The Asus Transformer AiO will meet your needs, no matter which platform you chose. That’s because it’s not only a Windows 8 computer, but also an Android tablet. All in an 18.4 inch package.
Introducing the Asus Transformer AiO (All in One)
Contents
This is really two computers in one. On the Windows 8 side, you get your choice of a Core i3 / i5 / i7 processor, and up to a 2TB SATA drive. A 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT730 GPU powers the 18.4 inch touch screen IPS display. Also Housed in the docking station is a DVD-RW optical drive, 5 total USB ports (4 are 3.0), an SD card slot and Bluetooth 3.0.
But wait, that’s not all.
Undock and you get a full fledged Android tablet running Android 4.1. Weighing in at just over 5 pounds, you won’t be one-handing this beast while reading your favorite book. The tablet does have a kickstand however, so setting it on a table to watch a movie is a breeze. You’ll get about 5 hours of battery life when undocked.
Easy Switching
When docked, you can switch from Android to Windows 8 using a button on the side of the monitor/tablet. When undocked, you can use the tablet as a Windows 8 touch device by basically connecting to the docking station. The Windows 8 dock will stream the screen to the tablet. Think of it as screen sharing.
We have seen smartphones getting bigger screens, and tablets are trending towards smaller 7-8 inch displays. I’m not sure where the AiO fits in. On one hand, it’s a fairly impressive Windows 8 machine. On the other hand it’s a little too big for an Android tablet; or any tablet for that matter.
Price and Release Date
The Asus Transformer AiO will start at $1,299, and expected to be available in North America early second quarter.
What do you think, does Asus have a winning combination here?