Monoblock asus transformer aio p1801 reviews. Unreal Asus Transformer AiO P1801. Computer or tablet? Personal impressions of work

When purchasing a flash drive, many people ask the question: “how to choose the right flash drive.” Of course, choosing a flash drive is not so difficult if you know exactly for what purpose it is being purchased. In this article I will try to give a complete answer to the question posed. I decided to write only about what to look for when buying.

A flash drive (USB drive) is a drive designed for storing and transferring information. The flash drive works very simply without batteries. You just need to connect it to USB port Your PC.

1. Flash drive interface

3. Housing material

4. Data transfer rate

6. Password protection

Conclusion

Good afternoon, my dear friends. In today's article I want to talk about how to choose the right mouse pad. When buying a rug, many people do not attach any importance to this. But as it turned out, special attention needs to be paid to this point, because... The mat determines one of the indicators of comfort while working at a PC. For an avid gamer, choosing a rug is a completely different story. Let's look at what types of mouse pads have been invented today.

Mat options

And now I would like to talk about each type in more detail.

1. First I want to consider three options at once: plastic, aluminum and glass. These rugs are very popular among gamers. For example, plastic mats are easier to find on sale. The mouse glides quickly and accurately on these mats. And most importantly, these mouse pads are suitable for both laser and optical mice. Aluminum and glass mats will be a little harder to find. Yes, and they will cost a lot. True, there is a reason for this - they will serve for a very long time. These types of rugs have minor flaws. Many people say that they rustle when operating and are a little cool to the touch, which may cause discomfort for some users.

2. Rubberized (rag) mats have soft sliding, but the accuracy of their movements is worse. For ordinary users such a rug will be just right. And they are much cheaper than the previous ones.

3. Double-sided mouse pads, in my opinion, are a very interesting type of mouse pad. As the name suggests, these rugs have two sides. Typically, one side is high-speed and the other is high-precision. It happens that each side is designed for a specific game.

4. Helium mats have a silicone cushion. She supposedly supports the hand and relieves tension from it. For me personally, they turned out to be the most inconvenient. According to their intended purpose, they are designed for office workers, since they sit at the computer all day long. These mats are not suitable for casual users and gamers. The mouse glides very poorly on the surface of such mouse pads, and their accuracy is not the best.

Mat sizes

Rugs design

This is where I want to end the article. On my own behalf I wish to do you right choice and be happy with it.
For anyone who doesn’t have a mouse or wants to replace it with another one, I advise you to look at the article:.

Monoblocks Microsoft replenished new model monoblock called Surface Studio. Microsoft recently presented its new product at an exhibition in New York.

Note! I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago where I reviewed the Surface all-in-one. This monoblock was presented earlier. To view the article, click on.

Design

Note! The display resolution of 4500x3000 pixels corresponds to 13.5 million pixels. This is 63% more than 4K resolution.

Note! For people of creative professions, I advise you to look at the article where I reviewed all-in-one computers with similar functionality. Click on the highlighted one: .

Note! By the way, Microsoft has another amazing candy bar. To find out about it, go to.

Specifications

From the periphery, I note the following: 4 USB ports, Mini-Display Port connector, Ethernet network port, card-reader, 3.5 mm audio jack, 1080p webcam, 2 microphones, 2.1 Dolby Audio Premium audio system, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The candy bar also supports Xbox wireless controllers.

Price

OCZ demonstrated the new VX 500 SSD drives. These drives will be equipped with a Serial ATA 3.0 interface and are made in a 2.5-inch form factor.

Note! Anyone interested in how SSD drives work and how long they last can read in an article I wrote earlier:.

The number of input/output operations per second (IOPS) with data blocks of 4 KB in size can reach 92,000 when reading, and 65,000 when writing (this is all at random).
The thickness of OCZ VX 500 drives will be 7 mm. This will allow them to be used in ultrabooks.

The prices of the new products will be as follows: 128 GB - $64, 256 GB - $93, 512 GB - $153, 1 TB - $337. I think in Russia they will cost more.

Lenovo presented its new gaming all-in-one IdeaCentre Y910 at Gamescom 2016.

Note! Previously, I wrote an article where I already considered gaming monoblocks different manufacturers. This article can be viewed by clicking on this one.

