The baffling existence of the tablet has long been a topic of debate – is it necessary? Tech is moving way too fast as it is, and we’re being propagated to the beauty of sleek, compact laptops and if I may, phablets, that are essentially smartphones with the allure of a bigger screen. I, too, didn’t see the need of an extra gadget clogging up my life… until I had one.
For the past couple weeks, I’ve been using the ASUS ZenPad™ Theatre, which is a bundle that consists of the ASUS ZenPad™ 8.0 and an ASUS Audio Cover. Instead of babbling on about its features and what you can use it for, I’m letting you in on what I really use the tablet (and the immersive Audio Cover) for.
1. Work companion – Thankfully, being a writer gives me the leeway to move around a lot and travel occasionally. Instead of lugging the absurd weight of my Macbook Pro for press events and whatnot, I’ve resorted to carrying the ASUS ZenPad™ Theatre. With an 8-inch screen and measuring only 209mm in width, the tablet fit snugly into any bag I’m carrying and barely weighs anything at all.
I like to keep work files separate, so instead of cramming my selfie-loaded smartphone with PDFs, I’ve organised everything on the tablet. When replying e-mails alongside some light text editing, the files become easily accessible. Note-taking is also effortless as I simply have to snap a photo with the tablet’s 8MP rear camera, or record a press conference.
2. Portable boombox – I work out at home and like many others, music gets me going as I exercise. When I’m not being intrusive to anyone’s space, I enjoy the loud music sans the earphones. Featuring DTS-HD Premium Sound and 6x the volume, the ASUS Audio Cover, together with the tablet, deliver amazing sound quality that’s greatly satisfying to me.
When I binge-watch some of my favourite TV series on Netflix at 3am in the morning, the cinematic speakers again flaunt power in no way I could have expected from a tablet and its Audio Cover. The ASUS ZenPad™ Theatre has fast become my on-the-go entertainment pod, also thanks to its HD IPS display that delivers incredibly realistic images.
3. Reading, anywhere – Due to its extravagant price and minimal functionality, I never got around to owning a Kindle but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up on e-reading. The HDTV tablet display on the ASUS ZenPad™ Theatre isn’t only great for watching movies or scrolling through social media. Its sharpness optimisation feature make text appear sharper and more refined, easing pressure on the eyes as you read.
Surprisingly, I’m still able to grip onto the entire tablet with one hand albeit my tiny palms. No prizes for guessing what I usually do to pass time while getting stuck in traffic in an Uber!
4. Online shopping – I live for online shopping, and being able to browse through clothes on ASOS on a bigger screen with excellent clarity is everything. Complementing the tablet’s HDTV tablet display is the intelligent contrast enhancement that renders more detail in the highlights and shadow to reveal the true definition of images. It’s safe to say that I now have a better view of every silhouette, cinch, structure and detailing of everything I purchase online.
5. Cooking instructions – Cooking at home after a long day is therapy to me. It really helps me unwind and destress. I love experimenting with different ingredients and I’m often browsing through recipes on my tablet. When I actually get to cooking, I also always have the tablet with me beside the stove for easy reference. Just go online and there are a plethora of foods you can try to make, with various techniques and methods! Who still sits down and copies recipes anyway?
The ASUS ZenPad™ Theatre comes in three colours – Black, White and Aurora Metallic. The ASUS ZenPad™ Theatre bundle consists of the tablet plus ASUS Audio Cover and the bundle retails for RM999.
