ASUS’s Eee Slate EP121: A better bet for offices than iPad 2?
How much are businesses willing to spend on a tablet, even if it runs all their Windows programs?
What is the most office-friendly tablet? A new rival to the iPad went into battle on April 15 in the shape of ASUS Eee Slate EP121, and had at least one advantage up its sleeve when it came to business use – it runs Windows.
We first saw the EP121 in January, when it was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It’s so unlike many of the tablets out now that we dubbed it the “anti-iPad”. Today’s announcement of a $1499 price tag hammers home the fact that this isn’t a toy for web surfing and apps.
Under the hood is Intel’s Core i5 chip, with 2GB or 4GB RAM and 64GB SSD. The screen is a 1280 by 800 capacitive 12.1in LED backlit with a claimed wide viewing angle of 178 degrees. Weighted 4.2 pounds with keyboard and AC Adapter, the EP121 also comes with a Bluetooth keyboard and WACOM digitzer pen.
Curiously, while ASUS is pitching the device as for both consumers and business, the EP121 comes with Windows 7 Home Premium.
Whether there’s a market for a “no compromise” tablet that costs the same as a “real” laptop and runs Office, Quicken and Photoshop remains to be seen.
The iconic Apple iPad has certainly made an impact in corporate environments, with business executives surveyed among the early adopters.