History and Development of Video Console Games

Timeline: Video Games
Part I: Early Years 

1958	1961	1965	1970	1972	Next: 1975-1984

1958	Physicist Willy Higinbotham invents the first "video game" at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. His game, a table tennis-like game, was played on an oscilloscope.
1961	Steve Russell, a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), creates Spacewar, the first interactive computer game. It runs on a Digital PDP-1 mainframe computer, and the graphics are made up of ASCII text characters.
1966	Ralph Baer, an engineer at Sanders Associates, receives support from his company (a military electronics consulting firm in NH) to explore his idea of creating interactive games using a television.
1967	Baer and team are successful in creating two interactive TV games—a chase game and a tennis game. They are also able to manipulate a toy gun so that it detects spots of light on the TV screen.
1970	Magnavox licenses Baer's TV game from Sanders Associates Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney (future founders of Atari) begin their attempt to create an arcade version of Spacewar, calling it Computer Space.
1971	Computer Space becomes first video arcade game ever released. 1500 games are distributed. Public consensus is that it is too difficult to play.
1972	April 25 A U.S. patent is issued to Ralph Baer for "A Television Gaming Apparatus and Method" May 24 Magnavox's Odyssey, the first home video game system, is showcased at a convention in Burlingame, CA, and is released to the public later that year. Bushnell and Dabney found Atari. They name the company after a term from the Japanese game "Go". "Atari" is equivalent to "check" in a chess game. Al Alcorn is hired by Atari to program video games. The first game created by Atari is Pong. Ping-Pong, the original name, is already copyrighted, so the makers name it Pong after the sound of a ball hitting the paddle.

