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Asus takes aim at Surface Pro with its new Transformer 3 Pro

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Funky Papa

FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Computex continues to be Asus' runway.

Straight from the PR:

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro — The World’s Most Versatile PC

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is a 2-in-1 PC that combines unrivalled performance with incredible portability to create the ultimate mobile device for work and play. Precision crafted from aluminum, ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is only 8.35mm thin, yet has incredible structural strength and rigidity. ASUS Transformer 3 Pro has diamond-cut detailing that accentuates its elegant design, and it is available in gorgeous Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray color options.

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro has an integrated metal kickstand with a stepless hinge that lets users set the device at almost any viewing angle up to 170°. The included ASUS Transformer Cover Keyboard is a backlit keyboard that provides laptop-grade 1.4mm key travel for a comfortable typing experience and is available in four attractive colors — Stone, Charcoal, Taupe, and Amber — that perfectly complement the device. ASUS Transformer 3 Pro has a beautiful 12.6-inch display with a resolution of 2880 by 1920 and a 275ppi pixel density for pin-sharp, detailed images as well and a gamut of 121% sRGB color space for rich, vibrant colors. Dual front stereo speakers with audio by Harman Kardon provide spacious, defined sound for incredible listening experiences.

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and has up to a 1TB PCIe x4 SSD and 16GB of 2133MHz RAM for the ultimate performance. Its versatile, any-way-up USB Type-C connector supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices at speeds up to 10Gbps, and Thunderbolt™ 3 provides unbelievably fast 40Gbps data transfers and support for dual external 4K UHD displays. ASUS Transformer 3 Pro also comes with USB 3.0 and HDMI ports for convenient connectivity. A 13MP rear camera lets users capture high-resolution photos and videos, and a front-facing camera with Windows Hello facial recognition enables users to conveniently log in with just a quick glance.

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is expandable with a range of accessories that extend its functionality and performance, giving users a new level of flexibility and convenience from a mobile device. ASUS Pen is a beautifully crafted writing and drawing utensil that offers 1024 levels of precision for completely natural note taking and sketching experiences with a high degree of control. Users can also capture photos with ASUS Transformer 3 Pro’s high-resolution camera and annotate them directly with ASUS Pen. ASUS Universal Dock is a hub that provides a full range connectivity ports, including USB-C 3.1, USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, RJ45 LAN, and a 3-in-1 SD card reader. ASUS Audio Pod is an entertainment accessory that includes four powerful speakers to deliver amazing 360° virtual 5.1-channel surround sound and with rich, defined bass. ROG XG Station 2 is an external graphics card dock that gives ASUS Transformer 3 Pro desktop-grade graphics performance, turning it into a VR-ready gaming powerhouse.

Device:

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Accesories:


Moving the card reader to the I/O dock seems like a bit of a (very) dumb move, but it looks decent. Starts at $999.

Edit: Windows Central's hands-on article and Asus' promo video.
 

Funky Papa

FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Is their a price yet?

Starts at $999 per Anandtech, whatever that means.

JxuFpIb.png


There's also a cheaper Transformer 3 and a Transformer Mini.

ASUS Transformer 3 — The Mobile PC, Redefined

ASUS Transformer 3 is an ultra-slim and compact 2-in-1 PC that provides users with the ultimate mobility, total convenience, and amazing expandability. Precision crafted from aluminum, ASUS Transformer 3 weighs just 695g, is only 6.9mm thin, and has smaller dimensions than a sheet of A4 paper. Its compact and elegant design is accentuated by diamond-cut edges and an exquisite spun-metal finish. Equipped with the detachable ASUS Transformer Sleeve Keyboard that has 1.4mm key travel, an integral 2-position display stand, and a glass-covered precision touchpad, ASUS Transformer 3 provides comfortable typing and smooth, accurate input for the best productivity and creativity experiences. ASUS Transformer 3 is available in gorgeous Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray color options. The ASUS Transformer Sleeve Keyboard is available in four attractive colors — Stone, Charcoal, Taupe, and Amber — that perfectly complement ASUS Transformer 3.