The monoblock will have several configurations. The maximum configuration includes a 6 processor Intel generation Core i7, volume hard drive up to 2 TB or 256 GB. Volume RAM equal to 32 GB DDR4. Will be responsible for graphics NVIDIA video card GeForce GTX 1070 or GeForce GTX 1080 with Pascal architecture. Thanks to such a video card, it will be possible to connect a virtual reality helmet to the candy bar.
From the periphery of the candy bar, I would highlight the Harmon Kardon audio system with 5-watt speakers, the Killer DoubleShot Pro Wi-Fi module, a webcam, USB ports 2.0 and 3.0, HDMI connectors.

In its basic version, the IdeaCentre Y910 monoblock will go on sale in September 2016 at a price of 1,800 euros. But the candy bar with the “VR-ready” version will appear in October at a price of 2,200 euros. It is known that this version will contain GeForce video card GTX 1070.

MediaTek has decided to upgrade its Helio X30 mobile processor. So now the developers from MediaTek are designing a new mobile processor called Helio X35.

I would like to briefly talk about Helio X30. This processor has 10 cores, which are combined into 3 clusters. Helio X30 has 3 variations. The first - the most powerful - consists of Cortex-A73 cores with a frequency of up to 2.8 GHz. There are also blocks with Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of up to 2.2 GHz and Cortex-A35 with a frequency of 2.0 GHz.

New processor Helio X35 also has 10 cores and is created using 10-nanometer technology. Clock frequency in this processor will be much higher than its predecessor and ranges from 3.0 Hz. The new product will allow you to use up to 8 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. The graphics in the processor will most likely be handled by the Power VR 7XT controller.
The station itself can be seen in the photographs in the article. In them we can see storage compartments. One bay has a 3.5" jack and the other has a 2.5" jack. Thus, it will be possible to connect both a solid-state drive (SSD) and hard drive(HDD).

The dimensions of the Drive Dock station are 160x150x85mm, and the weight is no less than 970 grams.
Many people probably have a question about how the Drive Dock connects to a computer. I answer: this happens via USB port 3.1 Gen 1. According to the manufacturer, the speed sequential reading will be 434 Mb/s, and in recording mode (sequential) 406 Mb/s. The new product will be compatible with Windows and Mac OS.

This device will be very useful for people who work with photo and video materials at a professional level. Drive Dock can also be used for backup copies files.
The price for the new device will be acceptable - it is $90.

Note! Previously, Renduchinthala worked for Qualcomm. And since November 2015, he moved to a competing company, Intel.

ASUS belongs to one of those few companies on the market who constantly come up with new device concepts, look for new niches, and offer consumers unusual gadgets that can easily transform into laptops, smartphones and tablets. Of course, such innovative approaches move industries forward. Latest news This company has a unique all-in-one ASUS Transformer AiO P1801.

It's no secret that the share of desktop computers on the market is gradually declining, and at the same time there is an increased demand for tablets with their convenient touch controls. Many users today prefer a laptop or the same tablet to a desktop computer. However, we are already accustomed to home computer with a large screen, a full keyboard and good acoustics. Therefore, although the portability and convenience of a tablet is beyond doubt, at home most people still use a desktop computer or all-in-one computer.

This is because the compact dimensions and small screen A tablet at home is more of a disadvantage than an advantage compared to the large monitor of a regular PC on which you can watch a movie or listen to music. Accordingly, there is a need for a universal home device that combines the functionality of a tablet with the capabilities of a desktop computer. Such a device is unusual Transformer AiO P1801 with 18.4-inch screen. We will talk about it in more detail in this review.

Transformer concept

First, let's figure out what the ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 monoblock is and what it is actually needed for. It is clear that when a computer is used at home, the issue of its weight and portability fades into the background, since you can still drag it from place to place without special problems. But it becomes much more important to have a computer big screen, powerful hardware and a full-fledged keyboard so that you can work comfortably and just have fun watching movies, listening to music and surfing the Internet.

However, a computer with a large screen inevitably ties the user to a table or workplace, which is not always convenient. Thinking through the concept of its new device, the company ASUS decided to combine the functionality of a tablet and personal computer precisely in order to give the user relative freedom. That is, the ability to use a large screen not only on the desktop, but also anywhere in the apartment, for example, in the kitchen or on the sofa.

