Nowadays having a tablet is relatively affordable but… What if we continue using an Android tablet that appeared there for the year 2011?
We are in the year 2011, a new device called tablet is booming since the first iPad appeared. In Android the closest thing to an iPad were tablets that were basically phones that were put on a "big" screen.
In this 2011 that began to change with devices such as the Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 among others that could already talk about you to you to the almighty iPad.
Asus kept an ace up his sleeve …
Of all those tablets that appeared the one that caught my attention for everything it offered was the proposal of Asus, the Transformer TF101 that had the following specifications:
- OS: Android 3.0
- Screen: 10.1 ″ WXGA LED Backlit (1280 × 800) – Multitouch up to 10 fingers – Scratch resistant glass
- Processor: Nvidia Tegra 2 dual core
- Memory: 1GB
- Storage: 16GB / 32GB
- Networks: WiFi b / g / n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
- Cameras: 1.2MP Front Camera | 5MP Rear Camera
- Connections: 1 x Mini HDMI | 2 x Audio inputs (Microphone-Headphones) | Micro SD card reader
- Drums: 9.5 hours
If we compare these specifications with what there was at that time, you might think that Asus had decided to take little risk, but they had kept an ace up their sleeve … A dock that had a keyboard, 2 USB ports, a multi-card reader, a second battery that extended autonomy up to almost 18 hours and an exquisite touch of aluminum.
The Transformer carried a secret in his name
For my eyes there was not a tablet that offered so much to… .. so much money and it was that in 2011 it was not a cheap tablet, it was worth the same price level as an iPad and the latter did not carry a dock but for these pockets it was far .
Then we took the DeLorean and we jumped directly to the summer of 2012 a year and shortly after our protagonist appeared on the scene, in this technological whirlwind a year and little is like going from one century to another, and already at that time the substitute was around so they began to find offers or rather in my case until the offer found me, € 299 in Carrefour the last one, a tablet that cost almost double a year before, my eyes went out of my orbits and after a few seconds of reflection I decided to jump into the pool and there I was with my tablet under my arm like a child with new shoes.
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In those first days everything is joy, if you compared it with any tablet of its time this was superior, in addition to having the dock and what that entails how to use it without charging the battery in enough days, to be able to connect pendrives or hard drives without problems in addition of being able to write like on the computer. I must confess that since I have it I have not separated it from the dock.
For the Transformer they have gone from Android 3.0 to 4.0.3 officially …
The Transformer began its journey using that version of Android optimized for tablets called Android 3.0 Honeycomb, going through its different subversions 3.1 to 3.2 until reaching the version of Android that unified all smartphones and tablets called Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich that in the Transformer officially reached subversion 4.0.3.
Then there would be rumors and hopes that the desired Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was updated, but no, 18 months after its appearance, the Transformer fell into oblivion of the updates, didn't it?
Performance for basic use in 2016
We return to take our DeLorean and move forward until today through years in which the Transformer has behaved with solvency although little by little it has been noticed the passage of time but … In 2016 as is the experience with a tablet that since its Appearance officially 5 years have passed, that translated into the technological world is as if you have a Tyranosaurus Rex as a pet today.
Well, first clarify that I am quite stock as far as Android is concerned, so my Transformer continues with its latest update, that is, 4.0.3, but that does not mean that it has been abandoned to its fate.
One of the things that Android users like is the community behind it and for what I have been discovering these years my dear Transformer is one of those devices that has gained the sympathy of the community since diving through the XDA forums We find ROMS that go from Android 4.1 to a fairly advanced project of Android 7.0, if you are reading well dear ealian @, a tablet with 5 years on its back in which you can put the latest version of Android, in fact it is something that few devices today can say that.
Five years later it is still a solvent tablet
Speaking about the use nowadays, since the five years being honest, the poor Transformer is noticed, I have adapted to continue using it. Here is a list of the apps I use every day:
Browser
Until recently I used the AOSP browser that comes in the Transformer but I have replaced it with a more reliable browser today and that does not occupy too much so my choice has been Opera Mini that does what is expected of a browser that is at day and without swallowing resources.
I continue and will continue to use Gmail today, it continues to be updated in addition to taking advantage of the horizontal screen quite well.
Office automation
Polaris Office is the office package that is installed, I have always expected Microsoft Office to appear since this Polaris is not too stable in addition to not being able to upgrade to new versions. So since I was not going to be able to have a Word in conditions I opted for Google Documents that allows me to make good use of the keyboard of the dock without occupying a barbarity, in addition to the synchronization and to be able to follow the document in other devices.
Messenger service
Since he made his appearance on Android I use and will continue to use unless they spoil Telegram, it gives the opportunity to be omnipresent, I start talking to someone on the computer, if I want to go to the classroom or another place I keep talking from the Transformer without No one realizes that I am changing devices. Telegram from the beginning knew how to adapt to tablets perfectly above all its use in horizontal is a delight.
Multimedia
In this era of streaming in which we live the chosen ones are Spotify and YouTube both perfectly adapted for tablets along with the horizontal use of them. Perhaps the one that makes my Transformer more noticeable is the YouTube application that no longer allows you to play HD content.
In what is the normal day use the Transformer continues to respond with dignity, the battery lasts what has always lasted using the dock I can spend two days without having to charge it having it on since I wake up until I go to bed.
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The keyboard is still working well, although some keys cost a little work but it is normal given the great use I have given it. I only used the mouse the first day I was with the tablet until I remembered that it was touch and since then I have not used it.
One of the options that the dock gives you is to have two USB ports that open a range of possibilities to connect pendrives, external hard drives, mice, keyboards, gamepads, even a TV tuner.
What if you have to keep in mind that it is already a device that to use it you have to be patient with it, but keeping that in mind is still usable for normal day-to-day tasks. Taking into account the time when he appeared and being one of the first devices of an Asus that started in this Android that five years later continue to make war is an achievement and speaks of a job well done.
Today I have tried cheap tablets that are much worse than my Transformer, I do not mean that now everyone looks for one, but if you are a holder of it you do not have it stored in the memory drawer since with the help of The community can be put to good use.
The community continues to support our Transformer
Note: On the ROMS available for our Transformer TF101 and its evolution the Transformer TF300 in the XDA forums there is a good range of options although I recommend Tim Duru's KatKiss 5.1.1, although it is available until 7.0 Nougat.