Handwriting Recognition
One of the strengths that Microsoft has in the tablet market is the maturity of their handwriting recognition and inking technologies. When used in conjunction with Microsoft’s OneNote note taking software, you have a viable solution to digitize all of your note taking, either preserving your handwriting as ink data or converting it to typed text. Either way, the data is searchable by keyword and is digitally stored. If you are like me, taking and filing notes away from meetings can become an arduous task. OneNote has started to make that an easier task for me already.
Capacitive Touchscreen and Digitizer
The 12.1” 1280 by 800 screen has a capacitive touchscreen and a digitizer built in. This means that it can be used entirely via touch, and also supports drawing and handwriting with the supplied stylus pen. I actually used it for a whole week around the house, at work and even for a short jaunt up to Chicago without ever using the Bluetooth keyboard or the mouse. The combination of touchscreen and the pen is very usable and serviceable.
My daughter loves to draw. She loves using the pen and ArtRage software to create drawings. While in the Microsoft Store on Saturday, she created a drawing that said Microsoft Rocks! on a backdrop of textured color. It looked great, and an eight year old was able to pick up the computer and just use it. No lessons needed. This feature is intuitive.
However, the touch capability is loaded after Windows 7 boots. I put the tablet into Windows recovery mode to see what would happen. I needed to hook up a good old fashioned USB wired mouse to be able to interact with the menus and to navigate the recovery screens. I am hoping that touch can be enabled in these menus as well in Windows 8, which is supposed to support touch input from the ground up. This would lead to a better user experience.
Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse
I added a Bluetooth mouse to the EP 121, which already comes with a very nice and usable Bluetooth keyboard. I switched these on to write this review, and they really are comfortable to use and light to carry. One gripe with the keyboard: it tends to move around a bit as you type on it. Not a big deal, but larger rubber grips on the bottom would come in handy. The Bluetooth mouse adds a bit of convenience to the package and I recommend it if you are planning on breaking into PowerPoint or Excel documents.
Media Playback
As expected, the EP 121 played back all of my DVD rips and recorded TV files without problems. Note that this is not going to support 1080p on the EP 121 screen as resolution maxes out at 1280 by 800. I used Media Player to play back WMV and MP4 files and they all played perfectly and looked great. I also fired up Media Center and was able to watch live TV from my HD Homerun tuners. There was a brief stutter when the channel tuned but then the playback was great. This means that I now have an alternative TV that can move around the house at will, as long as I can get the wireless signal. I can now watch live TV, and recorded TV, on my deck or front porch. Whoo hoo!
I also purchased a min-HDMI to HDMI converter and plugged the EP 121 into my receiver. It drove the video on my TV through the receiver; however, it outputted at 1280 by 800 only so it failed to take up all of the screen real estate on my 1080p TV set. I’ll have to work with the display drivers to see if I can work through that. If I fail, I won’t be able to press this into service as a spare HTPC as I originally intended.
Home Server Integration
I hooked this up to my v1 EX475 running HP’s version 3 software and backed it up. Backups are quick, about 25 minutes via wireless. The console runs fine, but was not adjusted for touch. Some add-in’s are difficult to use when trying to click on small links, and the windows do not scroll well in the touch interface. Use the mouse when tinkering in the home server console. As expected, shared folders on the server are easily accessible from this Windows 7 machine. Since this is a 64 bit OS, I did have some initial issues installing the connector, but managed to get it installed.
Battery Life
I get about three hours on a full charge. Using it around the office and around my house, that is acceptable. However, if I was to be travelling to Europe or Asia, I’d prefer more like 6 hours. Heck, this package with 6 hours would be absolutely perfect. I am hopeful that a Sandy Bridge version could accomplish that, but really expect the next iteration of Windows running on an ARM chipset to be the long term answer. If 3 hours is not enough for your use case, keep looking as this unit will never meet your need. Another nit is the battery is not user-replaceable. If I ever need to replace it, I’ll need to have ASUS do that for me. I’d prefer to be able to do that myself.
Overall Conclusion
This unit works for me. When I went into the Microsoft Store a week or so ago, I expected to leave empty-handed and to order an iPad2. My wife went ahead and ordered an iPad2, and after playing with this unit, I realized that the ability to do real work as well as play back media around the house was worth the premium price. At about $1,200 USD, this is not a cheap option. If you need a media consumption device rather than a mobile platform to create content, get the iPad2. However, you can’t beat the power of a full laptop in a tablet form factor. Just don’t expect the same battery life as the iPad2!
ASUS EP-121 EP-121 At Microsoft Store ArtRage Software ASUS YouTube Review
Have you installed SP1 for windows 7 when you did this review? I was interested in the battery life with SP1 installed I have heard reports of it boasting the battery like to 6 hrs of use, I am skeptical at that but if true that would be amazing.
Thanks for the review, very informative.
