I'm just speculating here, but since tablets (and especially this one) are basically laptop computers with slimmer hardware, it probably isn't much cheaper to build one of these than it is a full fledged laptop.
I am pretty sure these are much cheaper to build and that margins are much higher. Tablet doesn't have an optical drive. the 16GB flash is of course much cheaper than a 500GB hard drive. There is less RAM. Less ports. No ethernet. Less chips on the motherboard. Smaller display. (except this one) no keyboard. A smaller PSU. A smaller battery.
So even if the tablet SoC was more expensive than a laptop CPU + chipset (which I doubt), and despite the touchscreen, I am pretty sure that laptops cost more to build.
Its more expensive to build a thin and light notebook because you can build a thick and heavy notebook with cheap standard otc components, while thin and light requires that you use custom components such as a special battery, mainboard, etc. The below link is to an article that explains in better detail. Additionally, a 16 GB SSD drive cost about the same as a 500GB hard drive on NewEgg. Its partially because a SSD requires a special memory controller that USB flash drives do not, and the quality of the Flash chips are probably higher as well. Apple can make high margins off of the iPad mainly because they manufacture in large quantities, and therefore have good economies of scale. If how badly android tablets sell is any sign, Asus will not have such good economies of scale for this hardware.
It's not quite as feature packed a netbook, but the price is similar and I imagine the performance is going to be better (As in, Android is designed for this kind of purpose, Win7 is NOT meant for netbooks.). Plus, the battery life ought to be nice and honestly, what can do you with a similarly priced netbook/laptop that you can't do with this?
I absolutely hate writing notes. I would type them in a heartbeat instead. I can actually look at someone and type, I can type probably 5 times faster, and I can easily rearrange the notes I'm taking.
Granted, I can't draw by typing, but that's the only drawback. I'm not sure how many times people draw things while taking notes in class.
-- Everyone already expects tablets to be quite thin and light (Apple having set the goal post here), and this is always noticeably expensive than somewhat fatter and heavier devices. (Most laptops in the <$500 are still at least 1" thick, after all ... and even many netbooks, where you're closer to the $300-$400 range and don't have a CD ROM drive, are too.) -- Tablets are still relatively new devices, and therefore chipsets tend to be more expensive than the PC market. It's really the intense competition between AMD and Intel that has made for some very inexpensive laptops today -- otherwise I doubt you'd be seeing any of the very-low-end $300 laptops now available. -- Quantities for tablets are still far lower than for laptops, which raises prices as well. -- Margins probably are still a bit higher, with manufacturers likely keying their prices to the iPad rather than traditional laptops
Same reason why a 13" notebook is magically priced higher than a 12" or 14" model. Really nothing more than, "If they want it bad enough, they'll pay for it". Apple, with it's rabid fanboys, proves this on a daily basis.
Really the only advantage I can see of this, over the tablet & keyboard, is that it's going to be slimmer and lighter than the transformer and docking station. However, you also don't get the extra battery life you get with the docking station attached, so it's really a matter of personal preference at that point.
I'm still disappointed that no one has made a 12 or 13 inch tablet. Older eyes don't always enjoy a small screen, ya know?
I would like to know how does ASUS behave in the update department. Have they kept their devices updated? Will they upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich? Have they finally added 5Ghz band to their Wi-Fi cards? There's no product from them with 5Ghz while a lot of tablets have it.
Okay, I've seen that ASUS uploads updates to their download section like they do with PC motherboards BIOS. For example the transformer shipped with honeycomb 3.1 and you can download 3.2. That's good. Other manufacturers take some months to release an update.
I'm inclined to agree. They haven't released their full gallery of pics, but if I have to look down all the time to use it I would get a neck cramp fast.
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paul878 - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
why are these thing so expensive?for that price you can get a real laptop.
HibyPrime1 - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
I'm just speculating here, but since tablets (and especially this one) are basically laptop computers with slimmer hardware, it probably isn't much cheaper to build one of these than it is a full fledged laptop.zorxd - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
I am pretty sure these are much cheaper to build and that margins are much higher.Tablet doesn't have an optical drive. the 16GB flash is of course much cheaper than a 500GB hard drive. There is less RAM. Less ports. No ethernet. Less chips on the motherboard. Smaller display. (except this one) no keyboard. A smaller PSU. A smaller battery.
