Next Transformer keyboard dock to be different design? - Eee Pad Transformer Themes and Apps

Looks like future Transformers may not be using our current dock style due to some changes to the locking mechanism:
techinstyle.tv/technology/interview-designing-the-eee-pad-transformer/
I suppose I didn't really expect to be able to reuse the dock with the next Transformer, but it would have been nice...
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

Just because they're going back and trying to improve the locking clip on the keyboard doesn't mean they'll change the location and specs of the holes in the tablet. It doesn't mean the wont either. I think they could definitely improve the latch without relocating or rethinking the tablet side of it.
I'm more concerned that they'll want to slim down the tablet to where it doesn't sit solidly in the old docks any more, (and conversely gen 1's wouldn't fit in gen 2 docks).

From what I understand they are making little to no profit from the tablet itself and are relying on the dock for profit so i don't think we will be able to use our current dock with the next gen device.

I won't be offended if they do. I see the tablet and dock as one unit really. I'd expect them to redesign the dock with a new tablet.

Related

[Q] Will we ever see a proper keyboard dock?

i love my xoom, but i feel like if it had a keyboard dock like the transformer and new galaxy tab, i would love it even more.
am i alone in my desire (excuse the pun, check sig ) for a kb dock? preferably one with a touch pad
imajin said:
i love my xoom, but i feel like if it had a keyboard dock like the transformer and new galaxy tab, i would love it even more.
am i alone in my desire (excuse the pun, check sig ) for a kb dock? preferably one with a touch pad
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Personally I think a keyboard dock is a bit silly. I love my tablet for being totally mobile. If I want a machine with a keyboard (even temporarily), I take one of my netbooks.
If you really need a physical a keyboard, get the Xoom dock and a bluetooth keyboard...mischief managed.
As for Moto or a third party releasing a keyboard dock....highly unlikely. I think the odds of Moto making one, as they are already focusing on recouping some of their losses from the Xoom with new tablets, are nil. A third party might if there was enough of a market for it...but there isn't, so I doubt anyone would.
rschenck said:
Personally I think a keyboard dock is a bit silly. I love my tablet for being totally mobile. If I want a machine with a keyboard (even temporarily), I take one of my netbooks.
If you really need a physical a keyboard, get the Xoom dock and a bluetooth keyboard...mischief managed.
As for Moto or a third party releasing a keyboard dock....highly unlikely. I think the odds of Moto making one, as they are already focusing on recouping some of their losses from the Xoom with new tablets, are nil. A third party might if there was enough of a market for it...but there isn't, so I doubt anyone would.
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i hear you, but wouldn't it be great to have the choice of, err, transforming your tablet into a netbook, instead of having to go out and buy one? i already have a big laptop so i really don't want to go out and buy a netbook. a keyboard dock would have done so nicely.
to be honest, the main reason why i want a dock is for those times when i rdp into my work computer while i'm in bed. i don't think the normal dock and bluetooth kb would work so well when i'm in bed...
you're probably right though, we'll probably never see a kb dock. but i'm seriously hoping that we're both wrong.
Yea, i agree on hoping to get a keyboard dock. It would be nice and easy rather than me having to carry the keyboard and the standard dock around if i go anywhere =P
(btw i like your name imajin )

[Q] if tf2 comes out soon, would you buy it?