The idea is very interesting, and its successful implementation became possible not least thanks to the release of the new operating system Windows 8, which is designed for touch control and provides the possibility of such an unusual combination. Actually, the Transformer AiO P1801 model is a candy bar in which the screen can be simply detached and carried around the apartment in the form of a tablet, using it for various purposes.

The main unit acts as the brain center, it is equipped with more powerful hardware and OS Windows 8. On the tablet, also equipped with the necessary hardware and battery, the platform works Android . The tablet can work when the main unit is turned off, the latter is also capable of working autonomously from the tablet when an external monitor is connected to it.

There is an interesting option for using the device when using special utility and home Wi-Fi networks picture from the main block, that is, desktop from Windows 8, is transmitted to the tablet over a distance. Thus, on the tablet you can select either mode Android , or broadcast Windows 8 in remote mode. True, it is immediately noticeable that the last function is not worked out very well - certain distortions will be observed on the tablet screen, and the picture in this mode often slows down. Obviously, some other data transmission technology would be suitable here, for example, WiDi or something similar. Be that as it may, the very concept of the Transformer AiO P1801 device looks original and, from the point of view of user needs, seems quite relevant.

Appearance

It houses almost all the components, is designed in a minimalist style and looks quite attractive. Of course, such a device can hardly be called compact - hide serious hardware and a tablet mounting mechanism in slim body It's simply impossible. Externally, the TransformerAiO P1801 monoblock makes a pleasant impression thanks to its simple, elegant shapes and lack of gloss. The main unit can be easily connected to an external monitor if the capabilities of the 18.4-inch screen are not enough for the user. The screen is simply attached to a kind of docking station, resting on the surface with a special aluminum leg with rubber pads.

The candy bar body is almost entirely made of matte plastic, with the exception of the lower part and the tablet mount, which are made using aluminum. The monoblock is completed wireless keyboard and mouse. They are connected using a transmitter installed in one of the USB -ports. The keyboard is very comfortable to use and has good ergonomics.

The tablet, which can be removed from the base, has, of course, quite a decent weight (2.4 kg). These are not the compact and lightweight tablet computers that users have already become accustomed to. Such a device will be difficult to carry with you all the time; you cannot put it in your pocket, so the use of the tablet is limited to the space of an apartment or country house. The tablet is also made of matte plastic, but has separate metal elements, for example, a comfortable handle on the back of the case, which you can use to pick up and carry a rather large tablet computer. By the way, in order to remove the tablet from the base, you just need to pull it up - you don’t have to press any levers.

Screen

The Transformer AiO P1801 monoblock received an impressively sized screen - 18.4 inches diagonal, which, of course, is much larger than most modern ones. tablet computers. On the other hand, by the standards of monoblocks, the diagonal of the screen is average. The matrix used here is IPS with FullHD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels). It provides good picture clarity and wide viewing angles. The maximum brightness is about 300 cd/m2, and the image contrast is 600:1. These are fairly standard results, nothing remarkable about them.

Nevertheless, the screen copes well with its functions, and it is difficult to make any serious complaints about the image quality. Perhaps the only noticeable drawback of the Transformer AiO P1801 screen is its not the best anti-glare properties. Here a very decent air gap between IPS -matrix and protective glass. As a result, unpleasant glare and reflections often occur, especially when using the screen in the light, and the clarity and depth of the picture is lost.

The tilt angle of the display can be changed from 35 to 100 degrees, thereby choosing the optimal screen position. Thanks to touch control You can “communicate” with the candy bar not only using the usual mouse and keyboard, but also through finger touches. True, the surface of the display gets quite dirty; there is clearly a lack of a good oleophobic coating. Therefore, if you regularly use the touchscreen, you will inevitably have to think about how to clean the surface of the screen from fingerprints.

Specifications main unit and tablet

As we have already found out, Transformer AiO P1801 consists of two autonomous devices - the main unit and the tablet, which have their own hardware. As for the monoblock itself, it is equipped Intel platform Third generation Core (IvyBridge), four gigabytes of RAM and a video card NVIDIA GeForce GT730M with two gigabytes of video memory. A hard drive is provided for data storage SATA volume 1 TB. It is worth paying attention to the presence of an optical drive, a slot for SD/SDHC/MMC memory cards and a large number of ports, including four ports USB 3.0, one USB 2.0 connector, HDMI output and RJ45 network interface (LAN). Built-in Wi-Fi The adapter allows you to connect to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks.

