ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700T) Review
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 25, 2012 3:00 AM ESTFinal Words
The Transformer Pad Infinity addresses everything we didn't like about the Transformer Prime. Both WiFi and GPS performance are much improved, the latter to the point of actual usability. The display is also appreciably better thanks to its very high panel resolution and wonderful brightness/contrast. ASUS completes the package with an increase in SoC performance and memory bandwidth, ensuring the Infinity maintains the UI performance and behavior of the Prime despite the higher resolution display.
Portability and form factor are just as good as always. Despite moving to a higher resolution panel, device thickness increased by no more than 0.1mm. There's no increase in battery capacity as a result, which does hurt battery life. Video playback is still fine at over 10 hours, it's really the general use and 3D workloads that take the biggest hit. By keeping the form factor constant, however, ASUS guarantees the Infinity is just as easy to port around as its predecessors. Although the dock is nice, there's something about just carrying around an ultra thin, ultra light tablet that feels so comfortable.
While improved features and higher resolutions are nice, it's equally as important that ASUS delivers all of this without an increase in price. The Infinity was originally talked about as a $599+ device, but falling panel costs and increased competitive pressure dictated that $499 would be the actual starting point. Availability isn't scheduled until mid-July however, which actually brings us to our only issue with the Infinity: it doesn't run Windows 8.
Android does quite well as a tablet and smartphone OS, but it seems to fall short as a notebook OS. To really use the Infinity to its potential is to use it in combination with the Transformer Dock. While docked, the Infinity is good, but I suspect the overall experience with Windows 8 will just be better. Current estimates put Windows 8 based tablets out in early Q4, which isn't all that far away from the July 16th launch week for the Infinity.
If you're a fan of Android tablets, the Transformer Pad Infinity will likely be one of the best options when it arrives. You get a good, thin, tablet form factor with a nice high resolution display and functional WiFi/GPS. But if you're really interested in having a tablet that can really perform as a notebook, you may want to wait for the ASUS Tablet 600, 810 and Transformer Book. The hybrid tablet/notebook market is one that Windows 8 seems perfectly suited for, and ASUS now has a lot of experience under its belt in building devices for that market. When those two meet, I suspect only good things will happen.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
112 Comments
View All Comments
3DoubleD - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
As someone who owns and uses an ASUS Transformer Prime daily (both with and without the dock), I can certainly attest to the fact that I DO like and NEED mobile devices.Having used a tablet both alone and with a real docking keyboard I can truely say that as a productivity device, the Surface tablet is a pure gimmick unless you wrapped some bulky case around it so that you could use it on your lap. Go ahead and sit next to me on a bus/train and we'll type a long document out, edit a spreadsheet, even just browse the web while chatting with friends... I'll get twice as much done as you and I won't want to pull my hair out. If that wasn't enough, I'll also almost have twice as much battery life as you.
Yes, the softcover keyboad looks really innovative... but that doesn't make it a great idea! ASUS nailed it with the Transformer idea. If only they would ramp production up and increase availability and marketing, it's a great device.
archer75 - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
There are keyboard cases for the ipad too. How is that any different? You don't have to use the keyboard case with surface either. It's really no different in that regard.hp79 - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
For media consumption they are about the same, or ipad is maybe better in that becuase of tons of apps. But if want to do real work, Surface with Windows RT comes with Office so it will be more useful than a dumb ipad.I don't think even any Android tablet will be any better because a lot of the interface is still sluggish. I have a Exynos dual core equipped Galaxy Note with latest ICS and I can feel the Wacom pen is lagging and unnatural when writing. Papyrus is a app that I use since it's much lighter than Snote, but I'm still not satisfied. Even with a quad core, I feel that Android has something just not right that makes it feel sluggish on everything even though it's not suppose to be.
I'm waiting for the Surface with Windows 8 Pro. I'm a long time tablet PC user, and I know why I need it. Yes, this can replace a laptop/Ultrabook any day. At least that how I felt with having Samsung Series 7 Slate ($1300) for 5 months. If it didn't have build quality issues, I would have kept it. I'm hoping Surface has much better build quality like they mention in the video.
