Asus transforms Transformer series for Windows 8 in VivoTab 810

Fans of the Asus Transformer series will be keen to see a new hybrid tablet laptop with almost 20 hours of battery life making its way to stores this month.

Hinted at during the initial release of Windows 8 machines by Asus last year, the new VivoTab 810 is powered by an Intel Atom processor, and could be the answer for the recently reviewed Acer Iconia W510, a combination tablet notebook computer that manages to be small, lightweight, and loaded with juice (battery juice, that is).

Asus has equipped the VivoTab with an 11.6 inch HD screen sporting 1366×768 resolution, of the same ilk the company has been using on the Transformer series, the Super IPS+ displays protected by the scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass technology.

A Wacom stylus is also provided, allowing a little more precision in apps that need it, such as drawing or editing apps, though you’ll be able to get through with finger-based touch for the most part, as the display supports multitouch.

Storage inside the 810 is set to 64GB with 2GB RAM to push Windows along, while connections come from the form of a microSD slot, two USB 2.0 ports (sorry, no 3.0 here), WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, microHDMI out, and a headset jack.

Then there’s the battery life, and like the Transformer series of machines the VivoTab has been derived from, the tablet section supports a battery capable of pushing out up to 10.5 hours by itself, or with the dock should manage up to 19 hours, making those overseas trips possible on one charge.

Interested Australians can find the VivoTab 810 in stores now with the dock and Wacom stylus for a recommended retail price of $1099.