Tf2 is rumored to release soon,
Will you upgrade?
If not what kind of price spec / dimension, thickness of the new tf would make you do it?
To me if they keep the same price, better camera, better speaker, as thin as galaxy tab 10.1 then SOLD
!!
i probably wouldn't, the next tablet i want to get would be a win8 tablet, not sure if i want an arm or x86 processor yet...
so, a TF2 that runs win8 would be something i would consider.
BUT, if i could sell my TF and get a TF2 for like ~$100 i would probably bite, ICS would have to be something FAR more cohesive and polished though.
only if they make a TF2 that supports the current docking.
I paid $170 for the docking, tax+shipping.
No way I would buy another Transformer if they make a new docking for every upgrade.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
myamex said:
only if they make a TF2 that supports the current docking.
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I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that they already announced it would be compatible with the existing dock...which suggests it will have the same thickness as the current model in order to fit in the slot...or it will have a "bulge" in the back if it needs to be thicker to accommodate the new tech.
I've recently aquired a TF101-B1/32GB model as an upgrade/replacement to my 1015PE EeePC. Software wise the only stuff I could aim for improvements, can be done with OTA updates or ROMs. Hardware wise, unless the battery life goes up to like 4x, what improvements we can expect in terms of CPU/RAM/Storage are just not worth it to me.
So I'm sticking with my Andrea
My TF1 now is enough for me .
i would upgrade. Win 8 is going to support Kal El chipset. ICS + Win8 + awesome hardware? Yes please. The trusty TF will go to my wife and get her off my equipment
I will probably not upgrade. I love my TF, and the only thing I would want would be a dual boot with win8, so IF it supports the current dock, AND it gets a dual win8 boot then I would consider it. Otherwise I will probably wait for the next chipset and skip the kal-el.
ExploreMN said:
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that they already announced it would be compatible with the existing dock...which suggests it will have the same thickness as the current model in order to fit in the slot...or it will have a "bulge" in the back if it needs to be thicker to accommodate the new tech.
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I am thinking they might come out with an adaptor,
but rumors are the TF2 is thinner/lighter than Ipad2.
Only if it had at least several of the following changes:
* Significantly faster while retaining similar battery life -or- similar speed with a significant improvement in battery life
* Equal or better screen with less glossy finish
* A better microphone and (less important to me) speakers
* FM radio receiver (it's already in the current chipset, just not enabled and I'm guessing not the correct antenna type to support it)
* Faster GPS lock, since Android seems to have to start over from scratch on the GPS lock every time you leave the GPS-aware app and reenter
* Better wi-fi range / less dropouts
* Support for dual-boot to some other more fully-featured OS (Windows, Linux, whatever)
Thinner is utterly unimportant to me. I wouldn't want to have to buy my dock all over again (well, I have two tablets and two docks, so twice all over again). I don't see them making an adapter as it'd be too kludgy, so the only way it'll be thinner is if it has an unsightly bulge for the dock, or requires an entirely new dock. Size and weight are already near-perfect for me.
I will in the interim, but looking forward to W8.
I believe the dock can be modified easily for a thinner tab. If you've ever looked at your dock, you'll notice the hinge is attached with screws, making switching to another hinge adapter very easy.
EMINENT1 said:
I will in the interim, but looking forward to W8.
I believe the dock can be modified easily for a thinner tab. If you've ever looked at your dock, you'll notice the hinge is attached with screws, making switching to another hinge adapter very easy.
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There is absolutely zero chance they're going to put out an adapter that requires customers to dissassemble the existing hinge section, even just by removing four screws. If there's an adapter of any kind, it will sit inside the existing hinge assembly.
That said, I would happily place a bet that there will be no such adapter at all. If Asus had intended to accomodate slimmer tablets with the same dock, they've have provisioned an adapter with some kind of easily-removable docking plate in the first place.
My guess is either the followup will be the same thickness, or it'll be incompatible with the existing accessories. (And given that other than the dock, basically none of the promised accessories are available even this long after launch, I'm tending towards the latter.)