There is also a more serious modification of the device with 8 GB of RAM, powerful processor Intel Core i7-3770 and hard drive volume 2 TB. The configuration of the Transformer AiO P1801 main unit is quite comparable to that used in modern monoblocks and home desktop systems. The performance of Transformer AiO P1801 is enough to perform a wide range of tasks - from running office applications, surfing the Internet to converting videos and games into modern computer toys.

Although it can be noted that the all-in-one graphics subsystem is still not the most powerful, and here it would be nice to see some more productive solution, than GeForce GT730M. But the device boasts an effective cooling system and fairly silent operation.

As for the tablet, it uses a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with two gigabytes of RAM. The tablet has only 32 GB of memory, but there is a microSD slot available, with which you can slightly increase the capabilities of the device. Such characteristics can hardly be called top-end; rather, in terms of performance, the device can be classified as a mid-priced tablet. Nevertheless, such a hardware platform is quite sufficient for everyday tasks.

According to the manufacturer, the tablet can work offline for up to five hours when watching videos at a medium brightness level. Of course, when running resource-intensive applications and latest games, and also when maximum value If the screen brightness decreases, the battery life of the device is reduced to approximately three hours. It is noteworthy that the tablet can be recharged both from the main base and through its own charger.

So, let's summarize. Often with unusual transformers like ASUS TransformerAiO P1801, a serious problem arises due to the fact that it is not very clear how best to use such a device. In the case of TransformerAiO P1801, the concept itself seems quite logical and reasonable. Indeed, today many users purchase for home and desktop computer, which is necessary due to its large screen and full keyboard, both a laptop and a tablet. Moreover, each device serves its own purposes. Now it becomes possible to buy one universal device that can be used for both work and entertainment.

The filling of the hybrid all-in-one TransformerAiO P1801 is quite consistent with expectations, with the exception of the video card. 18.4-inch screen on IPS The matrix produces a picture of decent quality. Among the shortcomings, the only thing that can be noted is the not very well-thought-out scheme for working with Windows 8 when the tablet is removed from the base. And, of course, a fairly high price for the device - from 52,000 rubles. This price, coupled with an unusual concept, makes the candy bar ASUS TransformerAiO P1801 into a niche device that can interest users looking for the best system option for their home.

We can say that today ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 is one of the most controversial devices. Like a concept car - something incredibly curious, original and reeking of a fantastic future. However, once you get closer and take a closer look, it becomes clear that the machine is not adapted to the harsh reality until it “fits” into it. The same with this transformer: I worked at the computer - I unfastened the screen - I went to lie on the couch and continued working - why not a form factor with a wow effect? But somehow it’s not finished. To connect the tablet with the docking station, it was necessary to “implant” an entire system into the first one, which was also outdated. If choosing a third tegra is justified by using a single program, then why not install a cheaper chip?

But if, on the contrary, it is assumed that the user will pay no less attention to the Android tablet than to the all-in-one PC with Windows 8, then why not choose a more powerful SoC? And anyway, was Android really necessary if Windows 8 gets along very well with a touch screen? Even from the point of view of using a tablet solely for content consumption and entertainment, Windows provides more options than Android. Is it worth talking about specialized software, for example, professional graphics packages, which would be ideal for working on such a screen in tablet position, but are only available on x86 architecture.

Nobody argues that the ability to use Windows 8 in tablet mode is implemented well in the device. Moreover, the ability to connect from one tablet to all PCs in the home network from anywhere in the apartment is a really cool feature. But we are faced with significant limitations: firstly, the interaction between the dock and the tablet occurs through the router, and not directly, and secondly, the quality of the resulting image and the speed of its update leave much to be desired.

The size of the device seemed not entirely logical - after all, 18 inches is too small for a candy bar. But what really pleased me was the choice of hardware in the docking station - not every all-in-one can boast such performance, and the appearance of the device - in general, it evokes only positive emotions. If we talk about the price, then perhaps it is slightly overpriced, because no one has canceled the additional payment for originality. However, do not forget that for 47 thousand you buy practically three devices: a productive nettop, to which you can connect a large monitor if desired, a tablet on a separate system and, in the end, an all-in-one PC.

