Sunday 8 March 2015

Asus Transformer TX201 - Android + Ubuntu 14.10 Linux

  The Good and the gooder (and some bad points)

GOODER:

2 computers in 1. Keyboard is a dual core i5 and tablet is an intel Z2560 (x86)

#Android and  8 and  and whatever else you can install on a x86 PC.

Using android  you don't need a cable.

Once you manage to boot from USB,  14.10 is trivial to install.

UPDATE: I upgraded kernel to 3.18 and then 3.19.

Fast switching between Android and Linux (or Windows). Both run at same time or you can shut down one and use other.

Chargers are small and well designed Asus plug-packs - not bricks.

Easy to open Keyboard to change HDD.

Under Linux, everything seems to work. Screen brightness is not working properly, but it does work. 

UPDATE: Thanks to Viktar Vaŭčkievič and #ArchLinux, I compiled and installed an ALS module which automatically adjusts screen backlight. See https://github.com/victorenator/als.git

Running linux in  mode.

GOOD:

11.6" screen. Could be an inch bigger based on bezel.
Tablet and keyboard have WiFi and Bluetooth.

Tablet  is possible. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=57341475&postcount=27

SD card on tablet mounts in Windows/Linux. But Ubuntu keeps opening a file manager every time I switch back from Android.

UPDATE: Fixed by Control Panel - Details - Removable Media - Tick 'Never prompt or start programs on media insertion'

Linux kernel modules to support device.

Aluminium tablet and keyboard backs.


BAD:

Matt screen might be better.

No 3G or LTE.

Can not connect 3G modem to tablet (so far).

No Android update from Asus.

No keyboard backlight nor fluorescent key labels.

When screen is open, tablet/screen hinge opens lower than base of keyboard which makes it uncomfortable as a lap-top.

A bit heavy for it's size at 1.7 kg (tablet and keyboard)

Only 2.4GHz WiFi.

UPDATE: But syslog indicates PC might support 5 GHz.

Rear camera does not work on PC.

WiFi (RTL8821) occasionally locks-up. To fix, remove module, put keyboard to sleep (Fn+f2), wake (power button) and load module. Module is rtl8821ae in my case.

UPDATE: This only seems to happen (now) when I tether to an iPhone 5s.

UPDATE: #ArchLinux also had a solution to this - too early for me to confirm that it is fixed. Does not seem to fix.