ASUS's affordable 2-in-1 with reversible USB 3.1 is now on sale
If you're looking for a cheap laptop that converts into a tablet, now's a good time to buy. Following models from Toshiba and Lenovo, ASUS's convertible Transformer Book T100HA and reversible Transformer Book Flip TP200SA are now on sale. The 10.1-inch, 1,280 x 800 touchscreen T100HA model has one neat trick: Type-C USB 3.1, thanks to the Intel Cherry Trail CPU. It also has 12 hours of battery life, 4GB of RAM, 64GB expandable eMMC storage, 5-megapixel rear/2-megapixel front cameras and 1.28 pounds (pad-only) and 2.32 pounds (combined) weight. That makes it similar to the Toshiba model, but for a bit less cash ($299 instead of $349).
The 11.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 TP200SA also gives you a tablet, albeit a heavy one at 2.65 pounds, since the screen only flips around and doesn't detach. Still, it makes for a cheap, lightweight travel notebook, even though you wouldn't want to do any 3D rendering given the relatively feeble Celeron CPU. Other specs match the T100HA -- 4GB of RAM, 64GB expandable eMMC storage and USB 3.0 (sans Type-C connector, unfortunately). However, it costs a bit more at $349, meaning the more versatile T100HA looks like the more desirable model if you're looking for a cheap Surface alternative.