Asus has so far failed to build up the ecosystem that Transformer owners were led to believe was on the way, and that suggests to me that they've pushed delivery of that ecosystem back to their second-gen product, if at all. The only reason to do that is if it's no longer compatible with the first generation.
Also, note that while you can remove the inner trim piece by removing four screws (and perhaps the two star-shaped screws in the outside of the hinge, although I'm guessing those mate into the combined latch mechanism / tablet jack assembly), this doesn't remove the hinge itself. Its outer dimensions are still dictated by the thickness of the current tablet. Hence, even if they offered an adapter of some kind, it would leave a large, unsightly bulge on the back of a thinner tablet when docked. (All of the slack has to be taken up behind the tablet, because the tablet itself has to be flush with the dock when closed, meaning that any reduction in thickness of the tablet will leave the hinge mechanism standing proud of the tablet's back surface by the same amount, beyond what it already does with the existing tablet.)
Sorry. With the newer Transformers locked down I have to believe the next gen will be as well. As much as I like my TF, I will be switching to a more open manufacturer. I'm not paying $500+ to be locked out of my own device.
Add another vote for Windows 8 instead. My TF1 will continue to do work as a dev test platform for Android.
Everything I do works just fine on my current TF. Unless there are things that the TF2 does that my current one cant, and it were things I would do, then yeah I would buy the TF2.
But if not, then I will keep my TF until it stops doing what I want it to do..
I'd buy it only with an unlocked bootloader. A stock machine is 50% useless.
knoxploration said:
There is absolutely zero chance they're going to put out an adapter that requires customers to dissassemble the existing hinge section, even just by removing four screws. If there's an adapter of any kind, it will sit inside the existing hinge assembly.
That said, I would happily place a bet that there will be no such adapter at all. If Asus had intended to accomodate slimmer tablets with the same dock, they've have provisioned an adapter with some kind of easily-removable docking plate in the first place.
My guess is either the followup will be the same thickness, or it'll be incompatible with the existing accessories. (And given that other than the dock, basically none of the promised accessories are available even this long after launch, I'm tending towards the latter.)
Asus has so far failed to build up the ecosystem that Transformer owners were led to believe was on the way, and that suggests to me that they've pushed delivery of that ecosystem back to their second-gen product, if at all. The only reason to do that is if it's no longer compatible with the first generation.
Also, note that while you can remove the inner trim piece by removing four screws (and perhaps the two star-shaped screws in the outside of the hinge, although I'm guessing those mate into the combined latch mechanism / tablet jack assembly), this doesn't remove the hinge itself. Its outer dimensions are still dictated by the thickness of the current tablet. Hence, even if they offered an adapter of some kind, it would leave a large, unsightly bulge on the back of a thinner tablet when docked. (All of the slack has to be taken up behind the tablet, because the tablet itself has to be flush with the dock when closed, meaning that any reduction in thickness of the tablet will leave the hinge mechanism standing proud of the tablet's back surface by the same amount, beyond what it already does with the existing tablet.)
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Lol! Such a long winded post. I merely stated how easy it is to take off the back part of the hinge and you're making it sound as impossible as time travel. 2 screws, and replace. Done.
Now, whether they choose this easy route, make the tab the same thickness (at least at the bottom) or go with a **** move by renigging on what they said about being compatible, is anyone's guess and pure speculation right now.
The fact is, I don't really care. I don't mind jumping ship if they don't make it compatible. I'm looking forward to the next greatest thing with W8.
Definitely planning to acquire TF2 with Android as a first tablet. No Microsoft [email protected] aka Windows8 for me plus it's immature and won't be ready until later in 2012.
Ill buy it porbably after 5 to6 months after release as i did it with the tf 1.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
kal-el seems to be over hyped :/ and now we get other quad's from qualcomm etc might as well wait and after the smoke clears re evaluate our options :/ prices will drop and specs will rise eventually

