Make Way for iPad’s Rival: Asus Transformer Prime to Hit Market Soon

The latest entrant to the tablet computer market is Asus' Eee Pad Transformer Prime, which should be available later this month. The device is set to be powered by Nvidia's Tegra 3 quad-core processor, which is the world's first quad-core processor for mobile devices.

In addition to offering an unprecedented degree of power, courtesy the processor, the tablet will also sport an innovative keyboard dock, transforming it into a laptop and extending battery life by 18 hours.

The device will be powered by the Android 3.0 Operating System, which can be upgraded to the Ice Cream Sandwich, and has been dubbed a multimedia powerhouse which is expected to be a hit with gamers. It is also set to feature stunning 3D graphics and fluid motion play, dominated by a 10-inch Super IPS display with a wide viewing angle shielded by Corning Gorilla Glass.

The tablet will sport a rear-facing 8 megapixel camera, capable of taking videos in 1080p HD, and a front-facing 1.2 megapixel camera that allows videoconferencing.

It will weigh 586g, slightly below that of market leader Apple's iPad 2 and the 8.33mm thick Transformer Prime boasts a metallic spun finish with hints of grey and gold. The device will also include microSD and micro-HDMI support. Applications like SuperNote and Polaris Office allow users to create, read and edit Microsoft-compatible documents.

The Transformer is expected to cost $499 for a 32GB model, which is the same as the iPad 2. However it will offer twice the memory capabilities. The higher 64GB model will cost $599.

Should the tablet live up to its promises, at the price, it should provide a lot of bang for your moolah, making it one of the top tablets to look out.

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