So the battle continues between tablet, laptop and 2-in-1.
Portability versus computing power.
Battery life versus functionality.
Is the Asus Transformer Book Flip TP200 the compromise for you?
One look at this 2-in-1 from Asus and you'll be impressed by it's compact design. If it's screen size you're after, this isn't the machine for you but then the TP200 is all about staying mobile. Although the device itself is a little wee thing, the physical keyboard is very user friendly. The keys are responsive and I didn't feel cramped at all.
The virtual keyboard wasn't quite as fun to use. When the TP200 is flipped into tablet mode, you get to choose if the on-screen keyboard displays automatically. Unfortunately, while the phone-style word prediction at the top of the keyboard is useful enough, it means about 50% of the screen is obscured. (Unless you swing everything around into portrait mode, but then the keys really are too narrow to use easily)
So laptop typing; tick. Tablet typing... not so much.
And I think it's either typing or watching you'll be using the TP200 for. If you're currently spending your evenings squinting at your social media streams on your smart phone, this is the device that'll give your optometrist a break.
As a laptop, the TP200 is small, light, quiet and cool to run - the ultimate screen stacker while watching telly out of the corner of your eye.
The other big feature of a 2-in-1 like this is tent mode. This is where you sit device in an "A" shape, on its edges to watch video or view pictures. I'm a big fan of tent mode because it provides real stability for your device without requiring much flat surface. (Great for cooking along with Youtube recipes, for example)
At the same time, this is no gaming appliance - there's just not enough grunt under the hood to drive any whizzy graphics. In fact, I found the TP200 quite laggy when performing too many complicated operations (downloading, streaming, browsing) all at once. A lot of this frustration can be avoided by putting the device to sleep rather than shutting it down completely, as it's during start-up the TP200 really struggles to get all its services up and running.
Sleeping instead of powering off is a totally viable option by the way, because the battery life department is where the TP200 totally kills it. This is the first Windows tablet/laptop I have used that comes close to matching the battery ability of an iPad. In fact, every time I use it I can't believe how much charge is left. As I write this, I'm getting warning messages my battery level is very low (7 %) and yet the indicator also tells me I still have an hour's use left! Come on, even the most devout Apple disciple would have to be impressed by that.
There's a surprising versatility to how you can interface with the TP200 as well; a heap of ports to choose from - both USB 2.0 and 3.0, Micro HDMI, Micro SD slot and the new Type-c socket that doesn't care which way up your plug is. I love this because I'm forever frustrated by the limited connectivity offered by most modern devices. Unfortunately, once again it's a combined headphone/mic socket but I fear this is the way of the future and my dislike of this combination is something I'll just have to get over.
The more I use this device, the more I enjoy it - there's a comfortable-old-pair-of-slippers feel to it. Whether that's due to the easy touch of the keyboard, the rounded corners on the casing or just the dependability of its long battery life, it all adds up to a solid, reasonably priced alternative to being stuck with either a tablet or a laptop.
The lack of processing power is frustrating at times, but for casual domestic use, with a battery you can rely on, the ASUS Transformer Book Flip TP200 is a safe option.
Click here for more information on the ASUS Transformer Book Flip TP200
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