Review: Asus Transformer Book T200 review

Introduction

Asus' T100 Transformer Book came out just over a year ago, offering a full Windows tablet experience that easily out-did failing Windows RT devices of the time. It has since been one of our favourite laptop / tablet hybrids to emerge, packing Intel's new breed of Z-series Atom processors.

The newer and larger brother, the T200, keeps the things we liked about its fully-fledged Windows 8.1 predecessor, but packs a larger 11.6" screen and faster processor, throwing in some extra ports and a handy 2.5" drive bay into the keyboard dock, too.

Just like Transformer devices that went before it, the T200 is a tablet / laptop hybrid, meaning you don't need to shell out for two separate gadgets. Whilst this may sound all well and good, it often means corners that are cut and compromises are made along the way. Fortunately, this isn't entirely true with the T200, as it can mostly claim to do both tasks quite admirably.

At US$539 (around £349, or AU$690), there are few other hybrids that pack the same range of features. In fact, most other tablets at this price will eschew the keyboard dock, or not have the same transforming abilities.

Design

On first inspection it may look like a netbook, but Asus' Transformer Book T200 is a much more refined device than the mini laptops that were so popular just a few years ago. With the lid closed, the T200 could be mistaken for Asus' premium line of Zenbooks thanks to the similar concentric circular pattern, which makes the tablet feel considerably more tactile than if it were smooth plastic or metal.

Whilst it may not pack quite the same power, or feature the same high-quality metals and polycarbonates as those pricey siblings, it's a laptop you won't mind taking along to a meeting or whipping out in public.

Where buttons and ports are concerned, the T200 keeps the power button, volume and a dedicated Windows key easily accessible behind the top left edge of the tablet – just where you would expect. The tablet also features a micro-SD card reader for expandable storage and micro HDMI connector to give you video output options - should you require them. There's also a micro-USB connector which allows for full-sized USB host functionality via an optional cable.

On the dock you'll find two full-sized USB ports - one of which is USB 3.0 certified. There's also an RJ45 LAN port - should you not have the facility to use the N-rated Wi-Fi - that features a unique design to keep it slimmer than if it featured a full-sized standard port.

On the rear of the tablet, a thoroughly average 5MP camera is centred near the top of the tablet, whilst on the front there's a 2MP camera that is more than adequate for video calls, but fails miserably at anything else - particularly in low light. A speaker either side of the tablet give it stereo sound at a pretty loud volume, but their position means they can sometimes get obstructed by your own hands if using the tablet without the dock.

The dock features a usable full-sized island keyboard that's very much the popular choice on laptops these days, whilst the touchpad is relatively expansive considering the overall size of the laptop - even if the buttons were little unresponsive at times.

Flip the dock over and you're greeted with a nondescript matt plastic base, the only surprise being the additional storage hatch, which in the model I was testing housed a 500gb hard drive. You'll also notice that there isn't a noisy fan to distract you – only the almost inaudible purr of the hard drive.

Pixel Poverty

The T200 features an 11.6" touch-screen IPS display with a 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, which equates to an awfully underwhelming 135ppi. Whilst this resolution may have been sufficient in laptops and tablets a few short years ago, the lack of pixel density is more obvious than ever when put alongside full-HD alternatives like the Surface Pro 3.

For using Windows 8.1 in the conventional fashion, the screen offers enough real estate to be perfectly usable, but when put alongside the ultra high-res screens of smaller tablets like the Nexus 9, the lack of resolution feels entirely disappointing. Of course, when you consider everything else that is packed in for the price, it's not particularly surprising.

Being an IPS panel, colours are bright and viewing angles are excellent, but a reflective glass front makes it fairly difficult to use outside without the brightness ramped up to full. I found touchscreen input to be accurate, responsive and still genuinely useful for scrolling and quick navigation with the dock attached.

Specifications

On its own, the tablet measures 205 x 194 x 11.95mm, meaning it's not the most svelte of tablets when compared to counterparts from Android and Apple, but let's not forget that there's considerably more packed into a full Windows tablet than the app-toting rivals.

If you take into account the hinge mechanism, the keyboard dock adds another 26mm, making the entire package just shy of 38mm thick. Whilst that's not oversized when compared to a lot of 'normal' laptops, it certainly feels a bit thicker than something like the Apple Macbook Air or Asus' own Zenbook UX305.

Specs

• CPU: 1.46GHz Intel® Bay Trail-T Quad Core Z3775


• Graphics: Integrated Intel® HD Graphics


• RAM: 2 GB LPDDR3


• Display: 11.-inch 16:9 IPS HD (1366 x 768) with multi-touch screen


• Storage: 32GB eMMC With 500 GB HDD


• Tablet: 1 x micro HDMI, 1 x micro USB, 1 x micro SD card


• Dock: 1 x Microphone-in/Headphone-out jack, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, 1 x RJ45, 1 x micro USB


• Connectivity: Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth™ V4.0


• Camera: Front 2 Mp and rear 5 MP


• Tablet: 305 x 194 x 11.95 mm (W x D x H)


• Dock: 305 x 200 x 26 mm (W x D x H)

Un-docked from the keyboard the tablet weighs in at 1.8 pounds (0.78kg), feeling reasonably light and tactile, partly because it leaves heavy components such as the hard-drive stowed away inside the keyboard. The keyboard itself adds another 1.4 pounds (0.76kg), and whilst the combination is more than alternatives like Acer TravelMate B115 or the Dell Inspiron 11 3000, it still doesn't feel overly weighty.

