That’s technically the three possibilities used in the name of the “Trio,” but one could say a fourth possibility is to switch over to Android when the tablet is docked and take advantage of the keyboard, mouse, and the ports on the dock.
All these ways of using your laptop make for an interesting concept, but the real questions are does it work, and is it something you would use in your life?
The build is the first thing you’ll notice, and aside for the strong aluminium body Asus is using in this machine, the weight is impossible not to notice. It’s just so thick and weighty, which likely comes from the problem of having two computers built into one.
This isn’t just a tablet with a light dock, like you get in the Asus Transformer bodies. No, it’s a very heavy dock, and the 1.7 kilogram weight when these parts come together is very noticeable.
You do get a solid build for your troubles, with the exception of the keyboard dock mechanism, which wobbles and doesn’t always fit together, at least not as firmly as you’ll feel it should.
Getting to using the Trio and, well, it’s an odd concept.
If you’ve used Windows 8 or Android before, you’ll be able to get used to either, and there’s even a handy button on the keyboard to let you jump between both operating systems, meaning files should be shareable between both.
Indeed, there’s even some customised file manager software on Android that makes it possible to share files, but it’s not an altogether seamless experience, and the app feels like it needs some extra options, especially if you’re trying to configure the link between the Transformer’s Windows partition and that of the Android one.
It’s interesting, but we’re not sure the concept is totally necessary by anyone.
Windows 8 running Intel can be more useful thanks to the regular desktop apps being installable, so we had very little reason to connect to Android and use that as it was in this computer, thereby making that Android and Windows button very unpopular for use in our review period.
Perhaps we haven’t found the right usage scenario, and it’s totally possible you might, but it’s not just this odd combination of strange bedfellows that causes the Trio to falter.
No, there are a few other things holding it back.
Aside for that weight which is just so heavy for an 11 inch computer, there’s also the keyboard, which has too much travel and is easy to make a mistake. At least we’ve moved on the Zen’s sharp edges by the wrist pad, but the keyboard still needs to be improved, and while it’s usable, it is by no means a great keyboard.
The battery life is also a touch problematic, with only around four hours of life possible from the Trio’s desktop section, while the tablet seems to make it possible for a few more, though we didn’t spend as much time testing this part individually.
Some of the bugs also don’t help the Trio, such as when the Windows/Android changeover key decide not to function, and you press and press only to have the system ignore you. This isn’t helped by the weak keyboard dock mechanism for the tablet, which often requires a good solid click — even when you think you’ve been there — for the system to get back on track.
Even the buttons on the back of the tablet are a little awkward, with these mostly working for the tablet section under Android, and not the Windows section. It’s just a little too cluttered, and some of these details, plus the odd bug here and there, can make the Trio appear confusing.
The screen is about the only redeeming part of the experience, with the 11.6 inch Full Hd screen looking crisp, bright (though it could be brighter), and with very good viewing angles.
Conclusion
While an intriguing concept, the Trio feels like a computer suffering an identity crisis, and it’s just a little confusing why you’d want both Android and Windows in a laptop together, because you don’t really need both in the same body.
If you use Windows 8 apps on a tablet, chances are you’re less likely to rely on an Android tablet, and vice versa. Android tablets are also relatively inexpensive, and while the $1599 price isn’t terrible for the Transformer, it’s not a fantastic price for an 11 inch computer that just so happens to bundle two products into the one form-factor.
We’d much rather buy one Android tablet or one Windows computer that does each part much better than the two converged into one. That could change later on as Asus perfects the concept, but right now, that’s our general feeling, and the Trio is really only worth investigating if you desperately want both platforms in one computer.