Part II: 1975-1984 

1975	1978	1981	1983

1975	Atari's Pong is released with help from Sears Roebuck, which finances the production of 150,000 units. It becomes the hottest selling Christmas present. Sears sells the product exclusively, with the Sears Tele-Games logo. Gunfight, the first "computer" game is released. It is the first game to use a microprocessor instead of hardwired solid-state circuits.
1976	Coleco releases its first home video-game console called Telstar. Fairfield Camera & Instrument debuts its Video Entertainment System which is known later as Channel F. The first programmable (cartridge-based) home game console, it allowed users to change games by switching cartridges that resembled 8-track audio tapes.
1977	Atari introduces its first cartridge-based home video system called the Video Computer System which later becomes known as the Atari 2600. It retails for $249.95.
1978	The trackball makes its entrance into the video-game industry as the controller in Atari's new arcade game Football. Midway introduces Space Invaders into arcades. It is the first arcade game that tracks and displays high scores. Atari attempts to enter the computer industry to compete with Apple. The product is not taken seriously, and the Atari 400 and 800 are taken from the market.
1979	Atari develops a handheld console that displays holograms. Named "Cosmos," this product was never released. Asteroids is the first game to allow high scorers to enter three character initials to be stored in the machine.
1980	Mattel's Intelivision debuts and is the first real competitor of the Atari 2600. It has better graphics than Atari's 2600, but a higher retail price ($299). Activision becomes the first third-party video game vendor. The company is created by Atari programmers who want to receive individual credit for creating Atari's video games. Battlezone is first 3-D game ever created. It is set in a virtual battlefield and was later enhanced by the U.S. government for training exercises. 300,000 units of Pac-Man are released worldwide by Namco. Defender, the first game incorporating a "virtual world" is introduced. The game uses a "radar" scope at the top of the screen to inform users of the surroundings since the screen is too small to display all of the action.
1981	Arnie Katz and Bill Kunkel found the first video-game magazine, Electronic Games.
1982	Atari releases the Atari 5200 to compete with Coleco's Colecovision.
1983	Cinematronics debuts Rick Dyer's Dragon Lair, the first video game to feature laser-disc technology. The Commodore 64 is introduced. It is the most powerful video-game console to date and the least expensive. Nintendo introduces the Famicom in Japan—later known as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the U.S. Since Atari controls such a large percentage of the market, they do not plan to market the product in the U.S. Instead the company offers Atari the rights to distribute the product in the U.S. These plans fall through and Americans do not see Nintendo until 1985.
Part III: 1985-1995  1985 1986 1989 1991 1993 1994 1995 1985 The popular game Tetris is developed by Russian programmer Alex Pajitnov. It is played on a PC. 1986 Nintendo's NES is released in the U.S. after being test-marketed in NY one year earlier. To compete with the NES, Sega introduces the Sega Master System (SMS). Atari releases the Atari 7800 to stay competitive in the market. 1989 Nintendo releases the handheld Game Boy for $109. NEC releases the first 16-bit console in the U.S. It is called the TurboGrafx-16 and sold for $189. It is the first system to run video games stored on compact discs. The true arcade experience comes into American homes when Sega debuts the Genesis, its first 16-bit home game console, for $249.95. Atari tries to enter the handheld market with the Lynx, a color handheld console retailing for $149. 1991 Super NES is released in the U.S. by Nintendo for $249.95. 1993 Atari releases the Jaguar, attempting to be the first 64-bit console on the market. The product actually runs two 32-bit processors. Senators Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Herbert Kohl of Wisconsin launch a Senate investigation into violence in video games, hoping to initiate a ban on violent games. 1994 Resulting from the Senate investigation, the Entertainment Software Rating Board is created. Rating are now given to video games and are marked on the games' packaging to indicate the suggested age of players and violent content. In Japan, the Sega Saturn and the Sony PlayStation make their debut. 1995 Sony brings the PlayStation to the U.S. and sells the console for $299. Nintendo releases the Nintendo 64 in Japan (it's released in the U.S. in 1996). Part IV: 1996-present  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1996 Arcades focus on bringing in more "ride-and-video" games like skiing, snowboarding, and Jet Skiing, as their popularity has surpassed the popularity of shooting and fighting games. Atari's founder, Nolan Bushnell, reenters the industry making Internet stations for arcades and bars. The Tamagotchi virtual pet becomes an instant sensation in Japan. It is released in the U.S. in May of that year selling all of its 30,000-unit supply in 3 days. 1997 PlayStation is considered by many in the industry as most popular game console as the 20 millionth unit is sold. Tiger introduces a multipurpose handheld console to compete with the Game Boy. Called game.com, it features games, an address book, calculator, and stylus for touchscreen capability. It also connects to a PC modem for access to email. Arizona attempts to restrict the distribution of violent video games by making it illegal to display or distribute violent material to minors. The proposed bill is not approved. 1998 Sega introduces the Dreamcast in Japan. This console operates on Microsoft Windows CE which will allow for easier conversions between Dreamcast and PC games. The Wal-Mart retail chain decides to ban over 50 video games that it deems inappropriate for minors. 1999 Billy Mitchell attains a score of 3,333,360 in the game Pac-Man. This is the highest possible score a player can get. As a result of the shootings that occurred at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, Sega announces that it will not release a light gun with the Dreamcast in the U.S. In addition, it prevents use of imported guns with American consoles, which forces the Americans to use standard controllers to play the popular House of the Dead 2. 2000 Sony's PlayStation 2 launches in the U.S. for $299.99 and is sold out by early morning. Since the demand is so high and only 500,000 units are available, it is very difficult to buy a unit during this first shipment. The Sims is released, and quickly becomes a hit. It eventually (in 2002) surpasses Myst as the best-selling PC game ever. 2001 Microsoft and Nintendo introduce their next-generation systems within days of each other. Microsoft claims its Xbox offers "the most powerful game experiences ever." The product (estimated retail price of $299.99) comes with a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port. Nintendo's GameCube (suggested retail price of $199.95) delivers new forms of interactive gaming for players and an easier development environment for game creators. Sega announces that it will no longer manufacture hardware. Nintendo releases the GameBoy Advance, a portable gaming system. 2004 Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS, a portable system with two screens, one of which can be used as a touch screen. 2005 Sony releases the PSP, a portable system with a large, high-resolution display. Microsoft unveils the XBox 360, a console system to be released in November 2005. Sony and Nintendo's competing console systems are planned for release in 2006. 2006 Nintendo releases the Wii, a gaming system that lets gamers use the controller in revolutionary ways, such as swinging it like a tennis racket, holding and tilting it like a steering wheel, and more. Sony also debuts the Playstation 3, a very sophisticated and expensive game system. 2007 Nintendo releases Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. It continues the adventures of Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach as they face their old foe Bowser. 2008 Grand Theft Auto 4 breaks sales records its first week after gamers bought more than 6 million copies. The Wii Fit is launched, adding even more incentive for gamers of all ages to get up and move! 2009 With over 40 million units sold, Nintendo's Wii Sports becomes the best-selling video game of all time. The previous record holder was another Nintendo game: Super Mario Bros. Read more: Timeline: Video Games | Part IV: 1996-present — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/spot/gamestimeline4.html#ixzz1qDCaLbqS