I need real advice on this issue on the TF Dock

Ok, I love my TF. And I mean it is awesome. And just being to get a Dock/Keyboard is very cool too..
But I am having a hard time buying the keyboard/. Yes I know all the advantages. But this is what my wife says about it. If you wanted a laptop, then why did you get a tablet?
I have no way of arguing with her on this point. But I would use it if I bought one.
So can you guys give me some advice to help me decide?
If your wife doesn't understand why it's better you chance your wife ;-)
Try to show herramientas that with a keyboard you have the best of two worlds. A laptop for some situations a tablet for other.
Enviado desde mi Transformer TF101 usando Tapatalk
I enjoy having the keyboard dock simply because it bridges the gap between a tablet and a netbook. In addition to all the features it offers typing is so much more convenient while still experiencing the touch screen of the tab itself (whenever I use mine or my wife's laptop I actually try to scroll on the screen...).
You can ask your wife to remove the screen from a netbook when you want to use it separately . I'd say go for it! According to ASUS it will also be compatible for future tablets.
Now having the keyboard dock, I wish i didn't. I wish i would have picked up a good bt keyboard that i could interchange with my cellphone/htpc/future cell./future tablet. my .02
It all comes down to what your main purpose/use for the dock is. I personally like that you can hook up external drives etc. without issues, take screenshots, have dedicated android shortcuts and so on. I had a BT keyboard for my XOOM but it wasn't that great (admittedly, it was a cheap generic Apple keyboard that I taught some android shortcuts). If it's just for the sake of typing on a keyboard then yes, maybe it's better to get a good wireless (BT) keyboard that works with other BT devices. If you want connectivity and expandability then the dock is the best (only?) solution.
phlunkie said:
Now having the keyboard dock, I wish i didn't. I wish i would have picked up a good bt keyboard that i could interchange with my cellphone/htpc/future cell./future tablet. my .02
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For me, I enjoyed using the tablet only. I got the keyboard/dock so I could type faster, and keep the tablet charged. Sometimes I use the USB & SD slots, too.
What happens now: I leave the tablet in the dock most of the time. I only disconnect the tablet when I want to read or play something that works better without a keyboard/dock.
The dock transforms your use from primary tablet, to primary tablet/dock. HTH.
One of the ways I justified it is that with any other tablet you have to buy a BT keyboard anyways, and in addition the dock when folded PROTECTS the tab's glass, basically eliminating the need for a case or sleeve
+1 To " get a new wife"
I make good use of the extra USB, SD, and battery so its really justified for me.
And +1 to fldude99 about protecting the glass. If you think it will benefit you for what you do with the tab then get it. I for one, love it.
I decided to go ahead and get one. Found a brand new one for $123.00. I can always use it on the next transformer I get that happens to have a number 2 next to it.
good for you, oh, and a word of advice, you might like to know what one would do about the weird trackpad and scrolling problems, and that is this: get a usb mouse... It works great with the dock and makes for the full "netbook" experience. (I would go for a wired one though because I occassionally have problems with my wireless one)
hope I could make your experience a little easier
cost with dock and tf is about 5 or 600 cost for new laptop, over 700 dollars. point made
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium
Considering I got my TF + Dock for $230 shipped brand new, Im thrilled with this thing. The dock is amazing because it gives you the flexibility to work or play. It's very portable with or without the dock, but I usually take just the TF with me when I go places and I dock it the second I get home. Not to mention the extra battery life is a blessing. I say go for it man, you won't regret it.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium
It makes typing a hundred times easier and the extra battery are the main reasons I love the dock.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium
(1) Laptop battery doesn't last 16 hours.
(2) Laptop can't transform into a tablet when you just want a tablet.
(3) Laptop doesn't have multi-touch capacitive screen.
(4) Laptop feels like an anchor.
Just a few off the top of my head.
I've found that people, ipad users in particular, have a hard time understanding choice. To them the issue is whether you want a tablet or a laptop. What if you want both but don't want to carry a laptop and a tablet around?
Earlier today someone on the train asked me just this question. She was crazy about her ipad 2. So, we talked about our tablets because she was curious about what I have. The question inevitably came up. Why didn't I just get a laptop? I gave her my short answer, which was "I like having the choice to either have a laptop or a tablet". She just gave me a blank look.
This goes back to what I've been saying for months. Apple has done a very good job at convincing people that you cannot be productive with your ipad. You need a laptop for that, preferably the macbook air. So, this woman, like so many others I've talked to, was puzzled why I wanted to do work with my tablet. She couldn't imagine typing for too long on her ipad because the softkeys are just horrible to type on if you're doing substantial typing. Even after I plugged my Tf into the dock, she still had trouble understanding how I could work with a tablet. I had to show her some documents I had put together on nothing but the TF and my powerpoint presentation.
By the time she got up to get off the train at her stop, I still got the feeling that she was still not convinced you could be useful with the tablet platform.
Last month, ,I read an article that claimed the author believed strongy the future will belong to the tablet-notebook hybrids. I guess only time will tell. I agree with that article, though.
i damaged my tablet by packing it with an extension cord for a flight - the prongs dug deep into the screen and damaged it somewhat - d'oh
so i picked up the keyboard primarily so that it could protect the screen
what i got was a keyboard that seems even better made than the tablet
i like the keyboard too for note-taking or long emails, while keeping the tactile yumminess of a touchscreen
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium

Who's getting/using TF201 Dock instead

Anyone else thinking of buying the TF201 Dock instead of the new one? I am considering it; cheaper and longer battery.
wpbear said:
Anyone else thinking of buying the TF201 Dock instead of the new one? I am considering it; cheaper and longer battery.
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According to this site: http://eee.asus.com/en/eeepad/transformer-infinity/specification/Default.htm
And I quote: "* The Transformer Pad Infinity mobile dock is compatible with Eee Pad Transformer Prime. (The Eee Pad Transformer Prime mobile dock is NOT compatible with Transformer Pad Infinity)"
I know many people have stated otherwise, and if I remember correctly engadget even tried it out. But the official site clearly states that the prime dock will not work on the infinity.
Very interesting, I read the same that Engadget TF201 Dock works.....we need some real testers then.
I can confirm the dock for the TF201 works perfectly with my TF700T
But... the colors are not quite the same... I have a grey TF700T and the grey of the TF201 dock is a lot darker and purple than the tablet
I can also confirm. I bought a dockless TF700 and a TF201 dock, they worked together flawlessly form the start.
The brack.ch site markets the dock as "ASUS EEE PAD Transformer TF201/TF700 Dockingstation"
marder said:
I can also confirm. I bought a dockless TF700 and a TF201 dock, they worked together flawlessly form the start.
The brack.ch site markets the dock as "ASUS EEE PAD Transformer TF201/TF700 Dockingstation"
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How is the color?
Every review/unboxing video ive seen on youtube had a prime dock. And as you might know that stuff gets sent to them by Asus themselves. So I'd take that compatibility-sentence on their homepage with a grain of salt. Thats basically them trying to make even more money off the uninformed people (which is like 85% of the customers).
If I didnt already preorder the whole package (dock/tablet) i would have bought the prime dock. I might even sell my infinity dock and get the prime one if it really gives more battery and the colour aint significantly different from the tablet.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using xda app-developers app
Another thing I just saw now... the tablet and the dock don't fit perfectly. There is a gap like 2-3mm where the tablet is more to the front
Pics to explain :
Front : http://bayimg.com/NAPpiAadF
Back : http://bayimg.com/NAPpNaADF
Color difference between the dock (bottom) and tablet (top) : http://bayimg.com/oaPpAAaDF
It seems some early adopters are getting the Infinity bundled with the old Keyboard. I saw a picture in the post above and the prime keyboard doesn´t sit too well on the infinity when closed/clapped together.
Can someone who bought both tablet and dock confirm if this is true?
naira1 said:
It seems some early adopters are getting the Infinity bundled with the old Keyboard. I saw a picture in the post above and the prime keyboard doesn´t sit too well on the infinity when closed/clapped together.
Can someone who bought both tablet and dock confirm if this is true?
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I got mine today and can confirm it.
My TF700T came with a TF201 Dock (bundled that way by Asus, I guess).
After looking at that picture above I saw that my combination also shows that small gap, but Its such a minor difference that my guess is that it's meant that way.
I think the real infinity dock might show that gap too because it fits perfectly on any other part. The gap seems to come from the rubber spacer left and right of the keyboard.
But who cares for these minor differences? Personally I'd prefere the old Dock because the battery is stronger and all other specs are excactly the same. **
** comparing the specs at Asus' website it seems the new dock will be 1cm thinner but 20g heavier AND has the smaller battery, so I concider myself lucky to get the old one
Question to the ones who have the dock already: Do you find yourselves using the dock a lot other than for the apparent reasons such as battery life and USB port?
The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of buying the dock, but I'm a bit unsure wether this is a "need" or a "want". I get that if you're a writer/columnist, a keyboard dock is great, but it'd be nice to get some personal opinions from others on wether the dock turned out to be a "must have" in everyday use or if it's really just an appendage to get more battery life so to speak.
terjeofnorway said:
Question to the ones who have the dock already: Do you find yourselves using the dock a lot other than for the apparent reasons such as battery life and USB port?
