I'm not trying to replicate the review from AnandTech because they a fantastic job from a comprehensive perspective. My experiences here are from a more average user.
I bought the T100 to replace my well aged Asus EEPC 1005HA netbook and my HP Touchpad. I have been using XP since January 2002 as my daily driver at home. Yes, I skipped over on upgrade opportunities for Vista, Window 7 and Windows 8. So once I decided to got to graduate school, I realized my netbook was too slow for note taking and my Touchpad lacked the full versatility I needed - even though it is a dual boot with Android Jellybean on it. I don't use my desktop as much when i am at home, unless it is to write papers, manage music on my phone or mess around with my Nexus phone. So I needed something that I could use as a tablet to browse while watching TV, type notes on in classes and to do paper outlines, and to compliment my WP8 models - the 8X and possibly a Lumia 925.
It was hard to find much info on the T100. previews were slim and up to 8.1 launch AnandTech was the only full preview out there. BestBuy USA wasn't going to carry this at launch, since they were pushing the Surface line in stores. So I did what any smart person in the computer world would to - got o Tgerdirect.com or negg.com to see if they had it. I got mine from newgg.com. I wanted the 64GB version because quite frankly, I have no intentions in upgrading for a while - I kept my Touchpad for 2 years, and will still use it because I love WebOS. I pay $400 for it - got the free shipping option and received it under 4 days - I'm in the NYC Metro Area.
Here are my impressions from the past 2 weeks + of ownership.
OS:
This is a big jump for me. I use my T100 mostly in Metro mode - that's why MSFT still sells the Surface as RT - but when using Windows 8, a lot of stuff in in I like. Love the split screen and task manager side bar. I like Charms so far. it is a curve learning the gestures, but they are useful so far. All in all, I like 8.1
Things to improve:
Don't like how the OS handles media on external storage. I've popped my 32 GB card in from the Lumia 810 I use and the music there doesn't show up easily in the Music app.
Improve the core apps, especially Xbox Music.
T100 itself
Pros:
- the screen is really nice. I think the Surface has a better screen, but you really cannot go wrong with this one if you use it mostly indoors and such. My apartment has great natural lighting too (I don't use curtains either) so the screen is still serviceable when you use it in direct light. For most people, they will enjoy using it. It isn't as harsh to look at if you were working late night and had the screen on as your only light in the room either.
- size and weight. I placed the T100 on top of my EEPC and the dimensions are roughly the same. Asus must be commended for making a serious upgrade from the EEPC line by keeping the dimensions similar but making it lighter. Yes, when docked, the combined T100 is lighter in weight than the EEPC. The tablet itself is pretty light. Not iPad Air light, but lighter than the Touchpad and my GF's Nexus 7 (2012 edition), maybe as light as my sister's iPad Mini (2012).
- battery life is long with this thing as stated in the reviews. Based on my usage, the only time I take the charger with my is to my GF's house.
- the keypad from an ascetics point of view, looks really nice. the keys are good enough if you are doing light typing for short stretches.
- WOW factor. I always get people's attention with it because it show it first docked with the keypad and when I undock it, people look at it very impressed.
- overall design is nice. wish the back was metal, but corners were cut here. nice to see they use that standard Transformer design pattern on the back
Cons:
- it takes a while to charge. 8 hours to charge initially, 4 hours to charge if you run the battery down completely.
- the supplied cable was too short. I use my Touchpad cable to charge because quite frankly, the output standard is the same and i'm drowning in cables at home already.
- wish that there was even a small battery in the dock. Yes, corners were cut to keep this thing $350-$400, but even a small battery would make a difference for someone who pushes their tablet in dock mode
- the keyboard isn't as nice as I would like it to be. I think my EEPC has a better keyboard ergonomically speaking. the keys were bigger and even though the spacing was tighter, because the keys were bigger you had less room to make errors. I know this is designed after the MacBook, but I guess I like the old school feel.
- not a fan of the trackpad. it is a bit too finicky for my taste. The EEPC still has a better trackpad. Yes, it is a secondary feature for most who will use the touchscreen - but for those who will turn the touchscreen off and use it more like a laptop, the trackpad is a little subpar.
- improve the microSD slot. I don't like how the card juts out a little bit. they could still make it a little more flush and make it still pop out easier on press.
Ways in which they could improve:
- add another USB port
- add a small battery in the dock (I don't think they will do that however)
- drop the 32GB version ( I know they won't do this either)
- address that Windows icon that's painted on the tablet. it does nothing, so why not just remove the actual windows button at the side, place the functionality in the spot where they have it, and just have a sensor that disables that button when you plug it into the dock?
- change the internal memory from eMMC to SSD to speed up transfer rates
- improve the keyboard in the dock
So is this a better buy than the Surface 2? It depends. The T100 has better out of the box value for money. So you get a lot more out of your one purchase. The Surface has better accessories. One can argue that for more causal type reading and watching movies, you get better viewing angles from adjust the kickstand on the Surface 2 than the T100 with the dock attached.
Sadly the Surface does have a better industrial design and screen than the T100. From what i have been able to use in the stores, the Touch cover with its bigger keys is really a better typing experience for me than the T100's current dock. If MSFT wanted to be killers here, i'd make the Surface run the 32bit version of Windows 8.1 and the Pro line run the 64bit version. Then come up with the 8" Surface and run THAT on RT for about $250-$300.
All in all, the T100 and the Dell Venue 8 Pro offer the best in their class in terms of value for money. I don't regret my purchase. Asus did the right thing by getting out of the RT business and upgrading the EEPC line with the T100. I am curious to see if they take the same aggressive approach with adding value for money I terms of new features to the T100 line with each upgrade as they have done with the Nexus 7 models so far.