Chris–
I did indeed test it with Windows 7PP1 as the Microsoft Store loaded it when I purchased it as part of the Singature service. Battery life is right at 3 hours.
Glad you liked the review!
Jim
Hi Jim,
The 4GB RAM/64GB SSD is nowhere to be found. I intend to use this with Photoshop – it has a wacom stylus, you know.
Should I settle for the low end 2GB/32GB which is available in stores?
hi Tristan
What sorts of things are you planning with Photoshop? I’m not convinced 2GB would be sufficient if you really want to do lots with it.
Tristan–
Ii would not suggest the 32gb /2 gb model at all unless you are only playing back movies and surfing the internet. From my use over the last few months, I’d stick to the more capable unit.
Here are a few links to finding the EP 121 online:
US Microsoft store http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/en_US/pd/productID.228299800/parentCategoryID.44066900/categoryID.54536100/list.true
Tiger Direct US Store
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7134861&CatId=6958
On the off chance that you are a UK’er, Amazon.co.uk’s site:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-EP121-1A019M-Bluetooth-Exclusive-Amazon-co-uk/dp/B004S9ZK6S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303575100&sr=8-1
As this is a special edition item, I expect that it will be hard to find outside a Microsoft store. Ordering online may be a better way for you to get one.
Let me know how you get on.
Jim
So where you able to get 1080p via HDMI or not? Spec says it should work. Please advise.
Juan–
I updated the review here:
http://usingwindowshomeserver.com/2011/03/25/asus-ep-121-review-update/
Once I updated the display driver to the most recent version on Intel’s website, it worked without issues. I had to fiddle a little with my TV’s brightness settings, but the PC side ran fine.
Hope this helps you.
Jim
I have been looking/buying mini-HDMI cables and NOT getting the right one. Can you post or email the URL to the one that works 🙂
Thanks a ton, I love my Slate! LOVE IT!!!
Rod–
I used a Monster HDMI to Mini-HDMI converter. I plugged the mini-HDMI side into the ASUS and plugged my normal HDMI cable into the other end. Here is what I used:
http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=4632
I bought this at a Best Buy in Chicago. Sometimes, stores list this as a camcorder accessory. I think it set me back $30, expensive, but at least I did not have to re-run an HDMI cable to my home entertainment center.
Hope this helps!
Jim
Am considering buying Asus slate EP121 to use as PC. I want to be able to enter data into MS doc for letters and journalling and possibly excell database. I hope to use it with my windows based family tree maker genealogy program 2011 version which is a resource gobbler I think…min req 1GHZ pent 3, 500MB HD space and 1GB Ram so not sure if this tablet can handle that along with the Win 7 req usage.
I hope the digitizer pen will enable me to enter data into the genealogy program rather than typing (due to health issues) and also plan to use Dragon naturally speaking to enter data. Is this all possible on this tablet.
I also expect to need a wireless mouse and see they have one for gaming(not my interest) …is this suitable mouse?
I also need to beable to back up my work to something i can take back to my desktop PC or share with others eg a CD disk readable by any computer…looks like there is no drive for that and i would need the DVD and CD drive to install programs too. So can I then buy a plug in(assumably USB) add on to use to back up work and make disks.
It looks like it is difficult to obtain this product online much less instore(Canada) so that may be the first problem.
My second choice maybe Fujitsu T901 but not much for reviews and I wonder about it being overkill(also more costly I assume). Any reviews and advice on that and Lenovo X220 comparisons for my needs would be appreciated..Will they be hot and heavy to hold on lap as I am required to be a recliner chair computer person soon now due to health, and tethered table top mouse and chipmunk style typing is not desireable due to health issues.
Thanx for any advice.. Barb
Barb–
This should run the geneology program…go with the 64GB SSD/4GB RAM version.
Pen input should work with the geneology program…you bring up an input panel and write and then insert that writing as text into the program. It works OK, and works better if you perform the handwriting recognition exercises.
You can use a USB DVD/CD player no problem as this tablet has two USB ports on the left side.
Dragon should work fine as this is Windows 7, and don’t forget that Windows 7 has voice recognition features built right in that might work as well as Dragon.
Holding on the lap, it does not get hot. There is a fan and it does run, but using it in your lap should be comfortable.
As for mouse, I used a Bluetooth mouse as I did not want to tie up a USB port with a wireless receiver. I’d recommend a Bluetooth mouse; it works well.
The Fujitsu is a Core i7 convertible. It will be more powerful, but will be bigger and heavier. Ditto for the Lenovo that you mentioned.
This unit is hard to find in stores. If you have a Microsoft store close by, they will have it. Also, the Microsoft store website has it here:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/en_US/pd/productID.224522600/parentCategoryID.44066900/categoryID.54536100/list.true
Not sure if they can sell you in Canada but may be worth calling their customer support line on 1-877-696-7786. Amazon.com also has sold this unit too.
Barb hope this helps and please let me know what you do!
Jim