ASUS to put more focus on 2-in-1 devices this year

by Mark Tyson on 12 February 2015, 11:04

Tags: ASUSTeK (TPE:2357), PC, Windows 8

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ASUS sees 2-in-1 detachable PCs as a good bet for growth in the coming year and will be investing more heavily in these designs. The new strategic focus emanates from the success of the Transformer Book T100, the Taiwanese computer firm's first 2-in-1 design. This compact, flexible and competitively priced portable PC has sold more than three million units since its introduction in October 2013. Research firm IDC has also flagged 2-in-1s as a good bet for growth.

Asustek chief executive officer Jerry Shen said, at a press conference in Taipei earlier this week, that the new Transformer Book Chi series will eclipse the T100’s achievements. Last year the T100 accounted for 20 per cent of revenue coming into the ASUS coffers and this year the firm aims to increase 2-in-1 contribution to revenue to 30 per cent. "Despite a stagnant PC industry, we believe the category of tablet-notebook hybrid devices will continue to grow," asserted Shen.

The new 2-in-1s that were just launched in Taipei are members of the range we saw and reported upon being unveiled for the first time at the CES in early January. Specifically Focus Taiwan News reports that the Intel Atom powered 10.1-inch Transformer Book T100 Chi and the Intel Core M powered 12.5-inch (2560 x 1440 pixels) T300 Chi were announced for availability in the Taiwanese market for NT$14,988 (£310) and NT$22,900 (£475) respectively. ASUS also launched two ZenBook models, at the Taiwanese press conference, the UX305 and UX501.

You can read more about ASUS's range of Transformer Book Chi 2-in-1s and their specifications in our earlier article written when the machines were first shown off at the 2015 CES. Are any HEXUS readers, who are considering buying a new portable PC, looking more at 2-in-1s rather than laptops?



HEXUS Forums :: 12 Comments

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Went from Note 10 to Asus T100 last year. Was a brilliant move and slowly moving my protable eco from Android to Windows. Windows 8.1 may not have zillions of apps, but it can connect to my computer, network and files without any issues - which is golden for me.

Looking forward to the 2015 T300
Bought a Asus tf300t 32GB a while back now and think its a great little tablet ($200 off Greys online). Having the keyboard and touchpad plus extra battery and full sized USB is a great added bonus (also means I can have 1x 128GB sd and 1x 128gb micro sd cards - how many tabs out there have 2 sd slots). OK it is not as powerful and not as many high end extras as the high end tabs, but have not had the need. Can even swap between android on the TV or TV on the tab via LG TV's wifi and app.
Saw one Asus transformer which broke apart to a Windows dock (attach the keyboard dock to a monitor) and a android tab, or have it switchable between the 2 when connected. Talk about a all in one
I think it is a great idea to be able to remove the keyboard section of laptops and improve functionality of tablets with the dock, why don't other manufacturers do it
whatif
Bought a Asus tf300t 32GB a while back now and think its a great little tablet. Having the keyboard and touchpad plus extra battery and full sized USB is a great added bonus (also means I can have 1x 128GB sd and 1x 128gb micro sd cards - how many tabs out there have 2 sd slots). OK it is not as powerful and not as many high end extras as the high end tabs, but have not had the need.
TF101 for me, but if I had the spare cash for a TF103C then I'd buy it. Really tempted given that there's an Asus-sponsored tradeback deal going at the moment. The TF101's stuck on ICS and only dual core, so unless I ROM it then I'm missing out on quite a performance hike.
whatif
Saw one Asus transformer which broke apart to a Windows dock (attach the keyboard dock to a monitor) and a android tab, or have it switchable between the 2 when connected. Talk about an all in one. I think it is a great idea to be able to remove the keyboard section of laptops and improve functionality of tablets with the dock, why don't other manufacturers do it
The dual-Windows/Android tablet - so I'd heard - got killed because Google and Microsoft didn't want to share space with the other. Which, imho, makes them both a bunch of idiots!

Other manufacturers - like HP for one - are now going down the route of dock+tablet=laptop which, as you rightly say, seems like a no-brainer. Especially if they put a secondary battery in the dock!
Brewster0101
Went from Note 10 to Asus T100 last year. Was a brilliant move and slowly moving my protable eco from Android to Windows. Windows 8.1 may not have zillions of apps, but it can connect to my computer, network and files without any issues - which is golden for me.
I've got the original Note 10 and I'm going to politely wonder what the problems were? Sure, if you're using Windows-specific features then you're going to always be disappointed with a non-Windows tablet, but I've had no problems connecting to computer (SplashTop), network (although wifi on my gen Note10 can sometimes be a bit flaky), and files (gDrive, OneDrive and even ftp/scp). Then again, I'm pretty confident that an Asus tablet doesn't have the same level of “what the heck is it doing now” as a Samsung one. While my Asus tablet (which predates the Note by a year or two) takes forever to boot and “get it's act together” once it's running it's a nicer experience because it's not encumbered by a load of Samsung dross like the Note10 is - that used to be very snappy, now it's down to that awful memory-challenged-Windows-system feeling.
Loved my TF101, best device I've owned. Used it as my only device when I was traveling around Asia. Didn't survive traveling around Central America tho :(

I liked the look of the new T300 devices coming out and I'll be keeping my eye on them, if a good win 8.1 ones appears I'll prob take the plunge.
Already have an ageing Transformer TF300T, but looking to replace it with the Toshiba Click Mini when that hits these shores. The idea of an 8 inch convertible really appeals to me; I used to love my Eee 701 since it was the perfect size for my manbag but still let me do enough when I was out and about.