HD LCD TV vs LED TV or Plasma?

LED is LCD. It is just a specialized form of LCD. Regular LCD TVs use a CCFL backlight. LED LCDs use an LED backlight. In terms of quality, that's the difference between them (they also differ in power consumption and thinness, but that doesn't impact image).

 

TV size matters. For features such as 1080p, 120Hz/240Hz, and Plasma vs LCD, the size of your set is important. If you're going 40" or larger, then Plasma, 1080p, and 120Hz/240Hz matter (and moreso if you're breaking 50"). If you are doing 37" or under, then you want to go LCD. And if you get 1080p/120Hz at that size, great, it doesn't hurt, but its just not worth paying extra for at that point.

Plasma will give you better color, contrast, and blacks. Plasma has a near instantaneous response time, which means it plays back all forms of fast motion flawlessly. Plasma is a better image experience through and through. LCD doesn't have a single option that can beat it on any level.

Plasmas suffer from a lot of myths and misconceptions though. They no longer suffer burn in, they do work in high altitudes, and they no longer have short life spans (they can easily last the same or longer than LCDs). Also, they are no longer necessarily power hogs. You can get energy star certified Plasmas now.

LCDs are the everyman HDTV. For a long time they were cheaper to own and cheaper to use (but its not the case on both fronts). They are more accessible in the small-mid range sizes that I guess more people own. They are more familiar because of LCD computer monitors.

LCDs are inherently flawed at fast motion playback though. They do not have good refresh rates/response times. They suffer from motion blur (ghost trails). This is why you see sets advertised with 120Hz and 240Hz. This is a compensation for that. While it does help a lot, it doesn't fix the inherent flaw. Also, you have to pay a steep price premium for this feature.

LCDs based on CCFL backlights will have weaker colors, blacks, and contrast compared to Plasmas. The industry response to this was the creation of the LED backlight for LCDs. This helps immensely. It doesn't beat plasma, but it gets LCDs 'into the game' so to speak. But again, you pay such a large price premium for this feature. You can get a Plasma for far less than an LED LCD.

If you go Plasma, you want to stick with Panasonic if you can. They are the best choice for quality to dollar ratio right now. Pioneer makes better image quality sets, but they cost a fortune. If Panasonic just doesn't float your boat, then look to Samsung or LG as your alternatives.
   

If you go with an LCD of 37" or smaller, I would again look to Panasonic actually. I think their image processors provide the best looking sets through and through. But this is partly personal taste. Again if Panasonic isn't your cup of tea, or if you want a larger LCD, go with the S's; Samsung, Sony, and Sharp Aquos are your friends in the LCD market place. LG and Toshiba also make some good sets, but do your homework.

for details in this forum, visit yahoo answer

Most Anticipated PC Games of 2012

Introduction: Most Anticipated Games of 2012

Thanks to an awesome collection of gaming titles due to be released on a variety of different platforms throughout the year, 2012 definitely promises to be one of the best for gamers all around the world.

