 6 january at the (hopefully) launch in Holland of the Prime.

    • Hey Angel,
      It should be possible given the graphics capabilities. This is a test that we will definitely be doing when we next get our hands on the Prime.

  106. Ritchie, the dock has only 1 USB port. Is a USB hub working on this port connecting several USB devices?? Thanks in advance.

  107. I have heard a lot about the smudging of fingerprints….is there a thin cover to encase it like for the phones etc.?

    • Hi John,
      There will be inevitable smudging on the touch screen, and being glossy Gorilla Glass it would be more noticeable than a matte screen. There will be screen protectors available in the market, and a matte screen cover will keep the display free of smudges and fingerprints.
      That said, I tend to use my smartphones and tablets “naked” as I feel there is some loss of detail when a screen protector is used, but that is just a personal choice, and potentially risky.

  108. Hi ritchie..love your videos
    I’ve got a question do you know if there is anyway I could like sign up for android to ship things such as the asus prime to review and put on youtube… How do you get this capability

  111. Hi, Ritchie.

    I’ve got a very simple question:

    Is Google Chrome coming with all the extensions and utilities in the Asus Prime??

    Thanks!!!

    • Hi Daniel, a simply question with a fairly complicated answer.
      There are indications that Chrome will be coming to Android, but it’s not specific to any particular tablet. The one thing you can do with the inbuilt browser is synch to your Chrome browser if you are currently a Chrome user on your other PCs.
      There is a lot of chatter about Chrome on Honeycomb… hopefully that will happen soon! We’ll keep an eye out and update you.

  113. Hi. I am thinking about getting the Transformer Prime sometime early next year (2012) but I have one question that has not been answered from my research yet. Can you use an external hard drive with the USB port? Say a 500gb Toshiba usb 2.0 portable hard drive?

    • We tried using a portable hard drive and it was note recognised. No tablet had been able to read self powered drives like a 2.5″ platter so far. Pen/Flash drives are fine though. Thanks for the question.

    • Thanks for the kind comments! Sounds like a good demo to do. We’re collating all the requests right now, compiling and working out what we can show in the next batch of Prime videos.
      First priority is to get one back – once we do that we can get cracking on all your requests!
      Cheers, Ritchie

  115. Okay thanks! And you say “self powered” but will it take full sized hard drives that get their power from an outlet?

    • We’re eager to find that out as well… which will make life easier for many if they can drag files straight off an external powered drive.
      If anyone else currently uses an Android tablet, maybe they can advise if they have the ability to read off a mains-powered hard drive?

  117. Hey, great Video and a nice help for making a decison to buy 😛
    I’m sorry but my english is not the best : (
    Just one question, the Menü in the most other andriod tablets is a bit lazy, i mean theres always a short delay between finger move and the move on the tablet, at the ipad 2 this “move” is very tight and direct.
    The same thing happens by switching between vertical and horizontal
    How does ist feel on the prime ? Is it the same feeling like the ipad? oder also lazy like the other android tablets?

    • Hi Darq, thanks for joining us here, and for the kind words.
      From memory (it has been a little while now since we had our Prime) there was very little lag – we would have expected there to be very quick response with the upgraded screen and processor. We are filming another series of vids when the unit comes back to us, so we are looking forward to that opportunity. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel as well to get the updates as new videos are uploaded.

  118. Hi Ritchie, it look like the Prime is delayed in US/Canada due to a problems on the WiFi, that we should expect shipments on late January. Do you know something about this? can you ask Asus?
    Thanks!

    • Hi Andres,
      Thanks for the update, wow late January is stretching it out now! I will ask Asus for an update. One could only hope that ICS may indeed be pre-loaded, as it was originally thought that the upgrade would be deployed late December.
      We’ll find out what we can, thanks for the heads up!

      • HI Ritchie – any news from Asus directly?? I called them and they told me December 19th – Call JB’s and they say January, so no consistency with info.

        • We still have no firm date for delivery Giovanni. Asus are sending me an official notice regarding shipments as they know how much interest there is in these units. I’ll post that here when it arrives.

  119. Well only a few days until mine gets here….question about memory. I have the 32gb version coming–I see it is expandable to 64 – is that via micro sd slot? And if so, how much can be help on the dock itself…32? 64? 128? Thanks!