ASUS Transformer 3 has a beautiful 12.6-inch display with a resolution of 2880 by 1920 and a 275ppi pixel density for pin-sharp, detailed images, as well as 450cd/m2 brightness and a gamut of 121% sRGB color space for rich, vibrant colors. An ultra-thin bezel provides an 80% screen-to-body ratio, maximizing the display area while keeping the device compact and highly portable. ASUS Transformer 3 delivers enhanced video performance with ASUS Tru2Life Video technology, which optimizes every pixel in each frame before it is displayed, resulting in superior contrast and clarity for the best, most realistic video quality.

ASUS Transformer 3 contains four high-quality speakers with audio by Harman Kardon. Each speaker is powered by a smart amplifier to deliver rich, detailed, and immersive sound, even at loud volumes. ASUS Transformer 3 automatically adjusts the direction of the sound depending on the orientation of the device, ensuring users will always enjoy optimum audio quality

ASUS Transformer 3 is powered by 7th Gen Intel Core processors and has up to a 512GB SSD and up to 8GB RAM that provides fast performance for work and play. Its versatile, any-way-up USB Type-C connector supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices at speeds up to 10Gbps, and Thunderbolt™ 3 provides unbelievably fast 40Gbps data transfers and support for dual external 4K UHD displays. A built-in fingerprint reader and Windows Hello lets users sign in to and unlock ASUS Transformer 3 quickly and securely without having to type their password or PIN. ASUS Transformer 3 also includes a 13MP camera for capturing high-resolution photos and videos.

ASUS Transformer 3 is expandable with a range of accessories — including ASUS Pen, ASUS Universal Dock, ASUS Audio Pod, and ROG XG Station 2 — that extend its functionality and performance, giving users a new level of flexibility and convenience from a mobile device.

ASUS Transformer Mini

ASUS Transformer Mini is the world's lightest 2-in-1 PC. With a premium magnesium-aluminum alloy design, ASUS Transformer Mini weighs just 790g with the keyboard attached and only 530g as a tablet and is only 8.2mm thin. ASUS Transformer Mini features a 10.1-inch display with 400cd/m2 brightness and ASUS TruVivid display technology that reduces reflections for a rich, vibrant picture in all lighting conditions. ASUS Transformer Mini also delivers enhanced video performance with ASUS Tru2Life video technology, which optimizes every pixel in each frame before it is displayed, resulting in superior contrast and clarity for the best, most realistic video quality. ASUS Transformer Mini is equipped with a USB port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and provides up to 11 hours of battery life.

ASUS Transformer Mini has an integrated kickstand with a patented stepless Smart Hinge design that opens up to 170°, letting users adjust the display to almost any viewing angle. Its detachable ergonomic keyboard has 1.5mm key travel and an integrated palm rest for a comfortable typing experience. ASUS Transformer Mini provides a complete Windows 10 experience with features including Office Mobile, Cortana, and Windows Hello, which lets users sign in to and unlock ASUS Transformer Mini with its built-in Instant ID fingerprint reader.

The brand-new ASUS Quick Launch makes using ASUS Transformer Mini more convenient and efficient with simple on-screen gestures that enable users to quickly launch apps, wake ASUS Transformer Mini, and put it into sleep mode. ZenSync smartphone integration lets users reply to text messages, copy and paste text, and transfer files to ASUS Transformer Mini. Additionally, one year of free, unlimited ASUS WebStorage comes included with ASUS Transformer Mini, so users can access all of their files anywhere for convenient productivity on the go.

ASUS Transformer Mini is available in multiple attractive tablet and keyboard color combinations, including a Quartz Gray tablet and keyboard, and a Pearl White tablet with an Amber, Mint Green, or Icicle Gold keyboard.