I bought the T100 to replace my well aged Asus EEPC 1005HA netbook and my HP Touchpad. I have been using XP since January 2002 as my daily driver at home. Yes, I skipped over on upgrade opportunities for Vista, Window 7 and Windows 8. So once I decided to got to graduate school, I realized my netbook was too slow for note taking and my Touchpad lacked the full versatility I needed - even though it is a dual boot with Android Jellybean on it. I don't use my desktop as much when i am at home, unless it is to write papers, manage music on my phone or mess around with my Nexus phone. So I needed something that I could use as a tablet to browse while watching TV, type notes on in classes and to do paper outlines, and to compliment my WP8 models - the 8X and possibly a Lumia 925.
It was hard to find much info on the T100. previews were slim and up to 8.1 launch AnandTech was the only full preview out there. BestBuy USA wasn't going to carry this at launch, since they were pushing the Surface line in stores. So I did what any smart person in the computer world would to - got o Tgerdirect.com or negg.com to see if they had it. I got mine from newgg.com. I wanted the 64GB version because quite frankly, I have no intentions in upgrading for a while - I kept my Touchpad for 2 years, and will still use it because I love WebOS. I pay $400 for it - got the free shipping option and received it under 4 days - I'm in the NYC Metro Area.
Here are my impressions from the past 2 weeks + of ownership.
OS:
This is a big jump for me. I use my T100 mostly in Metro mode - that's why MSFT still sells the Surface as RT - but when using Windows 8, a lot of stuff in in I like. Love the split screen and task manager side bar. I like Charms so far. it is a curve learning the gestures, but they are useful so far. All in all, I like 8.1
Things to improve:
Don't like how the OS handles media on external storage. I've popped my 32 GB card in from the Lumia 810 I use and the music there doesn't show up easily in the Music app.
Improve the core apps, especially Xbox Music.
T100 itself
Pros:
- the screen is really nice. I think the Surface has a better screen, but you really cannot go wrong with this one if you use it mostly indoors and such. My apartment has great natural lighting too (I don't use curtains either) so the screen is still serviceable when you use it in direct light. For most people, they will enjoy using it. It isn't as harsh to look at if you were working late night and had the screen on as your only light in the room either.
- size and weight. I placed the T100 on top of my EEPC and the dimensions are roughly the same. Asus must be commended for making a serious upgrade from the EEPC line by keeping the dimensions similar but making it lighter. Yes, when docked, the combined T100 is lighter in weight than the EEPC. The tablet itself is pretty light. Not iPad Air light, but lighter than the Touchpad and my GF's Nexus 7 (2012 edition), maybe as light as my sister's iPad Mini (2012).
- battery life is long with this thing as stated in the reviews. Based on my usage, the only time I take the charger with my is to my GF's house.
- the keypad from an ascetics point of view, looks really nice. the keys are good enough if you are doing light typing for short stretches.
- WOW factor. I always get people's attention with it because it show it first docked with the keypad and when I undock it, people look at it very impressed.
- overall design is nice. wish the back was metal, but corners were cut here. nice to see they use that standard Transformer design pattern on the back
Cons:
- it takes a while to charge. 8 hours to charge initially, 4 hours to charge if you run the battery down completely.
- the supplied cable was too short. I use my Touchpad cable to charge because quite frankly, the output standard is the same and i'm drowning in cables at home already.
- wish that there was even a small battery in the dock. Yes, corners were cut to keep this thing $350-$400, but even a small battery would make a difference for someone who pushes their tablet in dock mode
- the keyboard isn't as nice as I would like it to be. I think my EEPC has a better keyboard ergonomically speaking. the keys were bigger and even though the spacing was tighter, because the keys were bigger you had less room to make errors. I know this is designed after the MacBook, but I guess I like the old school feel.
- not a fan of the trackpad. it is a bit too finicky for my taste. The EEPC still has a better trackpad. Yes, it is a secondary feature for most who will use the touchscreen - but for those who will turn the touchscreen off and use it more like a laptop, the trackpad is a little subpar.
- improve the microSD slot. I don't like how the card juts out a little bit. they could still make it a little more flush and make it still pop out easier on press.
Ways in which they could improve:
- add another USB port
- add a small battery in the dock (I don't think they will do that however)
- drop the 32GB version ( I know they won't do this either)
- address that Windows icon that's painted on the tablet. it does nothing, so why not just remove the actual windows button at the side, place the functionality in the spot where they have it, and just have a sensor that disables that button when you plug it into the dock?
- change the internal memory from eMMC to SSD to speed up transfer rates
- improve the keyboard in the dock
So is this a better buy than the Surface 2? It depends. The T100 has better out of the box value for money. So you get a lot more out of your one purchase. The Surface has better accessories. One can argue that for more causal type reading and watching movies, you get better viewing angles from adjust the kickstand on the Surface 2 than the T100 with the dock attached.
Sadly the Surface does have a better industrial design and screen than the T100. From what i have been able to use in the stores, the Touch cover with its bigger keys is really a better typing experience for me than the T100's current dock. If MSFT wanted to be killers here, i'd make the Surface run the 32bit version of Windows 8.1 and the Pro line run the 64bit version. Then come up with the 8" Surface and run THAT on RT for about $250-$300.
All in all, the T100 and the Dell Venue 8 Pro offer the best in their class in terms of value for money. I don't regret my purchase. Asus did the right thing by getting out of the RT business and upgrading the EEPC line with the T100. I am curious to see if they take the same aggressive approach with adding value for money I terms of new features to the T100 line with each upgrade as they have done with the Nexus 7 models so far.
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