Want to get your hands on an Asus Eee Pad Transformer? It looks like you'll have to wait a couple of months longer. Asus previously announced the device would go on sale in the UK on 6 April, but it seems the limited initial run of devices has quickly sold out, with retailers now shifting back their shipping dates to 1 June.
Amazon has emailed its customers with the new date, which is now displayed on its product page for the Transformer. Meanwhile, there's a thread on the Asus UK Facebook page in which wannabe early adopters are debating the delay, which appears to also affect pre-orders made when the shipping date was still listed as early April.
Asus has addressed the issue on its main Facebook page, with a statement claiming that "due to the fact the initial demand has been far beyond our expectations, the first 2-3 batches have entirely all sold out much quicker than we had planned". That's a pleasant problem to have, but one that's leading to unrest among people who pre-ordered but haven't received their devices.
To cope with the flood of incoming enquiries, Asus is telling people to visit its local Facebook pages for information on the Transformer's shipping date: "Trust us, we've heard you all loud and clear, but, as you've seen, it's been extremely difficult for us to accumulate accurate and timely information for all our fans. We hope this rearrangement will help you better!"
From a British perspective, the arrangement will help if Asus UK actually posts an update on its page to say what's happening with the device. But, as yet, it hasn't, leaving potential buyers to draw their own conclusions.
The Transformer will hopefully be worth the wait. It's a tablet with a keyboard dock, with each having a battery life of 8 hours, so you'll get 16 hours when the two are connected together.
The screen is a 10.1-inch affair, and the Transformer has a pair of cameras and a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor inside. It runs Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and costs £380 without the dock, and £430 with it.
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Comments 7
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anonymous 15 April, 2011 12:10
Comet still have them - they were scheduling deliveries from next Thurs last night.
Anonymous 15 April, 2011 12:57
Bought one at comet on tuesday! totally amazing device with a great screen and very fast.
Build quality is also excellent for what some people are calling a budget price.
Rated 10 out of 10 so far after four days of constant use.
Anonymous 16 April, 2011 20:22
Also saw it in micro anvika. They only had the tablet. The keyboard and the bundled version has been delayed.
Anonymous 16 April, 2011 23:57
No usb except on the dock? Bullocks!
Anonymous 18 April, 2011 11:02
Definantly the way forward in computers as way it can transform but ipad 2 will always win on the app front . So not sure on purchasing one and it,s only runs android not windows O.S , so that might be an issue . I thought of this seperate keyboard /screen click togeather 5 years ago never thought any one would manufactor it , so hats off to asus .
Anonymous 18 April, 2011 11:24
The app argument against the i-Pad is the stick constantly being used to beat down Android tablets. Seem to remember the same thing being said about Android phones and look how many apps there are now.
You must also remember that there are lots of Apple apps put out there by companies because their websites are flash enabled and therefore don't work on the Apple products. For example Lovefilm in the UK have an App for iphone/ipad whereas an android tablet can just use the full feature rich website.
As for the Android not windows. Every reviewer has complained like mad at the windows tablets as the os is not really tablet/touch screen friendly. Go down to PC World and try honeycomb on the Motorola Xoom. I did at the weekend and its fantastic.
I just hope that when more deliveries come in June Asus actually bring in a decent amount to cover demand.
Anonymous 18 April, 2011 15:45
Comet only selling the tablet, currently do not have the keyboard dock bundle or the keyboard stand alone