Unreal Asus Transformer AiO P1801. Computer or tablet?

Many of us have been waiting for this device for a hundred years. Finally, a computer can be transformed into a tablet, and today in our review, the Asus transformer AiO P1801 (P1801-B093K/90PT00I1000950Q) is two in one: a computer, an all-in-one PC, a dual-operator that can turn into a tablet.

Where to start?

Our eyes are wide open because we have already seen laptops that turn into tablets. And this is the world's first computer that can be two devices at the same time. That is, initially, it is a candy bar, very compact, which does not have huge system units, but has a small charger, like from a laptop. And then, with a slight movement, you remove the screen from the stand, turning it into a very large tablet!

Combined the seemingly incompatible: Windows8 and Android4.1. Therefore, we will review two devices: a computer and a tablet. If you're tired of sitting at your desk, you take off your tablet, get comfortable, and work comfortably. Because problems on a global scale need to be solved with convenience.

Since the famous Asus creatives received a red ball for the design of the transformer, and this is neither more nor less than the Red Dot Design Award - an authoritative award in the field of design, let's start with the appearance.

Appearance of the Asus transformer

The guys from Asus have their own idea of ​​​​devices, and here our transformer is just an alien from the future. The screen is installed on the docking station. She stands on the table, on a strong aluminum leg, which can bend 30 degrees back, and at the same time does not lose her balance, and the tablet does not fly off her. All this is thanks to the rubber pads, and the candy bar is intact and the table is scratch-free.

Very beautiful black gloss, aluminum bottom and a heavy plastic back, which is warm: the “brains” heat up in it and the cooler hums. It is on this part that all the connectors and ports are located, of which there is simply an infinite number:

• 4xUSB 3.0, 1xUSB 2.0
• 1x HDMI, Ethernet
• 1 x mini USB 2.0
• 1 x Audio Input 3.5
• 1 x Audio output 3.5
• Card reader
• 3 in 1 (SD/COHC/MMC)

The most important button here is the blue button, located on the side panel of the tablet; it switches from computer mode to tablet mode. And to be more precise, with her using Windows is being replaced by Android, but you can work with one and the other operating system at the same time, this is very important.

On the base itself there is an interesting connector: this miracle comes with wireless mouse and keyboard. If this mouse connector is installed in this connector, then both components will work on both Android and Windows, and you do not need to rearrange this receiver all the time or carry it with you. It is clear that this connector is your assistant.

You can immediately say that the keyboard is incomparable, with a pleasant action, full-fledged, lightweight, with keys adapted for Android. The Esc key turns into a back button. The mouse is also not bad, very sharp, but this is adjustable. But with vibrator scroll, there are people who are not used to it, but if you like it, you won’t want to use another one. The shape of the mouse may also not seem very comfortable, since it is low, but everything else is just great!

The mouse will require two batteries, and you will also receive two chargers in the kit: one for the desktop and the other for the tablet. The charger for the monoblock is the main one, so there is no need to connect two charges to the device at the same time. Neither a computer nor a tablet will charge faster because of this.

19-inch tablet made of glossy glass on one side and silver aluminum on the other. Of course, you can’t take such a miracle with you on the road - it’s too big and cumbersome. On the back panel there is not a hook to hang it on the wall, it is a carrying handle. There, lower, there is a special leg on which the tablet rests.

As a monoblock, the screen is quite mediocre in size, so this screen can be removed and you can get a very interesting tablet of impressive size with Full-HD resolution and an IPS matrix. IPS technology Provides wide viewing angles. With bright, deep colors and fairly wide viewing angles. To be honest, the picture is simple. Everything is fine as usual, and this is a little upsetting. We can assume that this is just a good, high-quality image.

How to manage?

You can control it not only with a mouse and keyboard; the sensor supports up to 10 touches. True, the screen is monstrously soiled from a special aliophobic coating, which is really not enough. And taking into account the fact that it is glossy, the information is not visible on it, and your reflection is all in the prints. The only good thing about this gloss is that you can fix your hair and even your makeup without leaving your workplace! In short, in general, the screen performance is good, but standard:

Width 466.6 mm, height 376 mm, depth 162 mm. Monoblock weight 6.5 kg, tablet weight 2.4 kg.

Yes, when you remember that this is the screen of an all-in-one tablet, the good mood returns again. This unique design will live in your home.