So even if the tablet SoC was more expensive than a laptop CPU + chipset (which I doubt), and despite the touchscreen, I am pretty sure that laptops cost more to build.
ph0masta - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
Its more expensive to build a thin and light notebook because you can build a thick and heavy notebook with cheap standard otc components, while thin and light requires that you use custom components such as a special battery, mainboard, etc. The below link is to an article that explains in better detail. Additionally, a 16 GB SSD drive cost about the same as a 500GB hard drive on NewEgg. Its partially because a SSD requires a special memory controller that USB flash drives do not, and the quality of the Flash chips are probably higher as well. Apple can make high margins off of the iPad mainly because they manufacture in large quantities, and therefore have good economies of scale. If how badly android tablets sell is any sign, Asus will not have such good economies of scale for this hardware.http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2011/09/ultra...
jordanclock - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
It's not quite as feature packed a netbook, but the price is similar and I imagine the performance is going to be better (As in, Android is designed for this kind of purpose, Win7 is NOT meant for netbooks.). Plus, the battery life ought to be nice and honestly, what can do you with a similarly priced netbook/laptop that you can't do with this?Black1969ta - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
Write on it. Handwriting recognition would make a good way to take notes for CollegeCan't do that on the tiny touchpad of a netbook.
Also the IPS multi-touch screens used in Tablets are far superior to the dinky low pixel density screens used in netbooks
MadMinstrel - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
You can't write on this either - no stylus.sprockkets - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
Why not? Just use a capacitive stylus. Not as accurate though.mpschan - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
I absolutely hate writing notes. I would type them in a heartbeat instead. I can actually look at someone and type, I can type probably 5 times faster, and I can easily rearrange the notes I'm taking.Granted, I can't draw by typing, but that's the only drawback. I'm not sure how many times people draw things while taking notes in class.
Wait, that's all I did. Nvm, it needs a stylus.
damianrobertjones - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
"Win7 is NOT meant for netbooks."How so? (I've heard all the usual reasons and they all fail).
JKolstad - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
Probably several reasons:-- Everyone already expects tablets to be quite thin and light (Apple having set the goal post here), and this is always noticeably expensive than somewhat fatter and heavier devices. (Most laptops in the <$500 are still at least 1" thick, after all ... and even many netbooks, where you're closer to the $300-$400 range and don't have a CD ROM drive, are too.)
-- Tablets are still relatively new devices, and therefore chipsets tend to be more expensive than the PC market. It's really the intense competition between AMD and Intel that has made for some very inexpensive laptops today -- otherwise I doubt you'd be seeing any of the very-low-end $300 laptops now available.
-- Quantities for tablets are still far lower than for laptops, which raises prices as well.
-- Margins probably are still a bit higher, with manufacturers likely keying their prices to the iPad rather than traditional laptops
joe_dude - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
$480 for a MBA replacement that's lighter, touchscreen, IPS display, better battery life and won't overheat? How's that expensive?marvdmartian - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
Same reason why a 13" notebook is magically priced higher than a 12" or 14" model. Really nothing more than, "If they want it bad enough, they'll pay for it". Apple, with it's rabid fanboys, proves this on a daily basis.Really the only advantage I can see of this, over the tablet & keyboard, is that it's going to be slimmer and lighter than the transformer and docking station. However, you also don't get the extra battery life you get with the docking station attached, so it's really a matter of personal preference at that point.
I'm still disappointed that no one has made a 12 or 13 inch tablet. Older eyes don't always enjoy a small screen, ya know?
Filiprino - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
I would like to know how does ASUS behave in the update department. Have they kept their devices updated? Will they upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich? Have they finally added 5Ghz band to their Wi-Fi cards? There's no product from them with 5Ghz while a lot of tablets have it.Filiprino - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
Okay, I've seen that ASUS uploads updates to their download section like they do with PC motherboards BIOS. For example the transformer shipped with honeycomb 3.1 and you can download 3.2. That's good. Other manufacturers take some months to release an update.Spivonious - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - link
Who else thinks this would be a great device for Windows 8? Too bad they haven't released the ARM version.tanjo - Thursday, September 22, 2011 - link
if that's the highest screen tilt = failJasonInofuentes - Thursday, September 22, 2011 - link
I'm inclined to agree. They haven't released their full gallery of pics, but if I have to look down all the time to use it I would get a neck cramp fast.Jason