The packaging that ASUS R1F arrives in is just like any other at first glance. Using a highly trained and sophisticated move, we open the box and find a bag and another two boxes. We take the more elegant one and find cables, battery and the rest of the package inside, but no laptop. We take the other box, which is rather simple-looking, and open it, only to find a fourth box inside. OK, someone really decided to lengthen that sweet impatience every buyer has.
This third box already gives a much better impression. Nicely designed and well-built, one could deduce that a nice expensive notebook is located inside. We open the fourth box and find yet another obstacle. OK, that paper isn't much of an obstacle, really. We continue to unwrap this and finally stumble upon a beautiful little bag that perfectly fits a device this elegant. Inside it, we finally find what we were looking for - the ASUS R1F Tablet PC.
ASUS R1F is by the specifications a combination of mobility and performance. With its almost 2 kg in weight, it certainly doesn't belong to the lightweight category, but no compromise was made in the production, so there is an optical drive included as well.
Asus R1F | | CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 @ 1,83 GHz | | Chipset | Intel i945GM | | Memory | 1 GB DDR2 | | HDD (GB) | 120 | | Optical | DVD+-RW DL | | Graphics | Intel GMA 950 | | Display (“) | 13,3 (1280x800) | | Connectors | 3xUSB, VGA, S-Video, Bluetooth,
Wireless 802.11 a/b/g, Card reader | | Price (€) | 2100 |
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Besides, the 13.3" screen isn't that small either. The laptop was precisely manufactured, and no crackling or clicking is present. That alone indicates that the device is top-class.
The screen possesses all characteristics of the screens usual for Tablet PCs (except for Toshiba R400 we reviewed recently, whose screen is definitely better than any other), which means that image quality is a little different compared to ordinary notebooks. Naturally, the cause of this is that Tablet PCs have touchscreen panels. The viewing angles are very good, but sharpness is literally a step worse. What is interesting is that, although we are dealing with a "glare" screen type, the reflections are not that noticeable. Anyway, after a few days of working and getting accustomed to this type of display, you will stop noticing this property.
The PC can be "commandeered" in three different ways: keyboard, touchpad, and the touchscreen pen (part of the bundle). All of these deserve different grades. The keyboard is not much to talk about - it's comfortable to work on, but without any excursions to the top class. Generally, hardly anyone would find a reason to complain. The touch pad gets a lower grade, as it would definitely benefit from higher sensitivity. On the other hand, however, the sensitivity and precision provided by the pen are on a very high level and it was a truly enjoyable experience using it.
The device has three USB ports, all of them on the back side. Relocating one of these to one side of the laptop would have made manipulating different USB peripherals easier. Beside the small one, a larger carrying-bag is provided as well, manufactured in the same material and quality, and the entire package is fulfilled by a Bluetooth mouse.
OK, all of this is very nice, but for this amount of money, the buyer is bound to expect something more, something that cheaper models cannot offer. ASUS R1F does have a few tricks up its sleeve that can win the buyer's confidence. We already mentioned that the keyboard was solid, but we haven't mentioned its strongest weapon. You don't have to pull your hair if you accidentally spill some liquid onto the keyboard! Of course, this tolerance has its boundaries, but a glass of water will not hurt this pricey beauty. A multifunctional drawer is also provided in the bundle, and can be used for storing a second hard-disk or a secondary battery and thus increase autonomy. Of course, these are not supplied with the laptop, but have to be purchased separately.
| PC MARK05 | 3188 | | 3D MARK03 | 989 | | SANDRA 2007 | | | Processor | 15641 / 11736 | | Multimedia | 100979 / 55022 | | Memory | 3173 / 3132 | | Battery Test | 2h 44' 12” |
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Safety is becoming more and more of a factor, so ASUS R1F is equipped with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and the fingerprint reader is an additional form of protection.
Alongside all sorts of hardware solutions, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligence is something worth mentioning, as it provides a better image quality. The performance is expectedly good, and the Vista score is somewhat smaller (2,2) only due to the integrated graphics solution. The R1F is delivered with Windows Vista Business operating system, whose Aero interface fits perfectly with the rest of the image of this computer.
Most of the Tablet PCs are targeting either users with specific needs or the ones who want an attention-grabbing computer. Well, ASUS R1F seems to successfully hit both target markets.
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