Has anyone had a chance to really use an ASUS Transformer Infinity
frank freedman
Posts: 1,983
Subject says it all. Currently on playbook, love it, but.......
Some apps lacking, no USB yet, would be nice to have USB to serial for prop etc and would make a heck of good service terminal. As it is, our imaging dept is managed by Trimedx and with two minor exceptions, I can nearly clear all notifications and documentation from the playbook.
I would like to know I can do at least as much before pulling the trigger on the top end next Feb or so. So has anyone put this or any ASUS Transformer through the works.
Thx,
Frank
Some apps lacking, no USB yet, would be nice to have USB to serial for prop etc and would make a heck of good service terminal. As it is, our imaging dept is managed by Trimedx and with two minor exceptions, I can nearly clear all notifications and documentation from the playbook.
I would like to know I can do at least as much before pulling the trigger on the top end next Feb or so. So has anyone put this or any ASUS Transformer through the works.
Thx,
Frank
Comments
But the lack of a USB outlet and the dependency on Apps have forced me to ignore Android. I gave up on paying the MS tariffs and have been living happily in Linux-land, where I can explore computing without constant demands to buy something. I am still using a netbook and likely to continue.
I see in todays newpaper in Taiwan that Asus is very optimistic about its future. It even feels it will overtake Samsung as Android's foremost platform provider with a 15% growth in revenue. So it is not likely to be a poor choice if you are willing to accept Android. I just haven't gotten to the point that I want another OS that tells me what I must do and how I must do it.
USB disks and other USB mass storage work when connected to USB. Some other types of USB thingies don't seem to have drivers, but I haven't tried that many. It would have been nice to be able to plug in my QuickStart and go from there. Now with the propgcc effort there are some more possibilities than in the past. If I one day root the Prime it should be relatively straight forward I presume. In any case that Transformer Prime is the best gadget investment I've ever done, the closest must have been the Nokia N800 I bought in January 2007, there wasn't anything mobile like that around at the time. I have an 11.6" Samsung laptop which is almost the same physical size as the Prime, although a bit heavier, but I find that I in practice hardly ever use it or bring it. The Prime has 9 times the battery time, is lighter, and works better for most of what I do. (What I can't do on the tablet is development&coding. It does everything else.)
-Tor
What's the difference between packages for linux or apps for android? To me android just seems like "linux with a gui for the phone". Or are you bothered by the pop up ads? I just delete everything that displays an ad, its been just fine.
There is no more dependency on Apps as there is in packages for Debian say. You don't have to buy Android apps. I have never done so. There are many free and open source apps. You can write and install your own. I dabbled in that with some success in Java and C++ using Qt.
Anything that starts demanding I buy anything or register anywhere immediately gets removed. End of problem.
My concern was that Apps were a library of applications controlled by the OS developer. Apple has certainly done that. Linux is wonderfully diverse and open. I has just been a bit uncertain about where Android would go on this.
If the USB port supports an RS232 adapter, the Transformer is way ahead of the Apple iPad (which has none).
Much as touch screens look fun, I prefer a keyboard and not trying to view through smudges of fingerprints.
However, my grouse is on the docking station. Asus claimed that the docking station can charge the tablet - but when I tried to do so, the tablet ended up charging the docking station, which would drain all of the battery at once!
I hope they could fix that in another update or something, actually.
The Infinity is their more expensive later released version of the Transformer. I liked the first as it was priced competitively. I am NOT ready to replace my existing notebooks, so I will just wait and see.
Big shifts are occuring due to Apple/Samsung law suits. Samsung is now hot and heavy into promoting Windows8 devices, while ASUS is getting motivated to push more Android.
In the background, one has to wonder if Google and Apple are going to start battling in the courts.
I compare the size of my laptop with other peoples tablets and often wonder why they put themselves through all the pain and suffering of tablets over a slight weight and size difference I don't really get it. Seems like looks are take over functionality big time.
I flew with my iPad and Foreflight for a long time and it's cool and everything, but just for very specific purposes. Yeah it's great I can divert to another airport with on touch of my finger but the iPad turned me off to tablets so bad I'll just stick with my 1" thicker 2 lbs heavier laptop that does it all
-Tor
-Tor