  120. Good question and one that we’d have to get answered from Asus themselves. As there are two slots and the quoted maximum that the slot can handle is 32GB, it sounds like an extra 64GB in total is possible.
    Remember that some slots act as storage and not memory expansion. This means that the slot can be read from but not written to or transferred from. Not sure if this is the case for the Prime.
    We’ll have to find that out.

  121. Hey Ritchie,
    Superb videos and reviews! Thanks to your videos, I am completely sure that I will pick one of these up the soonest I can. I just hope that I can get my hands on one the day of the release somehow :\ Anyways, keep up the good work! Look forward to seeing more videos/reviews. Anxious to see the official notice about the shipments and release date.

  122. It just up on Amazon again HOWEVER this time you can place a real order with free one day delivery special. It is out of stock though

  125. Hi Ritchie,
    Awesome hands on here. What I would really love to know is how well it handles live wallpapers. Could you test these wallpapers:
    1. In particular the Blue skies LWP which IMO is one of the more heavy LWP. I’d like to know the amount of lag in the wallpaper itself and when swiping.
    2. Video Live Wallpaper (Can it play 1080p video wallpaper without stutter? My iconia can only play below 720p, then stutters the video.)
    I would be awesome if you could find this out, because if it can play a 1080p video live wallpaper, its basically a first day buy for me 🙂
    I know that no one else has posted a video yet dedicated to live wallpaper tests and this would be great to show its power, if you wanted to make a video that would be epic.
    Thanks man and keep up the good work!

    • Hi KzD,
      Thanks for your comments and suggestion for further hands on. We’ll try to fit in some HD live wallpaper demos for you. Is this a requirement for something you do with the Prime?

      • Hi Ritchie. Thanks for the quick reply. Well I wouldnt say its a requirement, but if it could do the 1080p live wallpaper, it would be mindblowing, meaning i would have HD video wallpapers because at the moment all the wallpapers are pixelated. It would be a great show off too.

        I would really like to know how well it can handle different live wallpapers in general in terms of swipe lag because thats one area that will be seen a lot in terms of performance for the tegra 3.

        • Hi Ritchie,
          Any chance you are able to test this out? Its specifically a demo of the live wallpaper “Video Live Wallpaper” playing a 1080p video. I want to see if it can play a Full HD live wallpaper without lag.
          Thanks

  126. Ritchie,
    I received my Transformer Prime from Tiger Direct today, so it looks like the launch date of Dec 19th in the US was accurate. The keyboard dock is still on backorder.

    • Hey Steve,
      That’s fantastic news and the first I’ve heard of the Prime being delivered.
      Enjoy it and feel free to come back and tell us about your experiences. What a great Xmas present 🙂

  127. That’s really good news Steve. You must be the first who has this nice little toy. Wish you lots of pleasure with it. After buying the Asus 13″ UX-31 I have deceded to pre-order the Prime in The Netherlands as well. As from yesterday this was (finally) possible. Expected delivery January 7th. Let’s see if Asus Benelux keep their promise.

  128. My local Gamestop got 3 today. One store Demo, one preorder, and one extra that I was lucky enough to get first thing this morning when they opened. Will be messing with it all day. If anyone has any specific questions, I can try to answer them time permitting.

  129. hello
    I have a question that I have failed to find an answer to.
    it is possible to use the keyboard to play games? I mean like on a PC.
    if anyone knows, please send a reply.

  130. Eth, regarding your question on the WIFI. I had a bit or a scare actually. When I first turned it on and aquire my house WIFI the signal said POOR and it would not connect, and my router is 30FT away up in my loft. I said “oh boy, here we go….”. Well it would not connect because I mistyped the PW. Once I corrected the PW is connected and the signal strength looked better. I was planning on walking around the house today with the PAD and my cell (also new yesterday) and laptop and compare. Will post if I see any problems but so far it seems ok.

  131. Any info on what class 4 or 10 to use with the micro as card?
    I got my prime yesterday and wanted to get it ready to roll for tomorrow.

