PC vendor Asus has taken the old trend of device convergence in a new direction with the launch this week of the Transformer AiO, a device that seeks to marry the mobility of a tablet with the performance of a desktop PC.
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The Transformer AiO can function both as a desktop running 3rd generation Intel Core desktop processor technology and Windows 8 performance, and the 18.4” multi-touch display can be detached, to function as a tablet powered by an Nvidia’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor and Android 4.1 user experience. Th tablet is also capable of running Windows 8 in Remote Desktop mode.
The Transformer AiO features four USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI out port for an additional display, and so you can continue to use the desktop in Windows 8 mode while the tablet operates separately in Android 4.1 mode.
The 18.4” LED-backlit display features 1080p HD resolution with 10-point multi-touch and IPS technology, and the PC also features dual-band Wi-Fi for high-performance wireless networking with compatible routers.
I’m not sure how portable an 18″ tablet is; I probably wouldn’t take it on the plane for a business trip. For use around the house though, say as the “second screen” while watching TV, it would be great for consuming media.