Already available for nearly a month in Taiwan and for a couple weeks in the UK, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer will finally be available here in America come April 26–that is, next Tuesday. Equipped with a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 1GB RAM, front and rear cameras, USB and HDMI ports, microSD compatibility, and a capacitive multitouch 10.0" 1280×800 IPS backlit LED display, the Eee Pad Transformer is an extremely solidly competitive tablet. The best bit, though, is the price: at 16GB model will cost just $399, a full $100 less than the cheaptes iPad 2. That's one hell of an advantage, but only time will tell as to whether it'll give Asus' relatively unknown product enough traction to threaten Apple's reigning tablet king.
For $150 (or, in other words, making the price of the Eee Pad Transformer more or less even with the iPad's), you can get the new tablet's party piece, which is a full-sized keyboard dock with some extra connections and an extended battery. Basically, the dock turns (or, more appropriately, Transforms) the Eee Pad into an Android 3.0-running ultralight laptop that should deliver 90% of netbook performance, all the while lasting upwards of 16 hours on battery. Impressive.
Engadget has a full review of the UK-edition Eee Pad Transformer here.
