Asus Transformer Book T100 quick-read review: A hybrid worth recommending

Mihir Patkar | Mumbai | Updated: Mar 18 2014, 09:17 IST

Transformer Book T100 retails at Rs 32,000 for the 32GB version

SummaryNot the best laptop, Not the best tablet, but the most convenient device a travelling professional can have in the suitcase.

We have already discussed that laptop-tablet hybrids are the future of computing but not the present because there is no platform which works perfectly as a tablet and as a laptop. But the Asus Transformer Book T100 has a different proposition: price.

Price: Rs 32,000

Design: Some devices are more about form than functionality, but that�s not the T100. It�s thick, the plastic build belies its inexpensive price tag, and the buttons don�t inspire any confidence�in fact, one of them gave away in the course of our test. Still, it�ll get the job done and isn�t too heavy either, so you won�t mind carrying it around.

Screen: Laptops generally don�t have great viewing angles on their screens, but since this is a tablet as well, you can position it however you want and still see pixels without any discolouration. The touchscreen registers input well and you won�t have any complaints with it.

Performance: The Transformer Book T100 isn�t in the same class as the Intel Core i3-packing laptops in this price range, but those don�t snap off to become a tablet either. For a convertible, the T100 is pretty good and will give the kind of performance you can expect from a high-end netbook or a low-end laptop. But if you want to work on Photoshop or play some high-def games smoothly, this isn�t the device for you. Its big shortcoming, though, is in multi-tasking. Run Chrome and open up 15-20 tabs, and in half an hour, the T100 will be crawling and won�t keep up.

Memory: The 32GB of storage is best left for your Windows OS and any programs you need to install. There�s a microSD slot so you can throw in additional memory of 64GB, which is where you should store your media. But even then, that�s a total of less than 100GB. Not much for a laptop, but