  134. I am interested in the new Transformer Prime tablet, 10.1 Please send me any updates you may have.
    Thanks,
    Cliff

  136. Hey guys, just got of the phone to Asus. They are saying this month for release. RRP of $799 for the 32 gig and $899 for the 64 gig. Please note that price included the Dock. gee we pay to much. Make sure you ask for a good deal.
    Cheers guys

  137. I am from Saudi Arabia, and Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime has not reached us yet .. What is the solution?

  138. Hey Ritchie,
    I’ve been looking for an HDMI to monitor cable adaptor to use the Prime for presentations and haven’t been able connect to the ASUS website today. Anyone else having problems connecting with their site?

    • Hey Steve,
      I’m on the Asus site right now and it looks fine. They may have been updating it momentarily.

  139. Hey Ritchie,
    Im considering getting a TABLET and im having a lot of interest in the Asus.
    Im currently using an Ipod touch and the app store has thousands of free apps.
    I haven’t yet used the android market so im not sure what it’s like. Is their a whole load of gaming apps on the android market and if so, can you post a video response back please for me to get to know the android market?
    Thanks so much,
    Peter

    • Hey Peter,
      We have been looking at a feature exploring various ecosystems that are now available, and will be available soon.
      There are heaps of games, productivity apps and widgets that you can use on your tablet.
      Let’s see what we can put together as far as Android ecosystem (and comparing others) goes.
      Cheers,
      Ritchie

  140. Hi
    While the tablet doesn’t have 3G or 4G, could you plug in an external USB mobile device to the keyboard? I haven’t found a solid release date for Australia yet which gives me more time to finally make up my mind but this tablet has definitely sparked my interest.
    Also do you know if you can use the tablet to go through a VPN to a remote desktop? This would make this the perfect work accessory for me.
    Thanks
    Charmaine

    • Hi Charmaine,
      Unfortunately USB modems can’t be used on Android devices yet as Telcos have yet to write drivers for them, and with Windows 8 on the horizon, it’s uncertain what may be released.
      VPN would be more of an Android issue, but I do know that remote desktops apps are available. I’ll see if I can find out more on VPN.
      Cheers,
      Ritchie

  141. Hi Ritchie,
    I am 73 yrs old and have been using MS office for my communication, and Outlook for my Emails. Can I use ms windows 7 and/or 8(when it is available) With the New Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime? If not, what table can I use so I can stay with what I am familiar with, or in your opinion, should I learn a different program? I am also a Real Estate Broker and would like to be able to down load our local Listings. The fact that it has the blue tooth keyboard w/the slot for my SDcamera card seems to be perfect for my needs.
    Thanks for your advice!
    Cliff Norton
    cliff@cliffnorton.com

    • Hi Cliff,
      Although the ARM chipset was announced as being able to be support Windows 8 when it is released, it would probably not be recommended to purchase one with the intention of loading Windows 8 – it would be better to buy one specifically for that platform when ready.
      One reasons would be that the keyboard is Android customised, so it would be rather confusing for a Windows OS.
      Windows 8 is still a fair way from being released, so you may want something like the Series 7 Slate from Samsung, which should be upgradeable to Windows 8 when it’s available, otherwise try the iOS or Android systems to see which are more suitable for your needs.
      Both have Outlook Exchange support and have their own versions of productivity suites compatible with Office.
      Cheers!
      Ritchie

  142. Hi, i have recently picked up my prime and have had nothing but trouble. The screen bleeds, flickers and freezes. No volume at times and it indicates that the earphones are in when they are not. Don’t even mention the poor wifi reception. I am very disappointed as i have waited over four months for this tablet. Back to the shop tomorrow for refund.

    Can anyone recommend another tablet and has anyone else had the same problems. Please note this is my second prime as first one failed day one.

    Is ipad2 my only option?

    Thanks…

    • I had the same problems and I returned the Prime and got my money back. Now I wait for the new HD Prime A700 which will come in a few month.

  143. I just cancelled an order for the Prime after reading about the wi-fi and GPS reception problems; this is the first I’ve heard of screen, volume, and other bugs. Truly sad because I’ve been waiting for the Prime for a long time! So now I get to wait several MORE months for the TF700… >>>SIGH<<<

    • A few people have issues with their prime, but most of them not. I’m really happy with mine.
      Also asus sent updates and its getting better.
      Written from the prime, Andres.

      • After spending a few hours with an ICS upgraded Prime, I’d have to agree. GPS wasn’t functional but that was to be expected. Other than that it was a great Android experience.

