Asus Transformer Book Chi T300, T100 now available for pre-order

The Asus Transformer Book Chi series of super-thin Windows tablets are now available for pre-order. The family of products were announced back at CES 2015 but you're now able to take steps to almost be within reach of the company's latest tablets. The new T100 Chi base model starts at $399, while the more advanced T300 Chi kicks off at $699.

The entry model for the T100 comes with a Intel Atom Z3775 2.39GHz CPU, Intel HD Graphics 5300, 10.1-inch LED Backlit FHD (1920x1200) IPS multi-touch display, 2GB RAM and 32GB of storage. The starting specs for the T300 include Intel Core M 5Y10 2.0GHz CPU, Intel HD Graphics 5300, 12.5-inch LED Backlit FHD (1920x1080) IPS multi-touch display, 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD.

As well as the Asus online store, the Transformer Book Chi tablets above are available for pre-order through various retailers, including Amazon and Newegg. No word on the T90 just yet.

ASUS Transformer Book Chi Available for Preorders

FREMONT, Calif., March 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ASUS today begins accepting preorders for the Transformer Book Chi family from the ASUS Store and select resellers. Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show 2015 (CES), the Transformer Book Chi is a family of razor-thin 2-in-1 Windows detachables that offer the unrivalled convenience of a powerful laptop and transforms seamlessly into a handy tablet whenever needed.

The flagship 12.5-inch T300 Chi, recipient of a 2015 CES Innovation Award, is powered by the all-new Intel® Core™ M processor for outstanding performance and power efficiency. T100 Chi is a compact 10.1-inch model with all-day battery life. Both models have a bright, crisp and clear IPS display for wide viewing angles and vibrant colors.

Perfect on-the-go, all Chi models are distinguished by their razor-thin profiles and quiet performance, made possible by the fanless design. T100 Chi has the world's thinnest Windows tablet at an incredible 0.28 inch and T300 Chi measures just 0.65 inch when docked, which is even thinner than an Apple® Macbook Air®.

As well as being amazingly slim, Transformer Book Chi has a luxurious and sophisticated feel, with precision craftsmanship and engineering expertise combined to realize the seamless all-aluminum unibody design. The edges of Chi are enhanced with diamond-cut chamfering, adding brilliant highlights to the elegant metallic body.

The Transformer Book Chi Series uses wide-view in-plane switching (IPS) displays enhanced with ASUS TruVivid technology. By combining three layers into a single piece of glass and eliminating the air gaps that cause internal reflectance in between, TruVivid delivers more vibrant images, astounding sharpness and an ultra-wide color gamut.

Transformer Book Chi's instant, seamless transformation between handy tablet and powerful laptop is made possible by the uniquely-designed magnetic hinge, which employ powerful neodymium magnets arranged precisely to ensure secure and reliable docking. Whenever inspiration strikes, the magnetic hinge also allows users to express their creativity in four usage modes—attached, detached, flipped and tented.

The ASUS Transformer Book Chi Active Stylus Pen (sold separately) features up to 256 pressure sensitivity levels for an incredibly precise writing and drawing experience, while natural palm rejection allows you to rest your hand comfortably.

Powered by an Intel® Core™ M processor, the T300 Chi delivers smooth performance to handle day-to-day computing work. The T100 Chi is powered by an Intel® Atom™ processor that maximizes efficiency and battery life for all-day computing up to 10hrs on a single charge. This superb power-efficiency, combined with an advanced thermal management design from the ASUS engineering team, enables the Transformer Book Chi to operate without fans. The passive design enables Chi to run silently, while delivering excellent performance for daily computing tasks.

In addition to the latest Windows 8.1 preinstalled, the T100CHI also features a free one year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal Edition and 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive.

ASUS Transformer Book T300 and T100 Chi series is available for preorder immediately from the ASUS Store, Newegg.com, Amazon.com and other retailers. For more information, please visit http://www.asus.com/us/site/2-in-1/transformer-book/chi.

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.