Whether you are a fan of action, adventure, RPG, RTS, puzzle, or a combination of different genres, there is a game coming up for you. 2012 also promises to be a good year for sequels, so fans of gaming franchises are in for a pleasant surprise.

The list of most anticipated games of 2012 doesn’t exactly follow any particular order because of the sheer variety of games included but feel free to let us know what you think.

Diablo III

Blizzard seems to have finally got some time on its hand to get set on releasing Diablo 3. The game will be set in the same universe and will feature a number of enhancements. The new game will feature five character classes: Monk, Witch doctor, demon hunter, barbarian and wizard. Players will be able to use alternative genders (the previous games had a fixed gender for each class). In addition, it will include a new single-player campaign that will require a continuous connection to Battle.net’s servers. Hard core fans will also be happy to note that the new game will feature an in-game auction house that allows players to buy virtual items with real money. Seems like Blizzard has learned a lot from WoW.

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto has been one of the most successful sequels in recent times so it is exciting to know that Rockstar will be launching another sequel this year. Unfortunately, not much is known about the game’s core mechanics. However, rumours suggest that GTA 5 will be featured in the fictional metropolis of Los Santos (modelled on the real world Los Angeles). In addition, it is also said to feature multiple protagonists and the usual audio-visual enhancements.

Halo 4

Just after Spartan 117 saved the galaxy from the greatest threat to humanity, he is being thrust right back into action in the first of yet another trilogy. For fans of the Halo universe, this is definitely amongst the most anticipated games of 2012. Thanks to expansive and stunning plot, we can expect a very interesting story wrapped within the stunning first-person action shooter mechanics that made us fall in love with the first Halo trilogy. While most of it is wrapped in mystery, a teaser trailer suggests that there will be some interesting design changes, so let us wait and see. Other rumours suggest that the game will feature a number of new weapons, vehicles and a mysterious combination of hostile forces.

Mass Effect 3

This game probably leads the list of anticipated games for fans of Mass Effect. It will be the final game of the Mass Effect series and will build on plot developed in the previous games. As one of the best futuristic RPG action games in recent years, we can expect nothing but the best from the final instalment. The enhancements will include a set of new minigames, branching skill trees, and a new “Galaxy at War” multiplayer co-op mode. However, best thing about the series is the customised plot that players would have developed throughout the course of the previous games. Accordingly, Mass Effect 3 will complete the plot and account for all the decisions made thus far, which means players will be able to end the series with a unique gaming experience.

XCOM

This game is actually a reboot of the turn-based strategy game X-COM. Unlike the original, this will be a first-person shooter and while many fans of any series would be sceptical of such an extraordinary transformation, keep in mind that the game in question is being developed by 2K Marin, which also created BioShock 2. The game will be set in the early 1960′s, where players will assume the role of FBI agent William Carter, with the objective of destroying hostile aliens.

Borderlands 2

As a sequel to Borderlands, it will build on the stunning elements that made the original so popular. Apart from the original sci-fi shooter system and beautiful visuals, the game will feature four new heroes, enhanced weapons and a stunning plot to unravel.

Twisted Metal

If you are a fan of insane vehicular combat, bizarre outfits and thrilling fun, then this ought to be one of your most anticipated games of 2012. The game promises to include a number of weapons and vehicles that make blowing each other up easier than ever before. In addition, it will also feature a number of multiplayer options (4-player split screen, 16-player online).

If you are expecting standard multiplayer modes, then thankfully you are in for a pleasant surprise; every map will feature insane combat and extremely challenging objectives to win.

BioShock: Infinite

BioShock managed to thrill gamers with a captivating plot and fantastic gameplay. The latest instalment will faithfully build on this tradition and deliver an amazing first-person shooter game set within an amazing dystopian city called Columbia. Players will get the chance to explore the environment with the objective of rescuing a woman named Elizabeth, who has been held captive there for at-least 12 years. In the process, expect to be bombarded by a variety of moral and emotional decisions, as you plunge yourself into a city at war with itself.