  144. Hi Ritchy, I bought this morning again the Prime, however with the new serialnumber starting with C10KAS04xxxx. The former serialnrs. with BCOKAS15xxxx had a lot of problems. Up till now I have no problems whatsoever. Perfect working Wifi, GPS (!), streaming video (all TV channels with Slingbox and digital receiver), no backlight bleeding etc. so I am a happy man now.

    • Hey Harold,
      That’s great to hear! Enjoy the Prime and feel free to return with more comments or “tips and tricks” when you’ve spent some time with it.
      Cheers, Ritchie

  145. Hey Ritchie,
    Any word from ASUS on whether or not they are working on a fix for the weak WiFi peformance on the TF Prime. I can place a Wifi PC on my desk next to the Prime and run “Speed Test” and the PC will average 2 to three times the performance as the Prime. Where the PC gets 15Mb up and 5 Mb down, the Prime gets 5Mb up and 5Mp down. If you get 30 or feet or more from the wireless router, you are out of range. I am using an Xtreme N 450 Dual Band Gigabit Router (DIR-665) so that should not be the problem.
    This is a disappointing feature of an otherwise great device. Any ideas??
    Thanks!

    • Hi Steve,
      As we mentioned in our latest article, the results were wildly different out of direct line of the router. We had full strength one moment and then we had 3Mb the next. I think it demonstrates that there are multiple factors when it comes to Wi-Fi performance.

  146. I want to know if i can with this tablet, copy 16Gb of videos in full HD to a external hard drive, using the tablet like power source for the external hard drive. And how many time will need. Please help!! if i can do that, i buy this tablet. And the same time, i can do this with the other model?? the asus eepad transformer??

    thanks a lot

    • At this stage we’ve tested the Prime with an NTFS formatted hard drive on USB 2.0 and it works without external power. The speed will probably around the 1GB per minute mark but we’ll confirm that. You can use various players like MX player to playback HD movies.

  147. Hi Ritchie!

    Great review by the way. I was just wondering if would be better waiting for te 3g/4g version, or buy wifi only. Do you know when the 3g version is being released?

    Thank you

    • Hi Peter,
      We don’t have a 3G release date yet, and I’m not sure if that variant will even be available. Tethering seems to be the most popular way to access internet while out and about if the unit is not 3G.

  148. hi Ritchie! (:
    i wanna ask some questions..
    does the keyboard dock provide dvd or cd player like usual laptop?
    does it have bluetooth?
    does it have microsoft office or not? it it doesnt, then what do we use to make or read or edit documents?

    thanks in advance! (:

    • @Cecil. No the TFP does not have a DVD or CD player. It is not a “usual” laptop, but a tablet with a docking station. You could use a external DVD player with a USB connection to the TFP. And yes, the tablet has Bluetooth and has standard Polaris Office installed which allows you to read and edit documents. But you could read all your questions in the specifications of the Prime.

  149. Hi, does anyone knows how to transfer pictures from the SD card (external memory) into the internal memory of the Eee Pad Transformer Prime??? and vice versa…
    Also where do I go to access my USB or SD card, that is connected to the Eee Pad & keyboard ?

    • Hi there is a file explorer on the Prime, that is very easy to move files from the sdd to the external SD card or USB.

  150. Hi, does anyone knows how to transfer pictures from the SD card (external memory) into the internal memory of the Eee Pad Transformer Prime??? and vice versa…
    Also where do I go to access my USB or SD card, that is connected to the Eee Pad & keyboard ?

  153. Just purchased asus transformer prime! LOVE LOVE LOVE> however, how do i manage the sd storage and move apps, pics etc to the sd from the internal storage?? or when i download an app can i choose to save it to the sd? Otherwise I am head over hills in love with this tablet…

    • The Prime has a file explorer on board where you can manage files, cut/copy and paste. Apps are local on the SSD though, we haven’t moved anything other than files… that might be a bootloader opportunity though.

  154. hi ritchie..one of the best reviews.love the prime.

    i have a query..can we use the samsung note 10.1 stylus on the prime..

    • Thank you! I’ve tried the smaller Note’s stylus and the Prime doesn’t detect it at all, so I’d say that would be the same for the 10.1 as well.

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