Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 (gray, 64GB)

Pros: + It's fast; pretty smooth for playing games
+ GPS and WiFi function well
+ Super IPS display
+ Solid construction
+ Cloud sync'd Chrome browser.
+ Very good GPS and excellent for mapping.

Cons: - No 4G
- No open standard USB for charging and data transfer
- Built in speaker is average at best

Summary: I'm an electrical engineer and mid level geek who loves new technology.

I use an Ipad 2 regularly (Ipad 1 earlier), and this is every bit as good. I compared it to an Ipad 3 in the store, and I could not see any major differences, except price. After a charge, I turned my new TF700 on, found the Wi-Fi screen and quickly set up my system. I was asked if I wanted to download Flash. I said yes, and it installed within a minute or so. So far so good.

I played with some of the more obvious features and all worked well. I copied some music from my PC onto a micro SD card, plugged it into the tablet, and it was detected and useable immediately. I grew so confident that I then set up my 3 mailboxes (2 ISP and 1 Gmail). The email front end is very nice, since it permits incoming mail to be displayed from individual accounts, or as one combined view. On outgoing mail, (even via my ISP), it picked up and used my Gmail contact list.

That encouraged me to combine several email contact lists, including my wife's, into one master contact list on Gmail. (Gmail tools for doing this are easy to use.) Then, even the ISP mail can use the master contact list. It also found the apps I had downloaded from Android Market (now renamed) onto my Android phone, and downloaded those to the tablet as well. I downloaded Skype and was video conferencing in minutes. Wow! I was getting more pleased by the minute.

Then, since the tablet was delivered with Android Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0.3), I checked to download the expected Jelly Bean (4.1.1) update. Nothing there. I tried that for 4 more days, also posting questions on the ASUS site and Amazon BB. Everyone else seemed to be getting JB within a few hours of trying. Why was my Infinity a wallflower? Then finally, after 5 days of hitting the "check for updates button", a large download arrived.

Hooray, I had Android 4.1.1! Frankly, I could not tell much difference, but this was definitely not a scientific test. I wish the ASUS FAQ had said that it could take several days before the download of the update might happen. That would have prevented a lot of anxiety. My guess is that they are rationing capacity on their download servers.

I also bought an ASUS USB adapter; a very small device that adapts the TF700's multiport to accept a USB device. Wanting to experiment, I plugged a 16 GB cheap generic USB stick from my car into the adapter, and within about 15 minutes had copied about 8.7 GB of my music from the stick to the tablet's internal 32 GB memory. I clicked on the music player icon on the screen (it's the orange headphone icon, third from the bottom right on the picture), and immediately got to play choices from my almost 3000 pieces of (mp3 and wma) music.

The tablet allows me to sort the music in many ways - actually its better in displaying - sorting music choices than the (Clarion/Bose) system in my car. I also tried other media experiments including YouTube, emails with video attachments, and streaming PBS shows. All have worked well. So has the superb amazing Google voice recognition.

I bought this unit because I wanted a large high end tablet to use as a "couch-pad" and to replace My old Acer 8.9" XP netbook for email when I travel. I wanted the unit to include a GPS, have the ability to easily do file transfers from memory sticks and cards, and not break the bank. (If possible, I also did not want to be dependent on the Apple universe, but my Ipad 1 and 2 experiences were so positive that I was willing to relax that restriction, if needed.) So far the TF700 fills the bill perfectly, at lower than Ipad cost.

BUT, there is one key thing this unit does not do. It does not wirelessly mirror its screen to my TV like Apple Airplay/Apple TV and Intel WI-Di do. (I recently saw a great demo of this at our local computer club.) That is a big shortfall that I know is being worked on via methods such as Miracast. I tested a temporary solution via a 15' cheap HDMI cable to my TV, and the TF700 performed perfectly - streaming a PBS Upstairs Downstairs to my 65" screen. I'm really hoping that the Android industry gets its act together quickly to provide wireless streaming like an ipad with Apple TV!

Except for that, thus far, the TF700 has done everything I have asked it to do, perfectly. It has the solid build and feel of a Lexus. It is definitely an outstanding product, especially at this price!

For useful information and check for best price, find out more at my blog: 10-inchtablets.blogspot.com/2012/11/asus-tf700.html

Hope this review is helpful.