Saturday, February 8, 2014

Review of the tablet / laptop ASUS Transformer Book Trio TX201LA: Android and twice Windows - 3DNews

number of computers per capita has steadily increased: once upon a time was enough one “nastolnika” family. But there were more individual devices – laptops, and now each person put their own. There are mobile phones that evolved into small computers – smartphones. And now, it added plates, without which many already can not imagine their existence. As a result, now we each have a bunch of gadgets in which we are slowly beginning to sink.

combine in one device just two – laptop for stationary operation and tablet for entertainment and use on the move – a tempting idea. In the past couple of years, almost all manufacturers one way or another experimented with its implementation. Natural selection is not passed in the end all the options and the most popular eventually became this: tablet plus “trace horse” keyboard-dock. Actually, it came up with it and ASUS.

However there is one important point: operating systems are not equally suitable for different usage scenarios. If we talk about Android, then it is not so easy to work: you fasten it to the keyboard even though the monitor 4K, though hypothetical suit virtual reality with tactile feedback and other twists – it will remain for smartofnov OSes, at best – for tablets. But not for business PCs.

Do Windows – even in the eighth version – the opposite problem: the OS is perfect for desktop and notebook PCs, but to communicate with it using the touch screen is often inconvenient. As a result, laptop tablet running any of these operatsionok inevitably loses a bunch of individual laptop and tablet.

Well, why then not make the laptop tablet once with two operating systems? And really, why? Having found no serious arguments against it in the ASUS have done so.

Theoretically, this idea is realized a very simple way: Android can run on x86-processors, so you can just install two OSes, make a dual-boot feature – and forward. In practice it’s more complicated, as Android and Windows seriously enough different hardware requirements – that is, it is not quite the requirements, we can say, “wishes” or “wait.” In the sense that she is-Windows, maybe not so demanding – but his application …

As a result, on the one hand, when you work in a laptop, you want something more productive than the Atom. On the other hand, when working in tablet mode starts categorically arrange power consumption of processors Core – even though they are severely tightened in the fourth generation, it’s still up “workstations” and “atoms” they are far. Well, why then … Well, we will not pull – you guessed it: ASUS Trio in not only the two OSes, but just two processors.

And in fact

ASUS Transformer Book Trio – it is generally two separate devices that are able to work in a team. In the bottom half, “dock”, contains a full computer to Windows 8 with a severe processor Core i5-4200U and all relying additives, including its own battery.

The upper half

tablet, lives his life completely: it works running Android 4.2.2, and her heart is small-bore, but economical Atom Z2560, performance is “android” is enough. Again, all information necessary for the normal operation of the tablet filling in his body is present, so that it does not depend on the “dock” – they can be safely used without her.



















Non-removable battery

Non-removable battery





Specifications ASUS Transformer Book Trio TX201LA
Ultrabook Tablet
Display 11,6 inch, 1920×1080 (190 ppi), IPS
Touch Screen Capacitive, up to 10 simultaneous touches
Processor Intel Core i5-4200U dual-core Intel Haswell (x86-64);
nominal frequency of 1.6 Hz;
frequency mode Turbo Boost up to 2.6 GHz 22 nm process technology
HKMG Tri-Gate

Intel Atom Z2560:
dual core Intel Saltwell (x86-64);
frequency of 1.6 GHz;
32nm process technology HKMG

Graphics Controller Intel HD 4400, up to 1000 MHz Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX544MP2, 400 MHz
Memory 4 GB DDR3L-1600 2GB LPDDR2-1066
Drive HDD 500 GB 16 GB (about 13 GB available) + MicroSD
Connectors 2 x USB 3.0
1 x micro-HDMI
1 x mini DisplayPort
1 x headset jack 3.5 mm
1 x Micro-USB 2.0
1 x USB 2.0 (in the dock)
1 x MicroSD
1 x headset jack 3.5 mm
Mobile No
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac, 2,4 / 5 GHz 802.11b/g/n, 2,4 GHz
Bluetooth 4.0 3.0
NFC No
infrared No
Navigation No
Sensors Light Sensor Light sensor, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)
main camera No 5MP (2592×1944), autofocus, no flash
front camera 1 megapixel (1280×720), no autofocus, no flash
Food
Capacity 33 Wh

Capacity 19 Wh
Size 305×194 mm Case Thickness
23.6 mm
305×194 mm
Case thickness 9.7 mm
Weight 1690 705 g
Operating System Microsoft Windows 8 Google Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
recommended price 39,990 rubles

Both devices can operate completely independently of each other. You can use the “dock” as a desktop computer: connect it to an external monitor and leave for work, taking only for trips when you need a laptop. And with him wearing only a tablet, connecting it to the “dock” again only in those cases where you need a laptop.

«Teamwork» largely is to ensure that the tablet can be used as a display of “prefabricated” laptop. In turn, “dock” should provide the tablet keyboard, touchpad and a port USB (left). However, under the Android port can only run in standard 2.0, 3.0 as faster system-on-chip Atom Z2560 is not supported.

also docked mode Windows accesses the front camera and light sensor plate. But the main, rear camera can be used only under the “android” – however, strongly regret this does not mean the quality of shooting in any case not too high.

drives have “proof” and tablet individual: in the “computer” half used conventional hard disk of 500 GB, the tablet is set in its own flash drive – in this case, its volume was 32 GB, but there are also versions with 16 or 64 GB.

General

disk is not provided, data synchronization, at least in the version of the software with which we dealt also not implemented “out of the box.” However, in a notebook, you can have access to the Windows of “humanoid” drive mode MTP. Probably the most convenient option in this case is, oddly enough, disk access through the network – or even sync via the cloud. In any case, and the tablet, and “proof” is own adapters Wi-Fi, so that they can connect to the network simultaneously and independently.

Directly

docking and undocking of work as a whole as well as in the case of an ordinary notebook-transformer with the usual same “stupid” dock. He pressed the button – and pulled the plate from the slot. In the latches on the chassis plate has magnets that are attracted to the massive metal guide at the dock and reformats “docking trajectory” – so what is right is not difficult to get.

Switching between operating systems arranged generally simple: press the button on the keyboard – and move from Windows to Android in just a fraction of a second. In general, ASUS tried to on the surface everything looked simple and uncomplicated as possible.

ASUS Transformer Book Trio switch between OSes faster than you will in your browser these two screenshots

same depth all realized not so easy and we understand very precarious. So in our case – and we had to deal with pre-production samples – all this economy periodically podglyuchivaet considerably. But ASUS already has extensive experience in the implementation of the various hybrid devices, so that serial Trio, probably, everything works fine.

? # Conclusion

As for the price, it is still for the exotic always have to pay more than the usual devices – recommended price is 39 990 rubles. We can assume that the main purpose of O Transformer Book Trio on the market – not so much to sell the device, how to peg a class of “dual devices.” Enhance the experience of developing such gadgets that get the status of a pioneer, get hold of a set of patents and stuff like that.

Because in the foreseeable future to work will still need a normal computer. And for mobile use has long been easier with specially designed plates for their operating systems. Therefore, we are bound to run between the two devices. Therefore make them more harmonious combination – a very good idea, which definitely has a future.

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