[Q] Why the Transformer over the Acer?

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As a future buyer I would like to know why you all are favoring the Transformer over the Acer Iconia tablet? (other than the $50 price diff.) when the Acer is widely available?

They both run the same software, and you could plug the Acer into a cheap USB keyboard if that what you want. It has a Full size USB port.

Not hassling you, trying to decide myself.

Thanks

Secular

Well, it's actually much larger than a $50 price difference. The A500 is only being sold by Best Buy and you will always get charged tax. Price for an A500 for me is around $500 when I can buy a Transformer from Newegg or Amazon and get it for $399.99 no tax. Also the IPS display is nice.

The only real advantage the Iconia has is the USB port. Well that and you can walk into Best Buy and grab one. Not sure if the aluminum enclosure is an advantage or just a preference -- makes the A500 feel a little more classy, but doesn't really add much to the equation.

If you have to have it now, get the Acer. If you can wait a while, you'll save some money and have a tablet that's just a good, but with a better screen. If I hadn't gotten a Transformer this week, I probably would've just gone with the A500.

The plastic enclosure on the Asus is surprisingly good feel in hand. There is a thread discussing this already.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

They are both nice. I was lucky to get the Transformer on launch day so I have it. But I also played with Acer at BB few times and compared it to Xoom. I liked Acer and it has a few pros comparing to Transformer - such as LED flash on the back, USB ports, and hardware screen lock switch that I like. I am also pretty sure that they will make some kind of a dock for it at some point since they have one for windows tablet they made. The screen on Transformer is suppose to be better because it is IPS but honestly I thought Acer's creen was great, definitely better then Xoom that was next to it; at least to my eyes. The build quality was pretty solid with no creaking or misalligned edges. Screen rotated much faster then Xoom as well, just like Asus. If I would have to wait for another month or two for Asus I would definitely go for Acer instead.

The differences that I can notice are (in favor to Transformer):

1. $50 difference
2. IPS Display
3. Better battery duration (without dock) between 9-10 hours (non-stop WiFi + Browsing) similar to iPad 2, the Iconia A500 have like 7 hours while doing the same, more info HERE
4. Lighter than Iconia A500, comparable to iPad 1, a little heavier than iPad 2.
5. Docking capability with double battery life, USBs and more flash cards.

Differences in favor to Iconia A500:

1. The back camera has LED flash
2. While both have great built quality, some owners reports that Iconia appear to be a little better here.
3. Built-in full USB port.
4. Thinner bezel (maybe it's not that important?)

yes it's true you can hook up the Acer to a USB keyboard,

but the transformer can turn into an actual laptop which is why i wanted it, to replace my windows laptop and it's incredibly bad 3 hour max wifi battery life.

but netbooks are laggy useless pieces of crap. So with the transformer i can get the form of a netbook with amazing performance and i can quickly turn it into a tablet as well.

* IPS display
* lighter weight
* keyboard dock

No offense, but I really have a hard time believing that a weight difference that is under 1 lb really makes that much of a difference.

I actually want to feel my device, not forget it's there.

From the reviews I read, I expected the Transformer to feel like a gold brick in my hand But it's lighter and thinner than people made it out to be, but still feels substantial.