The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of buying the dock, but I'm a bit unsure wether this is a "need" or a "want". I get that if you're a writer/columnist, a keyboard dock is great, but it'd be nice to get some personal opinions from others on wether the dock turned out to be a "must have" in everyday use or if it's really just an appendage to get more battery life so to speak.
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It's really nice as an extra charger while on the run. Plus a full USB port and a full SD card slot are a great addition when moving larger amounts of data. But what makes in more like a laptop is the keyboard itself. I wouldn't be excited with the Infinity so much if not for the keyboard (the HD screen itself is great for sure, but still...). Touch screen is fun, but writting longer texts on it is pain for me (especially as it's not 100% responsive while typing fast, which I'm used to), I need a real keyboard, and the 93% keyboard is really fine (the right shift could be bigger, but hey... it's 10" and it's pretty easy to get accustomed!). On the other hand, I'll try to play with some non-standard keyboards during this weekend (the GO Keyboard was OK, but unfortunately not compatible with the dock) - on my list are LogiType, FloatNSplit, Thumb, SlideIT, Smart, Swiftkey and TouchPal keyboards, so a lot of testing to do...
BTW, I've just bought some cheap stylus (~3 EUR) to test the whole idea and it's great!
d14b0ll0s said:
It's really nice as an extra charger while on the run. Plus a full USB port and a full SD card slot are a great addition when moving larger amounts of data. But what makes in more like a laptop is the keyboard itself. I wouldn't be excited with the Infinity so much if not for the keyboard (the HD screen itself is great for sure, but still...). Touch screen is fun, but writting longer texts on it is pain for me (especially as it's not 100% responsive while typing fast, which I'm used to), I need a real keyboard, and the 93% keyboard is really fine (the right shift could be bigger, but hey... it's 10" and it's pretty easy to get accustomed!). On the other hand, I'll try to play with some non-standard keyboards during this weekend (the GO Keyboard was OK, but unfortunately not compatible with the dock) - on my list are LogiType, FloatNSplit, Thumb, SlideIT, Smart, Swiftkey and TouchPal keyboards, so a lot of testing to do...
BTW, I've just bought some cheap stylus (~3 EUR) to test the whole idea and it's great!
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So it seems that the dock will be a little different to get used to in terms of keyboard, but the quality is pretty good?
I'm planning on taking notes on this thing as a replacement for the dismal battery performance on my laptop, and the fact that it's lighter, thinner, and I can use a stylus to take notes as well.
KilerG said:
So it seems that the dock will be a little different to get used to in terms of keyboard, but the quality is pretty good?
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Sure, the quality is good, but it is not that much different than getting used to any netbook / small laptop keyboard. I am using the TF201 docking station, as this was the one I got bundled with TF700, BTW, but I believe it is not that much different from the upcoming "TF700 dedicated keyboard".
I'm planning on taking notes on this thing as a replacement for the dismal battery performance on my laptop, and the fact that it's lighter, thinner, and I can use a stylus to take notes as well.
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Sure, and SuperNote is way more fun than typing!
I only don't like Polaris Office, I will be using either the free Kingsoft office suite (which is really great) or - if I decide to spend some more money - OfficeSuite Pro 6, which seems the most convenient for me so far. You should definitely give it a try if you want the Infinity to work as a replacement for your laptop.
d14b0ll0s said:
Sure, the quality is good, but it is not that much different than getting used to any netbook / small laptop keyboard. I am using the TF201 docking station, as this was the one I got bundled with TF700, BTW, but I believe it is not that much different from the upcoming "TF700 dedicated keyboard".
Sure, and SuperNote is way more fun than typing!
I only don't like Polaris Office, I will be using either the free Kingsoft office suite (which is really great) or - if I decide to spend some more money - OfficeSuite Pro 6, which seems the most convenient for me so far. You should definitely give it a try if you want the Infinity to work as a replacement for your laptop.
