Asus Transformer Book T100 review, specs: Asus bills the Transformer Book T100 as a 2-in-1 ultraportable laptop with a 10-inch tablet. Powered with the Intel Atom quad Core processor, the Windows 8.1 ultrabook is a budget-friendly machine that fuses the tablet/PC hybrid function that the Surface devices has been touting.

Specs of the Asus Transformer Book T100 include a 10.1-inch HD display with IPS and multi-touch capabilities, a 1.2MP camera and the Windows 8.1 OS with MS Home Office & Student 2013. It’s powered with a Quad core Intel Atom processor with 2GB of memory and Intel HD graphics. Battery for the Asus Transformer Book T100 can last up to 11 hours.

ZDNet has selected the Asus Transformer Book T100 as one of the best tablets for 2013, noting that the $399 price of the unit is a full $70 less than a entry-level Surface 2 tablet. Another advantage is that it runs on the full version of Microsoft Office and not the cut-down version for Windows RT, which is what powers the Surface tablets as well as Nokia 2520.

The Asus Transformer Book T100 is a convertible that switches from a tablet to a notebook, as it comes with a keyboard as well. Thanks to the long battery life, this is one machine you can use full-day on a single charge.

A few downsides with this tablet/PC hybrid design is that the cramped keyboard feels like than what older models of Netbooks have, according to a review by CNET. It’s also not as fast as zippier, larger and more pricey Windows products and that display for the tablet is not that vibrant.

CNET notes that this is not really a device that you’ll fall in love to, but for it’s sheer price and still notable specs for a new generation of netbooks, it’s still a great buy.