Max Payne 3

If you were fortunate enough to play Max Payne 2 then you probably had the benefit of experiencing some fantastic gameplay mechanics and a rather dark plot revolving around a flawed hero.

Therefore, it is nice to note that another installment is on the way, which will feature an older version of the eponymous hero battling it out in a variety of different locations from New York to Sao Paulo. Unfortunately, at this point that is all we know. However, we can expect some stunning cinematic performances and mind-blowing combat scenarios.

The Last Guardian

The Last Guardian, developed by Team Ico, is a thrilling third-person adventure game. Similar to the enchanting visual and gameplay features of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, this game will feature a combination of puzzles and dynamic combat scenes. Another wonderful thing about the game is the amazing environment that makes it so beautiful and thrilling to explore.

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

This will be second instalment in the StarCraft II trilogy easily one of the mostanticipated games for RTS fans. In this, game players will play as the Zerg, the primary antagonist of the series. In addition, it will also feature a new stand-alone campaign, new units, enhanced weapons and combat systems, and serious changes to the game’s multiplayer system.

Hitman: Absolution

It is finally time to reassume the role Agent 47, as you embark on a number of thrilling missions featuring intense combat, challenging puzzles and a dark plot. The new game will feature a number of enhanced features and a more challenging gameplay. For instance, players will have to avoid any unnecessary casualties, exercise stealth and reach all the objectives to get a perfect score. Every level becomes a tactical challenge that will require players to effectively breach multiple layers of security without being detected. A number of new features will include a sophisticated trap system, a new instinct mode and an online gameplay system.

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria

This is certainly amongst the most anticipated games for MMORPG fans. WoW has managed to dominate the genre thanks to a number of exciting expansion packs and a legion of devoted fans. However, recently it has come under a lot of pressure to inject some fresh energy into the game and thankfully, that moment has come. The fourth expansion pack will include a new class: the Pandaren, which is a neutral race that players can either choose to play as the Horde or Alliance. The game will also introduce a new level cap of 90. While not exactly revolutionary, by all accounts it will be amazing addition to an already stunning series.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

The latest instalment in the series will revolve around Raiden, and the way he became a cybernetic swordsman after the events of Metal Gear Solid 2. The stealth-action game will feature plenty melee combat, stunning action and awe-inspiring audio-visual systems , easily making this the best game of the series thus far.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

Yet another one of my personal favourites, Future Soldier will be set in the near future, where Russia is at war with its neighbours. The third-person shooter game will feature a 4-man Ghost team, each with different capabilities. The game will seek to be as realistic as possible and the developers will be featuring a number of weapon systems that are currently being tested or in development in the real world. Hence, players will be able to deploy a number of amazing weapons and combine different tactics to accomplish missions.

visit the official site for details: http://www.thetechlabs.com

Apple iPad 3 Features And Release Date

 

The Apple iPad is one of the best-selling tablets in the world, and the iPad 3 is one of the most anticipated devices from Apple this year. This article explains you about the new features that are to be included in theiPad 3.

Update: The New iPad was announced on March 7th 2012… It is not called the iPad 3, it is kown as iPad 2012. We have written a full review about the new ipad 2012 here.

In a nutshell, the Apple iPad3 will feature a new, thinner and sleeker design, down nearly 20 percent in size compared to the iPad 2. It will also support full touchscreen HD display with a screen resolution of 2048 x 1536.

Apart from that, the iPad 3 will have a lighter battery, reducing the weight of the tablet. However, the battery is reported to cost 20 to 30 percent more than the current iPad’s battery, and will also have a longer battery life.

