Asus officially launched its new EeePad Transformer in Singapore on April 29.

With the iPad2 already sold out within a day in Singapore on its launch on Apr 29, tablets are undeniably hot here. But what if you’re looking for one that can also move up the value chain as a netbook?

Asus gave its alternative that same day when it launched in Singapore the new EeePad Transformer , which can do just that with a laptop-styled docking station it can connect to.

The tablet converts into a netbook with the help of an optional docking station.

The docking station, a separate accessory, comes with its own built-in battery, which extends the life of the tablet from 9.5 up to 16 hours, in comparison to iPad’s 10 hours. It also adds 2 USB ports and an SD card slot to the device.

Hardware

Although heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the EeePad Transformer feels much sturdier in hand.

At 680 grams, the EeePad Transformer is heavier than both the iPad 2 and the Galaxy Tab by 60 grams, albeit lighter than the original iPad. It is also 4mm thicker than its rivals at 13mm, which may feel slightly chunkier when held, but just small enough to carry around while on the go.

Sharing the same screen technology as the iPad 2, a viewing angle of 178 degrees means easy sharing of content with friends and family from the same screen.

With the new Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 10.1″ screen, the tablet feels extremely responsive with fast loading times when tested with common apps such as Google Maps, Angry Birds as well as video playback. It is also capable of displaying 720p HD videos on screen, or full HD when connected to a HDTV via a mini-HDMI accessory cable (sold separately).

The tablet's 5 megapixel camera is the highest resolution among tablets in the market now.

The Transformer is able to shoot high-resolution photos, as well as HD videos with its 5 megapixel camera, in comparison with the Galaxy Tab’s 3.2 megapixel camera. It also has a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera for video calls and conferences.

Placed on the sides of the Transformer are ports for HDMI output, MicroSD cards, headsets and the charger.

The biggest selling point of the Transformer is arguably its ability to connect to a docking station, effectively converting the tablet into a fully-functional netbook.

The tablet, shown in its netbook form here, is able to stream HD videos when attached to compatible TVs.

Other hardware additions include Wifi connectivity, Bluetooth and GPS. A 3G version will be available in mid-June for those who want connectivity to the Internet while on the move.

Software

The Transformer runs on the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Operating System (OS), which is the latest OS developed by Google exclusively for tablets like the Motorola Xoom, and Sony S1/S2.

Asus' WaveShare service allows users to store their files on the Internet.

Asus also introduced its propriety cloud based service, WaveShare, which allows users to store and stream content from the Internet, on top of the tablet’s 16/32GB storage.  This service is the first of its kind in the industry.

Pricing and Availability

The EeePad Transformer is available in electronic retailers this week, with prices for the 16GB model starting at $699, or $799 when bundled with the docking station.

Conclusion

The Transformer is a good consideration as an additional device for leisure use at home or as a productivity tool on-the-go, in school or at the office. However, with its limited OS unable to run desktop games or Windows programs, it can’t be used as a replacement for a proper computer, but instead as a complementary device.

The tablet converts into a netbook with the help of an optional docking station.