Asus rolls out Transformer Book Chi line of thin detachable notebooks

LAS VEGAS — Asus unveiled a new line of laptops whose keyboards detach to create a razor-thin Windows 8.1 tablet PC.

At the top of the line, the Transformer Book T300 Chi features a 12.5-inch full HD (1920×1080) or WQHD (2560×1440) display. It’s powered by the new Intel Core M processor and is 1.65 centimeters thick.

Asus says the T100 Chi is the world’s thinnest Windows tablet with a thickness of just 7.2mm. The T100 has a 10.1-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) display. It runs on an Intel Atom processor.

Above: The Asus Transformer Chi T300.

Image Credit: Asus

The 8.9-inch T90 Chi is just 7.5mm thick when docked — thinner than a Macbook Air. The T90 offers a WXGA (1280×800) display, and runs on an Intel Atom chip.

All Chi models feature thin profiles and quiet performance, Asus says, which is made possible by the absence of a fan.

The Chi’s transformation from handheld tablet to laptop is made possible by a magnetic neodymium hinge mechanism. The detachable keyboard connects using Bluetooth, with a working range of up to 20 meters.

All models in the line use solid state drives and offer USB 3.0 connectivity via a Type B USB port. The power-efficient Intel processors provide Chi users with “virtually all-day battery life,” Asus says.

Chi owners can accessorize with a pen stylus, a spare rechargeable battery, and a magnetic cover for the screen.

The Transformer Book T300 Chi starts at $799 for the WQHD version and $699 for the Full HD version. The T100 starts at $399, and the T90 starts at $299.

Specs:

Transformer Book T300 Chi

• Display: 12.5-in WQHD 2560×1440/Full HD IPS display
• Processor: Intel® Core™ M 5Y10/5Y71 processor
• Storage: 128GB iSSD
• OS: Windows 8.1 32-bit
• Dimensions: 317.8 x 191.6 x 7.6/16.5mm (tablet/docked)
• Weight: 0.72kg (tablet) 1.42kg (docked)

Transformer Book T100 Chi

• Display: 10.1-in WUXGA 1920×1200 IPS display
• Processor: Quad-core Intel® Atom™ Z3775 processor
• Storage: 32/64GB eMMC
• OS: Windows 8.1 32-bit
• Dimensions: 265 x 174.5 x 7.2/13.2mm (tablet/docked)
• Weight: 0.57kg (tablet) 1.06kg (docked)

Transformer Book T90 Chi

• Display: 8.9-in WXGA 1280×800 IPS display
• Processor: Quad-core Intel® Atom™ Z3775 processor
• Storage: 32/64GB eMMC
• OS: Windows 8.1 32-bit
• Dimensions: 241 x 137.5 x 7.5/16.5mm (tablet/docked)
• Weight: 0.40kg (tablet) 0.75kg (docked)