What's good
- Uses full version of Windows 8 operating system
- Comes with Microsoft Office Home & Student pre-installed
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
What's bad
- Keyboard dock lacks extra battery
- Screen resolution is quite limited
- Lacks a rear camera
The Asus Transformer Book T100 is only one of several tablets announced and released with the all-new Microsoft Windows 8.1 tablet OS. It doesn’t outshine many others in its category but it does have a number of interesting features that make it at least worth a look, if not an outright purchase.
In a review that was first published on Tablet News, James A. classified the Transformer Book T100 as a pretty good machine, calling it “a netbook replacement with some punch and excellent battery.” With up to 11 solid hours of Wi-Fi surfing and 14 days of standby time, that’s a reasonably fair assessment. The T100 achieves this with its 31WHr battery which comes built-in -- handy because its keyboard dock lacks an extra battery.
Speaking of which, it seems that this particular accessory may not be up to Asus standards, at least according to some reviewers like Dan Gardiner of APC. He complains that the keyboard keys are “quite small” while the trackpad button was simply “quite stiff and hollow-sounding when pressed.” When you take the T100’s low price into account, though, you’ll begin to understand why these kinds of snags are present in the first place.
The T100 isn’t supposed to be a bleeding edge gadget. It’s merely an entry-level model that relies on the latest version of Windows and a keyboard accessory to function as a full-fledged laptop. As Matt Egan of PC Advisor puts it, it’s more like an “updated netbook” than anything else, and that it would be far too easy to spend more for less with other Windows tablet alternatives.
Overall, this is an attractive tablet. It ticks all the right boxes and at the same time, doesn't cost an arm and a leg. As Tim Schiesser of TechSpot concludes, it ought to be “appealing to students and other consumers on a budget, who are looking for something a little more versatile than an Android tablet or iPad, but don’t have the cash to drop on a higher-end convertible.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- tgadmin, TabletPCReviewThere may be a large number of convertible devices, instigated by Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, but The Transformer Book T100 sets itself apart with solid design, reasonable performance, and a low price. Furthermore, it is almost certain we will be seeing more of these 2-in-1 notebooks with detachable...
- Tim Schiesser, TechSpotAsus definitely isn’t attempting to push fancy specs, high-resolution displays or new and innovative features with the Transformer Book T100. Instead, it’s positioned as an entry-level tablet running full Windows 8.1, with access to the desktop and traditional apps, that can be converted...
- James A., Tablet NewsFinally we give the ASUS Transformer Book T100TA an 8.3 out of 10 for design, a 9 for hardware and an 8.5 out of 10 for OS and UI. The final grade is 8.6 out of 10 for this device, rounded up to 9 out of 10, courtesy of the good price. This is a pretty good machine, a netbook replacement with some p...
- Dan Gardiner, APCWe weren’t quite as enamoured with the T100’s build quality — while the tablet itself is quite solid, it’s still a little plasticky overall and the power and volume buttons are a tad ephemeral and wobbly to the touch. The included keyboard dock is also a bit less impressive t...
- Matt Egan, Tech AdvisorThis is not an iPad killer, or even a rival to the Surface Pro 2. But at £349 it is a compelling deal. The Asus Transformer Book T100T is a compact device that offers true functionality and decent performance. And it is a truly portable office PC. Much more updated netbook than desirable gadge...
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