Monoblock

I really want to take this sandwich apart. On the rear panel of the monoblock are the brains: the processor, video card and hard drive. But at the same time, the tablet also has a full-fledged mind. As a computer, you get a very compact device without unnecessary wires and a compact screen running Windows 8. A full-fledged platform and processor allowed this PC to handle everything your heart desires. Maybe your soul desires a race? Agree, everything is going great! Nothing that will stop you from driving around the city or shooting at people you don’t like. You won't see any unpleasant lags or any slag that makes your head swell.

Is it worth saying after this that you can easily and simply do all your paperwork on it, solve work issues, surf the Internet, open 150 tabs at once, watch movies, play drums, edit videos, edit photos, draw projects, layouts, and even play minesweeper. That is, do everything for which you previously had to buy a heavy computer, and give it half a room and a decent fan.

And now it’s just a small monoblock, and charging, like from a laptop, and not a centimeter more. Don't forget about touch screen, which was invented for the “eight”. After all, it has long been known that a keyboard + mouse + touch screen is the key to success and strong relationships in which there is no hatred and misunderstanding.

Let's say that the base can live without a tablet. This is a fully functioning brain that can be connected via video output to a screen and used as system unit. This means that if you have an additional screen at home, you can cut this device in half and not despair at all about it.

Remote Desktop

In general, during the tests, this device surprises many times: if you work on Windows, but your back is tired and you urgently need to relocate, you remove the screen and work on a tablet, but, thanks to a special application, the unit broadcasts to the screen Windows monitor, that is, you continue to work as on Windows, but on Android, as long as you are within the same wi-fi point. It turns out that this is your remote desktop.

True, the speed of operation in this mode leaves much to be desired. But for office tasks, will do just fine. And then click on the blue button, which we talked about at the very beginning, and switch to tablet mode on Android. You work, and if necessary, balance between Windows and Android.

Have Android special Splachtop Remde Desktop application, which allows you to switch to the Windows monitor at any time and see how things are happening there. On the tablet at this time, you can play toys, and on Windows - a performance test or launch a toy, or download a movie, or put on a video.

As for the tablet, it looks quite amazing and lives in two forms:

First

This is when you remove the monitor, it automatically switches operating system, and on your lap you have a tablet the size of a continent.

While some people call Windows exit 8 another “fatal” Microsoft's failure, from which the company will never recover,” others are starting to produce devices that, in theory, can unlock the potential of the controversial OS. In general, you may not like the new Windows for various reasons, but you still shouldn’t deny one very important detail. It is because of this operating system that everything large manufacturers laptops began to produce devices that previously would not have lasted even a few months on the market due to lack of demand. Now the situation has changed. And although other companies are still far away from the wow effect that Steve Jobs was able to create around his new gadgets, we believe that they still have a long way to go.

The hero of this review, ASUS Transformer AiO P1801, is one of the “new wave” devices. Of course, the same wow effect as the first one MacBook Air, this device did not create. But when, during the official presentation of ASUS CEO Johnny Shih, he unhooked the screen from his candy bar and went to work with it at the other end of the room, many were surprised.

ASUS Transformer AiO P1801

So, first we will look at the ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 as an all-in-one PC on Windows 8, and then we will detach the tablet from it and take a good look at it separately. In the section dedicated to testing, we will also have two sets of tests - for a tablet and an all-in-one PC, respectively.

⇡ Appearance

ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 - all-in-one

As a monoblock, the ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 looks very good, although 18.4 inches of diagonal will not be enough for work for everyone. The hero of our article looks a little thick, despite all the efforts of ASUS engineers and designers. Alas, the “heavy” computer hardware and the tablet mounting mechanism are hidden in compact body still impossible. And if you can’t get rid of the thick body, then there is only one thing left to do - make it beautiful. This is exactly what ASUS managed to do, because the Red Dot Design Award - which was awarded to the ASUS Transformer AiO - is not awarded to all devices.

Monoblock ASUS Transformer AiO P1801

Perhaps the design of ASUS Transformer AiO can be called minimalistic. Fortunately, this candy bar doesn’t have any riot of colors and gloss. Although ASUS did not completely get rid of glossy surfaces. Not only the screen, but also the black screen acts as a collector of prints glass panel stands. Which, however, is completely hidden behind the installed tablet.

