Asus Eee PC Transformer hands on

Ever since Apple launched the first iPad, other manufacturers have been playing catchup. The Eee PC Transformer is a unique rival from Asus, and in lots of ways this Android-based tablet is actually better than the Apple iPad 2. Read on for our first impressions.

Take the Eee PC Transformer out of its box, and the most obvious thing about it is the quality. Gone are the days when the Eee PC brand represented the low quality and cheap-as-chip end of the market, with an aluminium case and glass screen that can easily match the iPad 2 for quality.

The back of the Eee PC Transformer is plastic, granted, but textured material is robust, and hides scratches and scuffs a lot better than its shiny rival. It’s the design of the Transformer that’s the real star of the show, however, with an accompanying keyboard that turns this tablet into a mini laptop.
At the back of the keyboard, there’s a cradle for the tablet section of the Transformer. It looks a bit bulky in isolation, but slip the tablet into the cradle and it all falls in place perfectly, with a tough aluminium hinge and locking mechanism that smacks of quality.

The keyboard is excellent considering the compact size, with the palm rest and keyboard surround made out of metal, and a textured plastic back – just like the tablet itself. All-in-all, the design works perfectly – either as a stand-alone tablet, or as a compact laptop.