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I think I have a couple office applications already. Is SuperNote the bundled application with the tablet? I type much faster than I write, so I'm planning on just using the stylus for notes that I can't type (i.e. Math). Luckily for me, this semester I don't have a math class though....a lot of critical thinking classes like Philosophical Reasoning, Social Problems, and Beauty and Creativity. Stuff I'll need to take notes for of course, and this tablet will be incredibly helpful for doing that.
Now I have to figure out if buying the TF700 dock is the right idea, or buying the TF201 one is better.
KilerG said:
I think I have a couple office applications already. Is SuperNote the bundled application with the tablet? I type much faster than I write, so I'm planning on just using the stylus for notes that I can't type (i.e. Math). Luckily for me, this semester I don't have a math class though....a lot of critical thinking classes like Philosophical Reasoning, Social Problems, and Beauty and Creativity. Stuff I'll need to take notes for of course, and this tablet will be incredibly helpful for doing that.
Now I have to figure out if buying the TF700 dock is the right idea, or buying the TF201 one is better.
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I really like your set of classes, although the Beauty thing feels pretty unnerving ;>
And yes, SuperNote is bundled, as well as many other apps. See some reviews on YouTube or on the tech websites, many of them mentioned it already.
I cannot help you with the docking options, as I only got to use the TF201 one. If I had an option to choose, I would prefer to lay my hands on both IRL. It's a very personal thing, so I don't think that the reviews can answer it for you.
When sliding my tablet into the (bundled prime-)dock, the lock only jumps back to the middle position and has to be manually moved to the right/lock-position. I have read that this may be an issue with defunct docks and that these should be returned. Is that true? Or are all old prime docks "affected", making a return superfluous?
So far, it doesn't bother me too much, but I just want to make sure everything works as planned.
Gruftikus said:
When sliding my tablet into the (bundled prime-)dock, the lock only jumps back to the middle position and has to be manually moved to the right/lock-position. I have read that this may be an issue with defunct docks and that these should be returned. Is that true? Or are all old prime docks "affected", making a return superfluous?
So far, it doesn't bother me too much, but I just want to make sure everything works as planned.
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I think it's just the slight difference in size between the Prime and the Infinity. I've also observed this on my Prime dock + Infinity tablet bundle, sometime it clicks, sometime it's stuck half-way, but the tablet is docked normally, so it's only the lock/slider that has to be adjusted. For me certainly not a flaw which would justify returning it. But if you hope for a TF700 dock in return, you can try (possibly with more luck in a few weeks, when the latter is widely available?)
I've just bought a TF700 pad and it works fine with my TF201 docking station. I haven't noticed any inconsistency in colours or size (but then again, I'm not the kind of person for which that matters - as long as it works, it could be in Yellow and Green colours for all I care).
However, I have noticed one curious thing, that I would like some input on. I had bought a 64 Gb MicroSD card ( amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-microSDXC-Adapter-SDSDQUA-064G-U46A/dp/B007WTAJTO/ref=sr_1_4 ), and it works perfectly in my Asus Eed Pad Transformer Prime TF201 pad, but I am unable to make it work in the TF700 pad.
I have tried formatting it to FAT32, exFAT and NTFS with variying cluster sizes, and when I insert it into the TF700 pad, the "Preparing external storage" message flashes on the screen for a very brief instant, and then nothing - no card is available.
That surprised me quite a bit, as I expected the hardware support to be the same in the TF700 as in the TF201, but it seems like there is a different USB hardware part in the TF700 than in the TF201.
My 128 Gb SD Card ( amazon.com/Sandisk-Extreme-Memory-45MBps-Speeds/dp/B006ZH1WVS/ref=sr_1_1 ) in the docking station (formatted to FAT32) works with both pads connected (which was expected, as the hardware is the same in this instance).
Does anyone have success with a 64 Gb MicroSD card in the TF700 pad? If so, which one is it, and how is the card formatted?
HeartWare42 said:
Does anyone have success with a 64 Gb MicroSD card in the TF700 pad? If so, which one is it, and how is the card formatted?
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I would also like to know this!