Back in the dock, and you'll notice that the hinge actually lifts the base of the laptop upwards at the rear, meaning it's at a more slanted angle. Whether this was a deliberate design choice or a limitation imposed by the hinge, I'm not sure, but it actually makes for a more comfortable typing position and keeps the T200 well balanced when in laptop mode.

Performance

Benchmarks

• 3D Mark: Fire Strike: Would not complete; Sky Diver: 527; Cloud Gate: 1424; Ice Storm Unlimited: 16722; Ice Storm Extreme: 10307


• Cinebench 11.5 CPU: 1.31pts (Multi); 0.23 (Single); Graphics: 7.04pts


• PCMark 8 (Home Test) 1307


• PCMark 8 (Battery Life): 10 hours and 9 minutes

The T200 comes with Intel's low-power Atom BayTrail-series processor, the same family of CPU that was found in the earlier model, but it has been uprated from 1.33GHz to 1.46GHz. Whilst the earlier iteration of this processor was found in a range of laptops hybrids, this particular Atom seems limited to Asus' range of Transformers and netbooks.

Other variations of this processor can be found in competitors such as the Lenovo Yoga 2, but with a higher resolution display and other features, they tend to be clocked that little bit higher.

It's definitely faster than Clover Trail processors that came before it and easily copes with day-to-day applications and web browsing. The integrated Intel graphics chip doesn't pack enough punch to handle any triple-A gaming, but the T200 is more than capable of handling gaming or playing back HD video with other programs open in the background.

When running the 3D Mark benchmarks, some scores were better than I had expected, earning the Transformer Book T200 16722 and 10307 in the Ice Storm Unlimited and Extreme tests - around 10 per cent better than the Asus Transformer Book T100. The more intensive Cloud Gate and Sky Diver benchmarks, however, showed up the lack of graphical grunt, with very low scores and low frame rates across the board.

2GB of RAM in this particular model of the T200, means multi-tasking is a little limited, but it doesn't hamper the overall performance with a handful of programs open. Other models with 4GB of RAM are available, should you be after a bit more for more memory-hungry applications.

With the frugal consumption of Intel's newest Atom, it should come as no surprise that the T200 manages to out-do other cheap laptops, chewing through many loops of the PC Mark battery test for over 10 hours before completely running flat.

Bundled Software

Thankfully, Asus hasn't gone overboard with the pre-loaded software on the T200. There are some relatively useful apps such as the Asus-branded PhotoDirector and PowerDirector software, which are capable of basic image and video editing.

Asus also bundles the Zinio magazine app, which is a pleasant way of digesting content without visiting multiple websites through the browser. Netflix, the Line messaging app and Twitter apps also come pre-installed and Asus bundles in a year of unlimited cloud storage, though afterwards the pricing is pretty average compared to alternatives from Microsoft or Google.

The only thing missing is any kind of Office productivity sweet, so most buyers will need to spend a little extra on a Microsoft Office license, or make do with a freeware equivalent.

Verdict

The Asus Transformer Book T200 is a very usable combination of tablet and laptop-replacement with an appealing design and a very reasonable price. Whilst it may be neither the best tablet available, or the most powerful laptop money can buy, where convertibles are concerned, the T200 is an appealing solution.

Whilst being of plastic build all round, it doesn't necessarily feel cheap. As you would expect from Asus, it feels solid and is equally usable whether in tablet or laptop mode.

Whilst the Windows 8.1 store still has yet to reach any kind of maturity, a Windows-based tablet has its own familiar qualities when it comes to using program compatibility, and the ability to run multiple programs simultaneously.

Although the overall package is good value for money, those with deeper pockets might want to consider a more powerful standalone laptop and separate tablet such as the Apple Air 2.

We Liked

Where the tablet is concerned, the T200 is quiet, light, well built and feels responsive during normal usage. Battery life is excellent, so you won't find yourself hunting obsessively for charging points throughout the day.

The 'smart' hard drive bay adds plenty of storage space alongside the speedy 32GB SSD, and despite having a disappointing resolution, the IPS display is at least vibrant with good viewing angles.

Good connectivity in the form of USB 3.0 and RJ45 ports are welcome additions, with a reasonable pre-loaded software set finishing off the package nicely.

We Disliked

Though the T200 is an attractive all-round package, a couple of niggles keep it from gaining the unblemished seal of approval. Most noticeably is the lower resolution screen, which despite being bright and vibrant looks incredibly pixelated alongside modern smartphones and many other tablets.

Though it's not exactly fat, I couldn't help thinking that the keyboard dock could have been made thinner to create a slimmer overall package. When put alongside many other tablets, the T200 is considerably bulkier, whilst in laptop form, alternatives are available that are at less than half the thickness.

Final Verdict

If you are looking for a combination of Windows laptop and tablet, the Asus Transformer Book T200 is a very appealing option that offers a fair amount for only $539 (around £349, or AU$690).

Whilst personally I would have liked to see a higher resolution screen, and a thinner body, these compromises were clearly made in order to make an affordable convertible that is considerably cheaper than buying a separate laptop and tablet.

As long as you aren't planning on doing any intensive video, music or photo editing and will survive without installing the latest edition of Crysis, the T200 has plenty of power and a long enough battery life to get by with ease.

For those with a little more cash to splash, the Surface Pro 3 is a very appealing option that offers similar functionality in a slimmer form, and with much more power. Otherwise, if you are looking for something a little larger, Asus' own 13-inch Transformer Book TX300 packs an i7 processor and a full-HD screen.

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