UpSpin - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
define surface. There are two types. Type one is running Win 8 on Intel hardware, this will be twice as expensive as the TF700 and will lack finger friendly apps. You can buy such a tablet right now already. If those tablets don't have a pen, there's absolutely no reason to take one over a more powerful Ultrabook.Type two is running Win RT on Qualcomm processors, incompatible with anything available right now. It not only lacks tablet apps the first year because it's a totally new platform, it also lacks powerful software you're used from Windows 7. Its hardware will be worse than iPad/Android tablets, its app selection non-existent at the beginning, its features a joke compared to Android.
archer75 - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
The development tools for windows 8 makes it very easy to make apps for x86 and ARM with the click of a button. Phone, tablet or desktop, all scaled correctly. There's a video out there where they demonstrate the tools. Also shows how windows 8 works as a tablet. If I hadn't watched that I might agree with you but after seeing that I feel windows 8 tablets will wipe the floor with android and ios. I'll see if I can dig up a link.UpSpin - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
With Android you write the app once, it works on phone, tablet, laptop, it works on x86 and ARM, even on Windows and Blackberrys, you don't have to recompile it either. If you digg deeper it will get more complicated, because then you have to code for two/three different platform two/three different UI, that's independet of the OS you use, this depends on the fact that a tablet has a large display compared to a smartphone. The same happens as soon as you use native code. If you write the app in Java only, no issues with Android. If you write with WinRT library, no issues either. But sometimes you need native code, then it's not that easy any longer, on both platforms.The biggest issue Win RT has, is, that it doesn't have apps in the beginning. And apps written with Win RT won't run on Win 7 machines, not even on WP7 devices. So no apps will be written before the release, because no user can use it.
The majority of people will also only upgrade to Win 8 with a new computer. I don't expect to see any large company to upgrade at all, because Win 8 doesn't offer them significant advantages compared to Win 7, not worth the trouble. So the userbase of WinRT compatible computers will be tiny.
Win 8 tablets will remain as expensive as Win 7 slates currently are and most likely more expensive than ultrabooks. So they aren't that attractive to buy. Win RT tablets will be similar priced to the iPad, but the lack of available apps, the lack of features in Win RT will slow down the sell rate.
So it can be successful, but it won't wipe the floor. Market share will slowly but steadily climb upwards, if, and only if, Android doesn't invade the Ultrabook/Desktop market, which is not that unlikely if you consider how many people and different companies develop apps for it and different hardware. Because Android is open source, it will also be the platform which gets the latest tech first, which is a big advantage.
Belard - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
Apple did it right... they started with a music player... then they attached a PHONE to it... so people can listen to their music.(The MP3 market has been killed by todays phones)
Then they released the iPad, which can use many or all apps made from the iPhone (or with adjustments).
Here, MS has NO MP3, no Phone market share... The people who buy a NEW Windows Phone today have NO OS upgrades beyond 7.8. OUCH! (I just helped a guy buy a Win7 phone - the price is right and he needed it now).
So todays WP7/Wiin7 software WILL not work on Win8RT tablets... there are very few Win8RT/MetroX86 apps out... yes it will grow.
But to a customer? Why pay the same or more for a sloppy platform that has less apps, LOWER resolution and slower CPU?
The stats on this NEW ASUS (which is quite nice) is still SLOWER than an iPad3. Less GPU, less CPU, less screen resolution. WOW!
I see consumers getting confused about which WIn8 tablet will allow what.
"Okay, if I buy the $500 RT tablet... I can't run everything? What does RT mean? Retard? Return Tablet? So is this a bait and switch in that I have to buy the $1000 version to run everything? But wait, it runs warmer, heavier and has 1/3rd the battery life? Why am I buying the $1000 version for? And none of them have a screen that compared to the iPad3?"
DeciusStrabo - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
You mean a tablet which doesn't yet exist (because there are no prototypes except the two (three if you count the crashing one) shown on stage, everything else were non-functioning dummy devices as Paul Thurrot confirmed) looks better than the one you can buy next month?tdawg - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
I'm love the idea of the Surface Pro. I get the tablet form factor I have now with my Transformer for entertainment / media consumption / web surfing on the couch, travel, the ability to experience the full web just like I can from my desktop, with full access to Hulu.com, comedycentral.com, etc, (where I don't get told that I can't view their web content because I'm using a web device they don't like), and the ability to install programs I own (Lightroom and such) and my work's VPN client so I can clip a keyboard to the tablet and login to work to take care of something from home.I like my transformer, but the prospect of a real desktop OS in this form factor is a huge step forward. The only thing that would get me to consider upgrading to another Android tablet would be a move to a full desktop OS so I'm not limited by browser user agents or device classifications by content providers.
french toast - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
No apps on day one, but you can bet your ass that will change rather rapidly, I guarantee that w8 apps will obliterate android apps in complexity and scope.Don't forget you can use all x86 apps from windows 7 on the pro, and the rt may well have a lower res screen...bit other will consume less power..and have the ability to play more complex games on that screen.
The added battery is a nice feature for the prime, however it adds weight and android is a smartphone os on a tablet....windows 8 is going to be so much more than that.