All-in-one ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 without tablet screen

In general, the ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 looks good - both with and without a tablet screen. Therefore, if you don’t want to work behind an 18-inch glossy screen, you can connect any external monitor or TV to the all-in-one.

Block ASUS power supply Transformer AIO P1801

Almost all of the candy bar's ports are located on its left panel. There are four USB 3.0 ports, two 3.5 mm audio jacks for headphones and a microphone, a card reader and a Kensington lock. On the right panel of ASUS Transformer AiO you can only find the slot for the Supermulti DVD RW slot drive and USB connector 2.0, which is very convenient to connect a transmitter from a keyboard and mouse. There are only three connectors on the back panel, which are recessed into a small niche. These are Ethernet, HDMI-out and a connector for connecting a power supply. As for the front of the all-in-one, there is only a power button and a hard drive activity indicator.

The Transformer's audio system is represented by two small speakers located in the lower part of the body. Despite the fact that the candy bar uses ASUS SonicMaster technology, which should improve the sound of the device, Transformer AiO plays like regular laptop. Well, you understand.

Like any decent all-in-one PC, ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 is equipped with a wireless keyboard and mouse. The keyboard of the ASUS Transformer AiO turned out to be good, although it is very similar to the analogues that can be found in boxes with other all-in-one PCs. Our editorial office received the American version of the candy bar, which means the keyboard layout turned out to be appropriate - with a long left “shift” and a flat “enter”. Another of its “tricks” is the “house” key, which is located next to the right Alt. This was done, as you might guess, for the Android OS - usually in place of the “house” there is Windows key. Also on the keyboard you can see a few more buttons that will be useful exclusively in Android. The key travel is soft and pleasant, albeit a little deeper than regular laptop keys. The buttons are not backlit.

Keyboard ASUS Transformer AiO P1801

Battery compartment of ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 keyboard

The mouse on the ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 is made of metal. This is perhaps the first feature of the manipulator. Its second feature is that instead of the middle key there is a rectangular touch field that supports both horizontal and vertical scrolling. In addition, hidden under this “microtouchpad” is a tiny vibration motor, which gives a kind of feedback while scrolling. The solution is undoubtedly unusual, but it takes a while to get used to it.

Mouse from ASUS Transformer AiO P1801

The mouse and keyboard work without problems in both Windows and Android. But in the second case you can’t do it without the need to connect both the tablet and the transmitter to the stand. The tablet itself does not find the peripherals.

⇡ Tablet ASUS Transformer AiO P1801

The ASUS Transformer AiO tablet is the most controversial part of the gadget. All the “pills” that were in our editorial office earlier were much smaller and lighter than our today’s test subject. We repeat: the diagonal of the tablet is 18.4 inches, and it weighs two and a half kilograms. You can’t put such a tablet in your pocket, and it won’t fit into any backpack. In general, compared to Apple iPad the new “transformer” looks impressive to say the least.

ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 tablet compared to Apple iPad

Getting used to such a screen is not very easy. Despite the fact that the screen resolution is 1920x1080 pixels, many interface objects sometimes seem too large. This is especially noticeable in the browser, store Google Play and in games that do not support Full resolution HD. It's probably all about the landscape orientation of the tablet - as soon as you turn it 90 degrees, many things fall into place. For example, working with applications becomes much more convenient, and navigating Google Play is much easier. In addition, in the menu itself, mail and those applications that are “friendly” with a large screen resolution, everything is fine even in landscape orientation.

ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 tablet in portrait orientation

Let's return to the description of the tablet. Almost all of its connectors and control keys are located on the right panel. There you can find the power button, volume control, blue key for switching the ASUS Transformer AiO P1801 operating mode (Android, Windows, remote desktop), as well as a slot for Micro SD, a Mini USB connector and two 3.5 mm audio jacks. The tablet's power connector is also located on the right side, that's just charger you will have to buy it separately. The connector of the included charger is simply larger than the hole in the tablet, and the included adapter itself is intended only for the stand, so you will only have to charge the tablet through it. On the panel of the tablet there is a single hole for the Kensington lock, and below you can find a proprietary connector for connecting the device to the stand. Top panel not burdened by any keys or connectors.

