New Asus MeMo Pad ME301T

[huntershikes]

So I've read a couple of reviews of their just-released 10" Memo Pad, officially named the TF301. With its 1200x800 resolution, 1.2ghz Tegra 3 processor, and 1GB ram, how is it any different from our TF300? It's not upgradeable to 4.2. What was Asus' point in releasing this? I don't mean to sound pedantic, I just truly don't understand where this tablet falls into place.

[huntershikes]

here is CNET's review: Asus MeMo Pad Smart 10 Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

I mean, how come CNET doesn't even address the fact that it's identical to the 300?

[Swipe]

So I've read a couple of reviews of their just-released 10" Memo Pad, officially named the TF301. With its 1200x800 resolution, 1.2ghz Tegra 3 processor, and 1GB ram, how is it any different from our TF300? It's not upgradeable to 4.2. What was Asus' point in releasing this? I don't mean to sound pedantic, I just truly don't understand where this tablet falls into place.

It's a tablet without a dock, not a "Transformer" and is priced at $299 making it about a hundred dollars less than the TF300.

[huntershikes]

Gotcha...never noticed the lack of dock...the 300's been sitting on shelves for around the same price for a while. I just didn't know with the model # if it was the 2013 follow-up to the 300, but the lack of dock explains 90% of my question haha.

[Maxinquaye]

I must admit that eventhough the Memo Pad doesn't come with the dock I still don't understand where it is meant to fit in.

Here in Europe the 16GB Transformer 300 without dock is €299 whilst this new Memo is around 329€.
If you are not interested in having the dock then why wouldn't you just buy the Transformer 300 without the dock?
As far as I can tell the specs are the same. The only thing the Memo gives you is stereo speakers which are properly separated onto each side of the tablet.

Or am I missing something?

[jmullan99]

So I've read a couple of reviews of their just-released 10" Memo Pad, officially named the TF301. With its 1200x800 resolution, 1.2ghz Tegra 3 processor, and 1GB ram, how is it any different from our TF300? It's not upgradeable to 4.2. What was Asus' point in releasing this? I don't mean to sound pedantic, I just truly don't understand where this tablet falls into place.

No dock? Lot's of folk don't want the dock so that's not an issue.

Not upgradeable to 4.2? That's just wrong. Releasing something new with old OS is just wrong.

Otherwise, as a T300 "fraternal" twin (IE; almost but not identical) it's not bad.

[Maxinquaye]

If you were forced to buy the Transformer 300 with a dock and you didn't want one then the Memo makes sense for people who want the same specs but without the dock.
But the fact is that you can buy the 300 without the dock which means the Memo has no point (other than the better stereo speakers as far as I can tell)

By the way from what I've read the Memo is upgradeable and will be getting the 4.2 upgrade in Q2 as with the Transfromer 700 etc...

[janner43]

As I understand it, the Memo range is designed to add choice.

In the UK, for example, the Tf300 & the TF700 are only available with the dock as a forced purchase. And only then in the 32gb & 64gb variants. At £399 & £599 respectively, the prices don't make much sense when compared to alternative products on the market such as entry level ultra books, laptops & the like. Never mind the alternative & cheaper android products from Samsung, Acer & Google.

Heck, even an iPad2 is cheaper at £329.

If Asus are releasing a 10.1" android tablet into the UK market at £299, they will get a pretty good response, I would expect. So the product makes perfect sense to me.

NOTE
OP, I amended your thread title to give the model it's correct designation - it's the ME301T. (Not TF301)

[Maxinquaye]

As I understand it, the Memo range is designed to add choice.

In the UK, for example, the Tf300 & the TF700 are only available with the dock as a forced purchase. And only then in the 32gb & 64gb variants. At £399 & £599 respectively, the prices don't make much sense when compared to alternative products on the market such as entry level ultra books, laptops & the like. Never mind the alternative & cheaper android products from Samsung, Acer & Google.

Heck, even an iPad2 is cheaper at £329.

If Asus are releasing a 10.1" android tablet into the UK market at £299, they will get a pretty good response, I would expect. So the product makes perfect sense to me.

Yep if the dock is a forced purchase then I totally see the point. I didn't realise that was the case in the UK. I am in Austria and browsing Amazon it seems pretty flexible and you can get any of the different versions of the 300 or 700 with or without the dock.

I am quite interested as I am looking to purchase my first ASUS tablet and am researching all possibilities...

[janner43]

I think now that the 300 &700 have been out for a while, some marketplace sellers or EBay sellers are selling grey imports as tablet only or in the smaller memory sizes, but no "official" Asus resellers.

I really hope that Asus launch the memo range properly in the UK - competition is a great thing.