The tablet is getting more than a device for consuming content only as manufacturers are bent on providing the touch device with hardware feature such as a keyboard to allow users to do more than touch and swipes.
After the successful launch of its Eee Pad Transformer, a tablet that comes with a keyboard dock, Asus has introduced another “transformed” tablet called the Eee Pad Slider that features a sturdily hinged slide-out keyboard.
Positioned as a productivity and entertainment device, the Eee Pad Slider also features a built-in full size USB port, Micro SD card reader, and mini-HDMI port in addition to a micro SD card slot that can accommodate 16 to 32 GB storage.
The incorporation of hardware features found in a PC notebook extends the function of the tablet, allowing the user to type documents comfortably and connect peripherals such as external hard drive or an external monitor like an LCD TV.
Eason de Guzman, technical PR at Asus Philippines, said 33 percent of consumers surveyed still want the tablet to feature a keyboard. He said this was primarily the reason why the Eee Pad Transformer became a hit when it was introduced in March. Digitimes has reported in July that Asus has been selling 400,000 units monthly and some markets even experience shortage of supply.
Similar to the Eee Pad Transformer, Eee Pad Slider banks on Android Honeycomb 3.2 for its operating system and the power of NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core mobile CPU, enabling the tablet to multitask and run high definition multimedia content.
The tablet’s screen is made of durable and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass and already an IPS display, providing users with 178 degree wide viewing angles. The touchscreen also supports 10 finger multi-touch for a natural and intuitive touch experience.
As tablets now becoming video communication devices enabled by software such as Skype, Tango, or Fring, the Eee Pad Slider features dual cameras—a 1.2 MP front camera and a 5 MP rear camera.
A pre-installed Polaris Office 3.0 gives users a professional Mobile Office Solution, allowing them to view and edit office documents including documents, spreadsheets and presentation files.
