News - ASUS PadFone details emerge

[HEXUS]

Transformer TF101 Case + keyboard + Snapdragon S4 + stylus come headset, what?!

Read more.

[Roobubba]

It kind of looks ridiculous and yet a good idea all rolled into one. Very curious!

[ajones]

Would like to see this kind of design but where the phone also acts as the trackpad in the keyboard rather than secreted into the tablet.

[Bunjiweb]

Very intrigued to see what this is like in the flesh

[crossy]

Firstly, the tablet looks like an original TF101 Transformer, with a hump on its back; however this does mean that owners of original TF101 keyboards will more than likely be able to re-purpose their equipment and reduce expenditure should they chose to invest in the PadFone. What's even more wacky is that the device comes with a capacitive stylus that, when receiving a call, doubles as a wireless headset; looks like the PadFone isn't the only hybrid in this product.

So, have I got this right and the PadFone doesn't come with a keyboard, but can use the TF101's? If that's the case, then PF just went to the #2 slot on my buy list, (still behind the Galaxy S3 for the moment)

I'm still confused as to how a stylus - which looks like a pen - is supposed to be used as a headset. What are you supposed to do - stick the "pen" behind your ear like a carpenters pencil? The alternative would be to stick the "pen" in your ear which strikes me as ridiculous-looking and downright uncomfortable!
EDIT: looked at the videos on the Asus site, and the stylus/headset is used like the pen/communicators in "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." - which makes sense, although it's not really a "headset", more like a "handset".

Would like to see this kind of design but where the phone also acts as the trackpad in the keyboard rather than secreted into the tablet.

That's a deliberate piece of design on Asus' part - remember PadFone is a phone+tablet, what you're looking for is a phone+netbook I guess.

[Megoroarus]

Would like to see this kind of design but where the phone also acts as the trackpad in the keyboard rather than secreted into the tablet.

I don't really think that would work. That would make the touchpad huge and would render the phone's camera useless. Might work for smaller phones though if the camera wasn't an issue.
As it is you can still use the phone's camera & flash while it's docked.

[[GSV]Trig]

Imagine this as a Windows8 tablet combo, suddenly I'm filled with want, still to see something that will make me ditch my existing Xoom/DHD setup tho :/

[miniyazz]

I don't really think that would work. That would make the touchpad huge and would render the phone's camera useless. Might work for smaller phones though if the camera wasn't an issue.
As it is you can still use the phone's camera & flash while it's docked.

My Desire HD is the same size or marginally smaller than the touchpad on my laptop. And nothing to say you can't dock it via a cable!

[Megoroarus]

My Desire HD is the same size or marginally smaller than the touchpad on my laptop. And nothing to say you can't dock it via a cable!

I got a little confused and though you'd be docking the phone into the keyboard which really doesn't make any sense.
Having said that if you dock via a cable, but then if you wanted to use it as a tablet un-docked you'd have the phone dangling from it. (or am I missing something again!?)
Although I wouldn't say no to being able to have the option of using a cable.

[crossy]

Imagine this as a Windows8 tablet combo, suddenly I'm filled with want, still to see something that will make me ditch my existing Xoom/DHD setup tho :/

But surely if you've got a Motorola Xoom tablet and an HTC Desire HD then you're pretty committed to Android - in which case I don't really see the big deal for having an (ARM powered) Windows8 tablet.

Agree with you though - what's the betting that Asus are thinking about a Windows8-powered version of this?

PS one thing that annoys me slightly - everyone refers to the PadFone as a phone+laptop combo, when surely it's blatantly obvious that the keyboarded tablet is a netbook replacement. As such it's probably going to be pretty good, but even I'd struggle to argue it against a proper laptop!

[[GSV]Trig]

Commited to Android, yes, for personal use, if it was Win8 that would make a pretty solid work unit, mobile, tablet for simple stuff then keyboard for when your sat in the office, if the integration was tight i would kick ass..