Features

The most obvious distinction of the Asus Slate EP121 is its size; at 12.1-inch visible diagonal, it's notably larger than the vast majority of consumer tablets available. The native resolution of 1,280 x 800 works well, and the IPS panel makes for great viewing angles and excellent colour representation too.

Its sober styling and chunky dimensions may not appeal to those won over by the likes of the iPad 2, but there's a good reason for the relatively large 312 x 207 x 17mm chassis, and that's the specification of the machine's core components.

While manufacturers may be fighting over what kind of low-power ARM processor to squeeze inside their machines, for the Slate EP121, Asus has gone straight for the big guns and picked Intel's dual-core Core i5-470 processor clocked at 1.3GHz.

This processor, paired up with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, makes for an impressive core that can handle everything most desktop machines can. Combined with the installation of Windows 7 Home Premium, it means that you can run the applications you know and love with the minimum of fuss.

The 32GB SSD gives enough space for a few applications, and more storage can be easily added in the form of a MMC/SD card.

A stylus is stored in top right-hand corner of the machine, which affords more accurate input and drawing, but this isn't needed since the capacitive screen is accurate enough for normal tasks without it.

Stereo speakers can be found in the lower bezel of the machine, and are surprisingly capable when it comes watching movies. There is of course a headphone socket if you'd prefer a slightly more personal experience.

You'll find a pair of USB ports on the edges of the machine, as well as a mini-HDMI port for watching back HD video on the big screen.

There's only a front facing camera on the EP121, and at 2MP it isn't going to set the world alight, but it does mean you can partake in a little video conferencing.

The main pack also includes a protective sleeve, which doubles as a stand that can be used in portrait and landscape modes, and a wonderfully designed power brick that boasts a USB port so you can recharge other devices at the same time. Asus has also included a Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000, which makes typing a lot easier and looks great, too.