Asus EeePad Transformer With Keyboard

Important note: since the optional keyboard and dock effectively turns this tablet into a brand new digital device, we've decided to publish two separate reviews of the EeePad Transformer—one for the tablet only and one for the tablet plus keyboard combo. This is the review of the tablet with its keyboard, so don't forget to check out the Asus EeePad Transformer Tablet review too.

For information about the specs and performances of the tablets itself, please see or full review of the EeePad Transformer tablet without keyboard. The keyboard only changes the product's design, handling, connections and battery life, all of which is outlined below. 


The Asus EeePad Transformer and keyboard dock are sold as a bundle for around £450 (or you can pick up the tablet alone for approximately £380 and the keyboard dock for around £100). The Transformer is a new approach to the touchscreen tablet. In fact, we'd say it's verging on pioneering, as it could send shockwaves through the world of both touchscreen tablets and netbook computers.


The dock has the same proprietary connection as the tablet, so once the tablet's hooked up, you can plug in the keyboard dock to charge both parts at once. This port can also be used to connect the Transformer to a computer to sync content.

The keyboard dock features an MMC/SD/SDHC memory card slot, making the EeePad Transformer and the Acer Iconia Tab A500 the only tablets to come with this very handy connection at present.


That's not all though, as the keyboard has two USB 2.0 ports, which make up for the tablet's lack of mini, micro or standard USB connectivity. Plus, the keyboard is loaded with the same battery as the tablet, which effectively doubles the product's overall battery life (see inset).

Design & Handling

The Asus keyboard dock is just as well made as the tablet itself. Once the two parts are connected, the device is supposed to look like and handle like a netbook (or the netbook of the future, in any case), and we actually found it quite convincing. The dock has the same textured finish and coloured casing as the EeePad tablet, helping the products blend together seamlessly, and the whole thing feels very sturdy and reassuringly well built.

A hinged connection bar flips out of the top of the keyboard, into which you slot the tablet. The tablet is held firmly and securely in position and you'll hear a little click when it's correctly attached. There's a little latch on the left of the open Eee(Net)Pad that releases the tablet when you want to take it out again.


One minor but slightly irritating thing we noticed is that the hinge is a little too stiff. So with the tablet connected, you can't open the netbook-style product with just one hand. We found that you need to take hold of both parts and pull them apart to open the Transformer up. Another downside is that the tablet and keyboard combo is quite heavy, weighing over 1.3 kg, and it's quite thick too.

The keyboard itself is very good. All of the keys are responsive and are well-placed for natural typing. Asus clearly hasn't cut corners with its new concept either, as the keyboard features a whole load of shortcuts designed for use with the tablet, such as direct access to Google, to the tablet's homescreen, to the app menu, and keys for turning the touchscreen controls or touchpad on and off.

The product feels perfectly natural to use with a keyboard even if, in theory, the tablet-oriented Honeycomb OS isn't really designed for netbook-type operation. So where Acer missed a trick with its W500 Windows 7 tablet with keyboard, Asus has got things spot-on with a device that lends itself easily to both types of use.
All in all, the Asus EeePad Transformer is a nice netbook that turns into a tablet on demand, and vice versa. The keyboard is well designed and made, and its finish matches the tablet down to a tee, turning the EeePad Transformer into fully functional machine with a monster battery life. The product's versatile 'all-rounder' qualities largely make up for the fact that the tablet is quite unexceptional on its own.

The weight of the tablet and keyboard combo could be problematic, but the idea is certainly spot-on. Asus clearly wanted to stand out from the crowd with a genuinely different product and the firm has succeeded not only in doing that but also in doing it well. The hybrid tablet could have a very bright future ahead of it!