Unfortunately, the purpose of the Mini USB port remains unclear. Connecting the tablet to other PCs using this port did not lead to anything, and if you look at the instructions, it turns out that this port is intended “for connecting external devices" But we couldn’t understand which ones exactly. If we are talking about USB-host, then the required adapter was not included in the package and - according to the same instructions - it is not provided.

There is nothing on the back of the tablet except a handle to carry it and a folding stand. Using the latter, you can install the tablet at an angle from 30 to 100 degrees. For watching videos or Internet sites, such a stand is simply necessary, especially taking into account the weight and size of the test subject.

In our high-tech and progressive times, releasing Android devices onto the market without a modified shell is considered bad manners. Therefore, every manufacturer is trying as hard as he can. In the case of ASUS Transformer AiO P1801, nothing new happened - the company followed an already beaten path. As a result, the interface of the tablet we are considering is the same as that of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime. With all its pros and cons.

Of the biggest disadvantages, it is worth noting the inconvenient location of the application bar call button, which is still located on the right top corner screen. We noticed exactly the same drawback with Transformer Prime: when the tablet was on its keyboard stand, reaching for this virtual key was not very pleasant. Let us remember that the screen size of Transformer Prime was “only” 10 inches. For the hero of our review, this is already 18.4 inches, and the tablet itself is a little further from the user than the Transformer Prime, that is, reaching for this button has become two or even two and a half times less convenient. The situation could be corrected by a special key on the keyboard, but, unfortunately, either the manufacturer did not provide for it, or it cannot be done due to Android limitations. If you remove the Transformer AiO from the stand, then the problem described above, for obvious reasons, disappears.

The issue of interaction between Windows and Android has been resolved, in our opinion, very successfully. When the tablet is placed on the stand, its storage is automatically available in Windows, but the speed of copying files - especially large videos - leaves much to be desired. As soon as you remove the tablet from the stand, it will immediately switch to Android and launch the pre-installed Splashtop Streamer application, with which you can connect to the stand via a wireless network and display the working Windows table. This technology is very similar to Wireless Display from Intel. But, unlike the Intel solution, where the computer and monitor communicate via their own separate wireless network, in Splashtop Streamer, all “communication” between the tablet and its stand occurs through the router. In our opinion, this approach is much more convenient Intel WiDi, because for Laptop Streamer you don’t need to install a mountain of special software and carefully select hardware. And the distance from the screen to the computer becomes not as critical as in the case of WiDi. Overall quality remote access to Windows in Splashtop Streamer is limited only by the speed and coverage of your wireless network.

On the back panel, on the left and right edges of the tablet, you can see two small speakers covered with plastic grilles. The tablet sounds average, although it is quite enough for watching videos.

The front-facing 1-megapixel camera is quite suitable for video conferencing. For the same “Skype” it is enough.

⇡ Technical specifications

About appearance We have already described the “all-in-one tablet” ASUS Transformer AiO P1801, now it’s time to look at its specifications.

Technical characteristics of the monoblock look quite ordinary for a PC of this class. A quad-core processor, 4 gigabytes of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce GT730M video card (powered by Kepler architecture), as well as a Wi-Fi adapter capable of connecting to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. Our instance has Transformer AiO installed Intel processor Core i5-3350P, and we believe that this is the optimal processor for such an all-in-one PC. There are four cores on its chip, which means there should be no problems with performance, despite the fact that this CPU does not have Hyper Threading support. But its frequency is only a hundred megahertz lower than that of the i7-3770, which is installed in the most expensive modification of the Transformer AiO. Here, in fact, are all the main characteristics of the stand for ASUS tablet Transformer AIO P1801.

Tablet specifications, unfortunately, not as impressive as we would like. The NVIDIA Tegra 3 T30L system-on-chip, which nowadays is considered average, is responsible for the performance. Its four main ARM Cortex-A9 cores are capable of overclocking to 1.7 GHz; and the fifth core, the maximum frequency of which is limited to five hundred megahertz, is intended for “light” operating mode. Like Twitter, checking new photos of cats on Facebook, on your favorite sites and in mail. The GeForce ULP video subsystem, which operates at 416 MHz, is responsible for graphics processing.

The tablet's battery capacity, unfortunately, remains unknown. The manufacturer's website indicates a value of 38 watts, but it is difficult to say what exactly it means. Most likely, this is a trivial error and the battery capacity is 38 Wh.