It is also expected that the iPad 3 will have a wireless charging technology, which will be able to charge the battery and transfer data wirelessly.

iPad 3 Features

Let’s now take a look at all the features in depth:

A6 Processor

The current Apple iPad 2 has a 900MHz dual-core ARM Cortext-A9 processor, Apple A5 chipset and PowerVr SGX543MP2 GPU. This certainly made the Apple iPad 2 a powerful tablet and a main competitor in the world of tablets. Now Apple is aiming to make the competition tougher by sporting an A6 Quad-core Processor in the iPad 3. This would make the iPad 3 as powerful as any high-end desktop.

According to Linley Group senior analyst Kevin Krewell, “We expect the A6 will be a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 design, which would be competitive with next year’s best mobile processors. In 2012, Nvidia will offer a quad-core Cortex-A9 processor, and Qualcomm will have the aforementioned MSM8960, a dual-core A15-class processor operating at 1.7GHz. Fabricating Apple’s A6 in 28nm (instead of the 40nm process Nvidia is using for its quad-core part) will reduce both die cost and power, yielding a much better product.”

iOS 5

The iPad 3 will come with the latest iOS 5, which will host the multi-touch gesture technology. However, analyst and tech enthusiasts predict that Apple would introduce OS X Lion for the tablet, since it will be powered by a quad-core processor.

This will also include multitasking features, such as notifications, task-finishing, app-switching, location and background sound.

3D Feature and New Retina Display

Apple enthusiast expected the Retina Display feature on Apple iPad 2; however, Apple has been working majorly for an improved version of it to include it in the iPad 3. The iPhone 4 currently supports the Retina Display with a screen resolution of 960 x 640. Apple explains Retina Display as: “Developing pixels a mere 78 micrometers wide, Apple engineers were able to pack four times the number of pixels into the same 3.5-inch (diagonal) screen found on earlier iPhone models. The resulting pixel density of iPhone 4 – 326 pixels per inch – makes text and graphics look smooth and continuous at any size.”

With the Retina Display feature, the screen resolution of the iPad3 will be 2048 x 1536 pixels. However, it is said that the third version of the tablet is delayed due to Retina Display issues, and Apple is expected to ship the tablet in early 2012.

There are speculations that the tablet will display the 3D view. Although it’s too early to expect features like 3D display, devices like the LG Optimus can record videos in 3D, and output the same through HDMI.

Cloud Computing

Apple announced its Cloud services during the WWDC 2011, and will definitely include the iCloud technology both in the iPhone 5 and iPad 3. With iCloud users can store photos, apps, calendars and access songs on iTunes without having them to store in the phone’s memory.

Camera

The iPad 3 will come with an improved camera, since the previous version of the table didn’t seem impressive enough. Unlike the iPad 2, the new tablet will come with LED flash to support the camera. It is expected to have a 5MP camera with 1080p or 720p video recording quality of 60 frames per second. The technology made by OmniVision will help reduce the size of the table by 20 percent.

Fingerprint Proof

Apple has already been granted patents on this technology, and is working real hard to make the iPad3 fingerprint proof. The touch screen will be coated with oleophobic materials, which will reduce the oil and fingerprints on the screen.

Apple iPad 3 Release Date

There isn’t any official word from Apple on when the iPad 3 will be released; however, rumors indicate that it will be announced sometime early next year. Reports state the trial production is likely to start this October. One of the major reasons why the launch of the device has delayed is due to the Retina Display technology. It is also said that it could be delayed because of legal issues with one of Apple’s main supplier, Samsung.
The price and availability of the iPad 3 is still unknown. Please make sure that you keep visiting this page to stay updated.

Apple iPad 3 Price

Though the tablet promises quite a lot of new and exciting features, rumors indicate that it could be priced at a very high range. However, with the competition kicking in, I expect that the iPad 3 will be set at a reasonable price. Nevertheless, are you going to buy the new iPad 3? And what other iPad 3 features are you expecting? Let us know by adding your views below. it is also important to mention that Apple is expected to release theiPhone 5 a few months after the launch of the iPad 3.

visit http://www.thetechlabs.com for details.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime Android Tablet

Asus Transformer Prime Review: The Android Tablet You’ve Been Waiting For

 

I suppose it's not a little ironic that what is easily the best Android tablet yet does not look a little bit like an iPad, but a lot like an iPad, and is being sued for trademark infringement—though not by Apple. If you want to be generous, you could say that Asus's Transformer Prime stands on the shoulders of giants. With spiked cleats.