Keyboard dock

Hi,
I want to order a keyboard dock but I'm not sure what I should do. It looks like the only dock for sale right now is the Tf201 dock rebranded. Is there a real TF700 dock somewhere out there?
imperialprobe said:
Hi,
I want to order a keyboard dock but I'm not sure what I should do. It looks like the only dock for sale right now is the Tf201 dock rebranded. Is there a real TF700 dock somewhere out there?
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It's a little confusing, but Asus designed the TF700 (Transformer Infinity) tablet to use the same keyboard dock as the previous Transformer model, the TF201 (Transformer Prime). Therefore, the official correct dock for the TF700 is the TF201 dock. Asus has made this more confusing than it already was by marketing it as a different unit, and placing stickers over the "TF201" to say "TF700". Stores still sell the TF201-stickered dock for less, as it's for an older tablet. The boxes stickered as TF700 dock (inside all documentation says TF201 and the product is detected as TF201) are considered a new accessory for the new tablet, so they're marked at full price.
If you can get the TF201 dock for less than the TF700 dock, you might as well, since they're the exact same.
If you see battery times listed differently, don't be confused. The TF700 tablet uses more power, so the same dock gets less battery life than on the Transformer Prime). It has been confirmed that the same battery cells are inside docks marked TF201 and TF700.
In summary, the REAL TF700 dock is the both the "rebranded TF201" and the non-rebranded TF201 dock.
How sure are we that the docks are the exact same? While I am using the TF201 dock from when I had my prime, I have noticed that it just doesn't fit in correctly. The lock bar that holds the tablet in place isn't sliding all of the way over, and it just seems to be a little tighter than it should be.
Don't get me wrong, just because of that I haven't gone out and gotten a new dock, but it's been on my mind because I know Best Buy does have the TF700 branded docks in stock.
Haha, and the confusion continues
It looks like all the TF201 docks are either not that cheap or out of stock. So I may just end up getting a TF700 dock and hoping it's the right fit.
imperialprobe said:
Hi,
I want to order a keyboard dock but I'm not sure what I should do. It looks like the only dock for sale right now is the Tf201 dock rebranded. Is there a real TF700 dock somewhere out there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I have a real TF700 dock. The color match and fit/function are exact. Buy from reputable retail establishment. I got my tab and dock from BestBuy.
There are a few threads about the differences between beyond the TF200 and TF700 docks. One even has a tear down comparison.
From what I could see and read, the only difference is color. If you want it to match the tablet, get the TF700 one. If you don't care about color matching, and want to save around $50, then you can get the TF201.
If you just want a keyboard to use, you could get portable blue tooth keyboard. There are a quite a few to choose from that are for phones and tablets. I already had a Freedom Pro Keyboard that I used with my Evo 4G. I just bought a portable folding tablet stand.
Based on what I've been reading, I personally feel that there *are* some very slight differences between the two docks, mainly with the color and the actual docking portion of the dock. It seems that the TF201-only dock has some slight differences that cause the locking mechanism to not quite lock properly - I've also read that the TF700 version of the keyboard dock just seems to fit better than the TF201-only dock.
I do realize that there was a teardown of both, but what you can't see in that teardown is whether or not the internal parts and fit of the actual docking portion are exactly the same or not. Like I said, I've read quite a few posts where the locking mech doesn't automatically lock on the TF201-only dock - have not heard of that issue with any of the docks labeled for the TF700. I've also read that the docking portion of the docks are slightly different to accommodate the shape differences of the TF201 and TF700 tablets.
Personally, I'd spend the extra $$ to get the dock labeled for the TF700. Over the lifetime of this expensive tablet, the extra $50 (or whatever the difference is) isn't a big deal for some peace of mind that you've done everything that you could to make sure everything works properly...
Just my opinion.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
I have a 201 doc(actually bought as 201 dock) fit is perfect, latch works perfectly, difference is insignificant.
I will tell you my reasoning as to why I do not believe there is actually a 700 dock.
1) Asus can't get their story straight about whether the 201 doc is even compatible.(I call BS)
2) 700 docks are covered in stickers saying 700 that cover the text saying 201(I call total BS)
3) Teardowns show insignificant differences, as in differences between production runs of the same model.
3) An asus rep came on here saying they were different, different color, different internal layouts, different battery sizes, which the tear downs have shown the last two to be complete an utter lies.(I Call Fraud)
4) Said Asus REP has completely refused to comment on the tear down after making those absurd statements(OOPS I got caught, time to hide)
5) 201 docks have all but dissapeared and are now replaced with the label ridden 700 dock and listed as compatible for the 700. if the fit is wrong between the 700 and the 201 dock then the fit must be wrong between the 201 and the 700 dock, but they don't make the 201 dock anymore.
I think a lot of people on here want to believe that their 50 bucks was well spent and are hunting for reasons to think the 700 dock isn't the rip-off it really is. No offense to anyone, it's human nature, but until someone shows me a teardown with a smaller battery shifted to the front of that dock for better weight balance I'm not buying it. Any difference people think they see are production run differences.
Just my 2c
Buy the 201 dock, it's usually cheaper. I ordered one off Amazon last week for $120, and it works flawlessly with my Infinity. Like they were made for each other.

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