 

bobbytkc

ADD New Gen Gamer
The dock makes it very attractive in my opinion, you can put any graphics card of the right size in it and you just plug it into USB-C.
 
eh, i will never buy something with a kickstand, just way to flimsy and not nearly as good as a proper adjustable notebook.
 

toohectic

Member
Damn, they don't give a damn about copying other designs. Three products announced today... one with the same design as a Surface Pro, one looking like an iPad Pro, and one matching the MacBook.
 
Moving the card reader to the I/O dock seems like a bit of a (very) dumb move,

Looks like it has a microSD slot on the device itself. Should be enough.

I kinda want it because with the external GPU it could replace my old Surface and desktop. Combined price will probably prevent me from getting it. Can Asus make a more ugly GPU enclosure? Hopefully the Razer works as well.
 

Funky Papa

FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Looks like it has a microSD slot on the device itself. Should be enough.

Sadly, I use a proper camera and need something with an SD slot to access the files, so this is not an option for me :(

VGA port on the dock? really? At that price, I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't just get a Surface Pro 4 really.
As tragic as it is, VGA is still common in corporate due to the prevalence of old ass projectors.
 

TheSeks

Blinded by the luminous glory that is David Bowie's physical manifestation.
Starts at $999.

Jesus. Probably because of the i7, but man someone needs to copy the Surface keyboard-ripping-off laptop/tablet hybrid style and do it for a "netbook" format already. That should be the future of laptops, IMO.
 

Paganmoon

Member
Sadly, I use a proper camera and need something with an SD slot to access the files, so this is not an option for me :(


As tragic as it is, VGA is still common in corporate due to the prevalence of old ass projectors.

Yeah, but... this is on the damned dock. Not on the Laptop, where it usually is, not on a USB dongle for tablets, it's on the dock, the one you use when at your desk, connected to your screens. Who in their right mind uses VGA for their work screen?

Minimum 2DP/DVI or bust on the dock.
 

gamz

Member
Yeah, but... this is on the damned dock. Not on the Laptop, where it usually is, not on a USB dongle for tablets, it's on the dock, the one you use when at your desk, connected to your screens. Who in their right mind uses VGA for their work screen?

Minimum 2DP/DVI or bust on the dock.

In the corp world, a ton. It's probably still the most common way to connect your monitor.
 

bobbytkc

ADD New Gen Gamer
Jesus. Probably because of the i7, but man someone needs to copy the Surface keyboard-ripping-off laptop/tablet hybrid style and do it for a "netbook" format already. That should be the future of laptops, IMO.

They did announce cheaper devices. There is a transformer mini. This thread is just about the pro, which is the high end device with an i7. Competitively priced imo.
 

Paganmoon

Member
This makes zero sense.

Not the end-user who purchases and installs the screens and computers. It's IT.

Nothing to do with tech. It's the bottom line.

In all the companies I've worked at, computers get replaced at intervals, max 5 years apart, usually 3 years for laptops. Monitors nowdays hardly even come with VGA cables. So I'm chalking it to IT/Tech just reusing cables when they're installing devices and setting up new monitors. Much easier to use the cables already there, specially if they're already sort of hidden.
 

Futureman

Member
I've always said my rMBP was my favorite piece of tech but my SP4 is right up there.

This looks so similar to my SP4. What exactly is the differentiating features??
 
Not the end-user who purchases and installs the screens and computers. It's IT.



In all the companies I've worked at, computers get replaced at intervals, max 5 years apart, usually 3 years for laptops. Monitors nowdays hardly even come with VGA cables. So I'm chalking it to IT/Tech just reusing cables when they're installing devices and setting up new monitors. Much easier to use the cables already there, specially if they're already sort of hidden.

IT usually works on a budget that doesn't allow for wily-nily peripheral replacement. Most businesses are running Windows 7 still. HDMI/DVI adds what, exactly?
 