Why It Matters

In a word: speed. This tablet has not a dual, not a triple, but a quad-core 1.3Ghz processor, plus an integrated GPU. It is the first device to run Nvidia's Tegra 3 processor—the first quad-core Android tablet—and it simply blows the doors off of everything else. In terms of speed, anyway. Just imagine when it's not hobbled by the crippling inefficiencies of Honeycomb. Of course, it won't be the only quad-core tablet by this time next week.

Using It

At just 8.3mm, it's thinner than the iPad 2 (8.8mm) and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (8.6mm). There's no cheap plastic on this thing. The back is a solid panel of brushed aluminum—the texture feels slightly off though, to some of us. The result is a very low-profile device that feels incredibly strong (unlike the Galaxy Tabs). It's not quite as comfortable to hold as Motorola's rubberized Xyboard tablets, but the lightness makes up for it.

Right now, the Prime is running Honeycomb (Android 3.2.1). All Honeycomb tablets have had problems with consistency. They're fast one minute, and then slow as hell the next. Not with the Prime. Even when I had ten programs running simultaneously (most of which were HD games) there was virtually no stutter or lag on the homescreen or anywhere else. Nvidia delivered a package of sample HD games that use all four cores and the GPU, and they are absolutely gorgeous. Asus has done some light, (mostly) inoffensive tweaking to the stock Android experience. It adds some extra controls, which are nice, and some software which ranges from useful (Polaris Office) to useless (@vibe Music, a Pandora clone). When it get its Ice Cream Sandwich update, you'll be able to remove anything you don't want, and considering we've already seen ICS running on the Prime, that should be very soon.

NOTE: The reason it's called a Transformer is because it has a spiffy keyboard dock that basically transforms it into a laptop. It has a full keyboard, touchpad, USB and SD card ports, and it adds an extra 50-60% to the battery life, theoretically bringing it up to 15 or 16 hours. But we're not talking about that because we haven't yet received ours. We'll update the review when we get it.

Like

The Transformer Prime shows how Android tablets could and should be built. And this tablet actually lives up to the hype as far as speed and performance goes. It's easily the fastest Android tablet out there, and may well be faster than the iPad 2—though Android has a knack for feelingslower, because of the way, for instance, that it animates transitions. The Super IPS+ screen is incredibly bright, and I had no problem seeing the screen in sunlight. Colors were nice and vivid, too. Battery life is terrific. With fairly conservative use and Wi-Fi only on half of the time, I got ten hours of use. When I pushed it way harder, I still got close to eight.

No Like

The big ding is that it's still running Honeycomb. While the Tegra 3 over-powers Honeycomb's speed problems with obscene processing power, it's still not a very intuitive UI.

The most glaring design flaw is the speaker. Yes, speaker. Singular. If you hold the tablet in landscape (as you will for most games and for all movies) the speaker is on the far right side of the tablet, under your hand. Because the tablet is so thin your hand doesn't really block the speaker, but you can absolutely tell that it's only coming out of one side.

Asus has provided their own sliding keyboard (similar to Swype) which is awful. Not only does swiping not make much sense on a giant screen, but the predictions were very bad indeed (fortunately you can easily switch out the keyboard, because it's Android.). No 3G/4G radio on board (just Wi-Fi), which may be a deal-breaker for some.

Should I Buy It? 

Yes. If you know you don't want an iPad 2. That is, if you know you want an Android tablet. This is the one to buy. It's the best constructed, fastest Android tablet out there. The only people who should hesitate are those who don't want to be confined to Wi-Fi. That said, this is my new favorite tablet. Maybe it'll be yours too. 

visit http://gizmodo.com