asus

Ultrabook holiday pricing on the cheap

Ultrabooks are available for the first time this holiday season. That calls for a quick survey of pricing since models have debuted at unexpectedly low prices.

As a refresher, ultrabooks are skinny (typically under 0.8 inches thick), lightweight (three pounds or less) laptops that offer mainstream mobile performance.

In short, they attempt to approximate the portability of a tablet while offering more horsepower via Intel processors. And, of course, they run full-blown Windows--not a minor point.

Pricing runs the gamut but the most-recently-released ultrabooks all fall below the $1,000 mark at retailers like Best Buy. That's important … Read more

Best monitors of 2011

We saw some pretty cool monitor innovations in 2011. A new panel technology debuted, the thinnest panel yet was revealed, as was a monitor that functioned fully, without requiring a physical connection to a PC.

Going into 2011, we'll likely continue to see thinner monitors with more power baked into them, cheaper IPS monitors, more monitors that are completely self-sufficient (no PC required, necessarily), and be on the lookout for DisplayPort to finally take off in a big way.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Right now now it's time to take a look back at 2011 and the most impressive monitors that came through CNET Labs. … Read more

Top 5 wireless routers of 2011 that will last beyond 2012

The wireless router is arguably the most important piece of the networking setup at your home or your office.

It's the central gateway that connects to the Internet, then shares that connection with all of the devices connected to it, via a network cable or Wi-Fi signal. Other services depend on the router, as well, such as file sharing, voice over IP, remote access, and VPN.

A router generally has to be on and functioning 24-7. There are thousands, if not millions, of data packages going through it every day, and you expect it to work without any hiccups. Ironically, it's also the device that most people pay the least attention to. In fact, the only time it's noticed at all is when it's not working right.

That said, it's very important to pick a router that's not just fast and feature-rich, but also reliable. Following is the list of the top five wireless routers I've reviewed this year that fit that description.… Read more

Asus Transformer Prime review: The best Android tablet yet?

Since the launch of the iPad 2, I've been waiting for the Asus Transformer Prime. While I didn't know it existed until a few months ago, just the thought of a powerful, robust, and sexy Android tablet has invaded my dreams for months now.

Well, maybe not my dreams, but at least my thoughts. The moment tablets start invading my dreams is the moment I'll know I'm spending too much time with tablets.

So, is Transformer Prime the tablet of my dreams thoughts? Its quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 CPU definitely gets me excited, but it takes more than just raw speed to truly impress. Thoughtful design as well as well-implemented and useful features don't hurt either.

Throw in that intangible, "it just feels right" quality and you could be truly on the road to something special. Something that could be considered the best in its category.

Check out the Transformer Prime's full review to see how we considered it.

Read more

GameStop first to show off Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet

Want to try out the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime before it launches later this month? GameStop has your back.

The boutique game retailer said today that it will be allowing customers at select stores nationwide to go hands-on with the Android-based device starting this weekend. The company didn't say where the Transformer Prime will be on display, but did point out that it's the first retailer to bring the device to the public.

The Eee Pad Transformer Prime is the first tablet to launch with the new quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, which promises an improved mobile-gaming … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1568: That's just the Google Maps guy, ignore him (Podcast)

The Carrier IQ spy software scandal continues to grow: Al Franken wants an explanation and researchers say it might even be showing up in iOS. AT&T's T-Mobile bid is on death watch, and we perform a live demo of Siri's abortion "glitch" -- biggest problem? It's not search and it should be search. Meanwhile, Google announces that it's planning to map indoor spaces, and we envision a world of Google mapping guys on Segways in the mall and maybe even snooping around our cubicles and kitchens.

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Hands-on with the Asus Transformer Prime

Do not adjust your monitors. This is, in fact, only a hands-on and not a full review of the Asus Transformer Prime.

Unfortunately, during the review process, we experienced some very suspect performance issues (detailed below), which led us to believe we were possibly in possession of a faulty unit. So, we are going to hold off on giving final ratings for the Prime, but check out our initial impressions.

Everything below is accurate to our experience with the Transformer Prime. … Read more

More leaks on Acer, Lenovo Android 4.0 tablets

One thing is certain. The Android tablet crowd has beaten Apple to the punch with quad-core silicon--and the list is growing.

In the wake of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime becoming available for order at stores like Best Buy in the U.S., a few more details have leaked on upcoming quad-core tablets from Acer and Lenovo, according to an Asia-based Digitimes report. … Read more

Buy an Android tablet now or wait for the Transformer Prime?

Editor's note: Updated with correct physical dimensions facts.

You've been patient. You've done your research and are now ready to finally plop down the cash for a tablet. For whatever reason, you've chosen to overlook the iPad 2 and are dead set on bringing an Android tablet home this year.

There are plenty of available Android tablets to choose from, the very best of which are running the Honeycomb OS; however, the recently revealed Asus Transformer Prime--the next iteration of the well-received Asus Transformer--represents the most significant hardware upgrade for Android tablets since the launch of the Motorola Xoom.

So, do you take the plunge now or wait for the Prime? Make no mistake, thanks to its increased specs over current Android tablets, anyone interested in buying a tablet should watch the Prime's launch closely. I'm looking at you, original Transformer owners, as the Prime will include all the features of the original Transformer, plus more.

So keep reading as I plow through what I consider are the most relevant concerns when considering your tablet-choosing dilemma.… Read more

Rumor Has It, Ep. 9: iPad 3 is the loneliest number (podcast)

Spinal Tap ruined Karyne's life last week, and now she's losing the betting round this month.

She has one more week to get two points, or else it's her turn (once again) to embarrass herself. So put on your thinking caps, and send in your suggestions for the show of shame.

On this week's show, we learn how to pronounce Asus (kinda), the Facebook phone is one step closer to truth, the Amazon phone might be, too, and the Xbox 720 has Emily rescinding her vote. … Read more