Asus Transformer Prime tablet & keyboard with quad-core processor coming Nov. 9

October 20, 2011 By Jeffrey Van Camp

The Asus Transformer Prime was shown today at the AllThingsD AsiaD conference. It will be 8.3mm thick, run on Nvidia's quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and be formally announced Nov. 9.

The Asus Transformer Prime will be announced on Nov. 9, said Chairman Jonney Shih at AllThingsD‘s AsiaD conference today as he pulled it out and showed it off. Like the original Transformer, which has been selling well since its debut in April, the Transformer Prime will be a traditional touch tablet, but have a keyboard dock that it can attach to, making it about as functional as a netbook. The new transformer is super thin, measuring only 8.3mm thick, which is thinner than the iPad, which measures 8.8mm, but not quite as thin as the new Motorola Droid Razr, which is only 7.1mm thick.

Under the hood, the Transformer Prime will use Nvidia’s new quad-core Tegra 3 processor, features a 10.1-inch screen (standard), and has a battery life of around 14.5 hours with the keyboard dock attached. It also has USB and HDMI ports. There’s no word on if it will ship with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or not, but we hope that Asus provides an update to the new OS as soon as Google releases the code in November.

We’ll find out more on Nov. 9, but for those looking at getting a lightweight laptop for travel, this new Transformer could be a good deal.

(Image via Engadget)

Showing 16 comments

dannyboy153 at 6:41am 10th November 2011 I hope they add a 3g/4g option on this. It can't truly be a mobile device if I'm confined to areas with wifi.
1. Jeffrey Van Camp at 7:13am 10th November 2011 I agree. I'd like one with an option for a data plan.
GOFFIGAN at 7:01am 9th November 2011 I need to buy 4 with 2 docking stations for christmas. I pray they stay under $400
1. dannyboy153 at 6:43am 10th November 2011 32GB version for 499, 64GB version for 599, and dock is 149. The old Transformer with 16GB will go for 399, and the 32GB version for 449.
  1. Ian Bell at 8:18am 10th November 2011 Not a bad price for the product itself, but dang, that dock is spendy!
    Jeffrey Van Camp at 9:56am 10th November 2011 With tablets hitting $200-$300 and Netbooks going for around $300-$400, this $650 investment is quite a bit, especially for an OS like Android that still can't multitask as well as Windows in some ways. Don't get me wrong, I'd really like one, but I don't think it should cost quite this much.
  2. GOFFIGAN at 5:23am 14th November 2011 So what you're saying is there will not be a 16G for the Prime? Only 32 and 64?
2. Ian Bell at 8:17am 10th November 2011 Is this for work?
  1. GOFFIGAN at 5:19am 14th November 2011 No Ian this is not for work. This is for my 2 kids and my daughter in-law. My daughter and daughter inlaw go to college so i wanted to get them the docking station also then one for my son and ofcourse, one for ME!!! My daughter is at Texas A&M on the track team and travels ALOT and loves her music and movies. I was going to get 3 iPads but after my IT guy at work told me about the transformer, the family did their own research and decided on it. The excitement came when i realized i can get 4 Transformers for the price of 3 iPads. This is their Christmas gift.
    Ian Bell at 9:25am 14th November 2011 Wow, what a great parent you are! I am jealous. You will need to let me know what you think about it. If you like it, I might get one for the family too. Although we do have the 1st gen iPad at home. My wife wants a laptop for her and our girls too.
jesterking at 8:28am 27th October 2011 I still want to know what the price is!!
1. Jeffrey Van Camp at 8:57am 27th October 2011 Me too. This is a definite purchase option for me. Either this or a netbook of some kind. Need battery life and portability but with a dash of power.
Tonio Johnson at 4:05pm 20th October 2011 Looks like I may have something to put on my Christmas list if it's not tooo expensive.
jesterking at 8:59am 20th October 2011 Next question... Can I put Ubuntu on it! lol
jesterking at 8:57am 20th October 2011 Yep, I've officially just crapped my pants! Now they just have to keep the price point low! I would like to see no more than 399, but I expect it to run around 6-800.
Mike Dunn at 8:54am 20th October 2011 That looks really great, Asus seems to be really getting things right with tablets, both the transformer and the slider have what look to be great form factors.