Eee Pad Transformer North American Launch

The highly anticipated android tablet will finally be available in North America at various well known retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. This sweet tablet runs for only $399 and the optional keyboard dock runs for $149.(see Eee Pad Transformer North American Launch News for details)

Why is this tablet a big deal and what is this tablet different from any other android tablets out there?

This is the cheapest android tablet out there that sport the latest android software, the tegra 2 processor, and an IPS screen with resolution that is same if not better than its competitors.  Combined with the dock, the combination can get very good battery life, ~15 hours, and weights only about 2.9lbs total.

Shown below is a comparison table taken from Anandtech's recent review on the transformer tablet.:

As you can see, the Asus Eee pad has a very competitive pricing compared its rivals and I am glad to see this as it will create pressure on the cost of tablets in the future.  I believe that netbook/tablet transformer platform will dominate the market in term of mobile gadges in the near future.

For more detailed review on this tablet, please check out http://www.anandtech.com/show/4277/asus-eee-pad-transformer-review and http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/asus-eee-pad-transformer/4505-3126_7-34467853.html?tag=mncol;txt.

Related videos



CNET's video review:


User review by andyxover:




BTV's first look clip on the Asus Eee Pads product line:

$114 Amazon Kindle 3 Wifi Special Edition

Just recently found a deal from dealslava.com that book lovers shouldn't pass up.  This special edition is the newest kindle 3 WIFI along with bunch of freebies and sponsored screen savers.  It is cheaper than the normal version which is $139.  The only draw back to this deal is that it's on pre-order and they will not be released until beginning of May.  The Kindle3 is a really neat device and many specs were improved from the previous version.

Below are the features and improvements of Kindle3 as compared to Kindle2 (taken from Amazon.com):

• All-New, High-Contrast E Ink Screen - 50% better contrast with latest E Ink Pearl technology
• Read in Bright Sunlight - No glare
• New and Improved Fonts - New crisper, darker fonts
• New Sleek Design - 21% smaller body while keeping the same 6" size reading area
• 17% Lighter - Only 8.5 ounces, weighs less than a paperback
• Battery Life of Up to One Month - A single charge lasts up to one month with wireless off
• Double the Storage - Up to 3,500 books
• Built-In Wi-Fi - Shop and download books in less than 60 seconds
• 20% Faster Page Turns - Seamless reading
• Enhanced PDF Reader - With dictionary lookup, notes, and highlights
• New WebKit-Based Browser - Browse the web over Wi-Fi (experimental)
• Special Offers - Special offers and sponsored screensavers display on the Kindle screensaver and on the bottom of the home screen—they don't interrupt reading

In my opinion, the specifications for the Kindle3 is really decent considering the fact that it's a relatively low cost device.  It's about the same or cheaper than it's predecessor but with all the above improvements.  Personally, I would get this device just because of it's great e-ink screen, it's super light weight, and it's superb battery life.  Although some people think that ipad or other tablet would do the trick, but I believe this version of Kindle is best ebook reader you can get on the block. 


VIDEO REVIEWS

MobileTechReview:


D3Live(this kid did a really good job talking about the Kindle3):


A user review on the PDF part of the Kindle3: