Sometimes having to choose between one device or another simply doesn’t make you happy. For example, choosing between the more refined input systems and versatility of a notebook or the absolute ease and portability of a tablet isn’t something some people want to do. If you fall into that category, Asus’ has a solution for you in the form of the Transformerbook T300 Chi.
It’s not a new concept, really… it comes down to a tablet with an attachable keyboard. Or, from the other end of the scale, a notebook with a removable screen. Either way, it fills a “best of both worlds” gap and provides the end user with a machine that can be used in multiple ways.
Before we continue, it is important to remember that most notebooks and tablets aren’t built for high end gaming, Their specs simply don’t do the trick, not unless they have been built for gaming specifically. But those notebooks are generally massive monsters, and are far less portable than this T300 is. With that said, there are still games that can be played on devices like this – particularly when you consider the fact that the T300 is a Windows 8 device, rather than being driven by a mobile OS like Android.
At the heart of the T300 is a surprisingly punchy (at minimum) 2GHz Intel CPU, which allows the device to perform admirably when compared to other tablets, although maybe not quite as well when compared to notebooks. It sports 4GB of RAM at minimum (with an option to go to 8GB) which is also remarkable for a tablet, maybe less so for a notebook. Storage comes in 64GB and 128GB flavours… same story again, as well as for the 12.5 inch display.
The spec illustrates the positioning of the T300 perfectly. It is a superior tablet, and a decent notebook. But it really doesn’t fall into either category. Rather, it bridges a gap between the two, making the strong points of both available in a system that is strictly speaking neither.
It’s an effective machine for everyday use, although it won’t be handling more demanding software as well as some of the bigger notebook options. It is extremely versatile, though, and it’s smaller size means that it is massively portable and relatively light.
What it shows better than anything is the way that Asus thinks. Rather than just creating a tablet with an attachable keyboard, or going the Ultrabook route (is anyone still making those?) they have gone with a middle ground that delivers tons of versatility to the end-user, without compromising performance or capability. It’s a great approach and while you won’t be doing power gaming on the T300, it is a very solid option for those that need portable versatility and relative power.
A versatile piece of equipment that straddles the divide between notebook and tablet beautifully.