LQX

Member
I don't get how we do not yet have a Surface Pro or an alternative that starts at $599 or below. I figured Core M would allow for cheaper models but MS seem to have driven up prices by pricing the Surface Pro so high.
 

Futureman

Member
I don't get how we do not yet have a Surface Pro or an alternative that starts at $599 or below. I figured Core M would allow for cheaper models but MS seem to have driven up prices by pricing the Surface Pro so high.

I'm almost certain you could get a Surface Pro 3 for $600 now.
 

Hilbert

Deep into his 30th decade
I am using a VGA cable for my monitor here at work right now...What exactly is the sin here?
 
Is the pen AES, or EMR?

I don't get how we do not yet have a Surface Pro or an alternative that starts at $599 or below. I figured Core M would allow for cheaper models but MS seem to have driven up prices by pricing the Surface Pro so high.

Bought a Surface Pro 2 on Amazon a couple of weeks ago for like 300 bucks
 

Funky Papa

FUNK-Y-PPA-4
You could also just buy microSD cards with SD-adapters, and use them in your camera and without the adapter in your (not-)Surface.

Well, the general idea would be not having to purchase extra stuff such as USB SD card readers or microSD to SD adaptors since they get lost or damaged quite easily.

Then there's the issue of having to purchase new and costly microSD cards that are fully compatible with RAW requirements in terms of speed. Cheap ones won't cut it.
 
Do ASUS tablets still have the issue of ghost clicking on the corner of the screen? If not then this might be something that I'm interested in.
 

Obi

Neo Member
Wow! I can't wait to hear if the pen tech is any good on this. It's pretty much exactly what I've been looking for to replace my old iPad 3.

It's a shame ASUS is the one making it though. I've never been a fan of their build quality. I bought and returned a few of the original Transformer, until I gave up a settled on an iPad.
 

Future

Member
Hah that looks exactly like a surface.

Good. Getting closer to the ultimate designed device IMO. External graphics cards when docked was one of the things I was waiting for before trying to upgrade my SP3 . USB 3 is fucking fantastic and needed

Like the SP you need real world feedback: heat dissipation, fan noise, throttling, etc. but it looks fantastic. I wish every make would design this so they could all globally improve. Microsoft is too slow and fucks their shit up too much
 

ksdixon

Member
Has anyone made a surface pro-like device with a USB port and hardware kickstand on tablet body, but
which has a surface book-like detachable 'hard' keyboard (possibly with extra battery and gpu in it)? I feel like that is the missing SKU that no one is hitting.
 

RayStorm

Member
Well, the general idea would be not having to purchase extra stuff such as USB SD card readers or microSD to SD adaptors since they get lost or damaged quite easily.

Then there's the issue of having to purchase new and costly microSD cards that are fully compatible with RAW requirements in terms of speed. Cheap ones won't cut it.

Obviously results may vary, but in more than two years that I have been using microSD cars instead of full size SD cards I have yet to lose/damage anything. But I guess I was in the fortunate situation of upgrading my SD cards anyway to bigger and faster ones, so buying microSD instead of regular was of little additional cost to me. That being said, I would argue in the grand scheme of things spending ~35€ for an 64gb/80+MB write speed microSD card is not a large expense, considering the benefits and lack of full size SD card readers in tablets.
 

harSon

Banned
They're disgustingly shameless with that 1:1 copy lmao

The GPU box is nice though. I wish it weren't so GAMER looking....
 
that Type-C charger ruins it

the Surface's magnetic charger is a #gamechanger

but that 12.6" screen is godlike, makes the surface pro 4 feel like a little baby tablet
 
Once these things have replaceable batteries/hard drives I'll buy another. After my last experience with a surface pro I'm not trusting spending $1000+ on one device when if something with the battery or hard drive goes wrong outside your warranty you're screwed or have to spend $300+ on a replacement since its nearly impossible to open the thing up and replace the battery yourself.
 
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