ASUS has added two new members to its Transformer Book family, introducing the new T100HA 2-in-1 convertible and the reversible Flip TP200SA.
Convertible devices continue to grow in popularity as more 2-in-1 machines make it to market, combining the portability of a tablet with the power of a notebook to offer the best of both worlds.
"The new Transformer Book T100HA and Flip TP200SA are the perfect mobile companions that are ready for your active life whether you want to work on-the-go, unleash your creativity in serene environments or simply relax and catch up on the news," ASUS touts in a new press release on Tuesday, September 22.
With thin and light form factors, fast SSD storage, IPS displays with wide viewing angles and "incredible system responsiveness," the two new Transformer Book models aim to offer power and flexibility on a budget.
ASUS Transformer Book T100HA
The Transformer Book T100HA is a 10.1-inch convertible model with a 1280 x 800 touchscreen and good specs overall, especially for its price point. The highlights of this new 2-in-1 machine consist of an Intel Cherry Trail CPU that also allows for a Type-C USB 3.1.
ASUS further notes that this new processor delivers up to 20 percent higher performance compared with the previous generation, while also conserving battery life to keep the device up and running for up to 12 hours on a single charge. The T100HA also boasts fast-charge technology that allows users to charge the device to 80 percent in just a couple of hours and get a 9.5-hour battery life.
Other specs of the T100HA model include 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of eMMC expandable storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. The machine weighs 1.2 pounds as a tablet and 2.32 pounds with the keyboard dock attached. The ASUS T100HA 2-in-1 will become available to purchase "later this month" for an affordable $299.
ASUS Transformer Book Flip TP200SA
The larger TP200SA model, meanwhile, allows users to flip the 11.6-inch screen around and use the device as a tablet, but the dock doesn't actually detach. This Flip device has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and packs a quad-core Intel Celeron Braswell processor under the hood.
Other specs include 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable eMMC storage and a VGA front camera. The TP200SA also comes with one USB 3.0 port, but without the Type-C connector found on the T100HA. Nevertheless, it can serve as a cheap travel notebook weighing only 2.65 pounds. The ASUS Transformer Book Flip TP200SA will launch "later this month" as well, sporting a $349 price tag.
Windows 10, Cortana, Continuum Mode
Both the T100HA and the TP200SA rock a "stereo array microphone," which ASUS says is optimized for Microsoft's Windows 10 OS and Cortana digital assistant. As such, both devices allow users to issue "Hey Cortana" voice commands.
At the same time, the Windows 10 Continuum mode will allow users to seamlessly switch to a tablet-optimized view when detaching the keyboard dock from the T100HA or when flipping the TP200SA. With the latter, Continuum will automatically disable the keyboard keys when the keyboard is flipped to avoid accidental button presses.
