Asus became a popular maker of tablets when it launched the first generation Google Nexus 7 successfully. When the second generation Nexus 7 came out along with other Asus products, it solidified the company's reputation as a strong computer manufacturer. With Apple releasing their trademark iPad line, which should buyers consider more? The holidays are just around the corner. Which company offers the best value for shopper's money?

Asus Transformer Book T100

The Transformer Book T100 features 10.1-inch screen. It also comes with a matching keyboard dock. It runs with Windows 8.1 and quad-core Intel Atom processor. While it may not be a high end tablet, the Asus Transformer Book T100 is attractive enough. It features a base made of dark-grey plastics plus a fake brushed-metal finish. The lid of the tablet is also made of glossy plastic.

The slate weighs just 550g. It measures 11mm thick and while it may not sport the premium design compared to Apple's iPad Air and other high end Android tablets, it is not as cheap or low quality as other budgeted slates. The rear provides enough support ensuring comfortable use.

Whereas Asus' design is not as groundbreaking, the hardware is exceptional. The company proves why Google chose them to be their tablet manufacturer. The Transformer Book T100 introduces the newest Intel Atom platform, the Bay Trail. This is the biggest leap since Intel first introduced the line of chips. Intel claimed considerable improvements and it appears true for this slate.

The Bay Trail packs on the 22nm Silvermont microarchitecture. This brings forth the out-of-order execution and the quad-core design. It supports UBS 3m DDR3 RAM along with 64-bit operating systems. The graphics is also a major improvement. The slate features a cut-down Ivy Bridge-class GPU.

The Transformer Book T100 runs on a mid-range Bay Trail CPU, the quad-core, 1.33GHz Atom Z3740. The chipset can run burst frequencies reaching 1.86GHz. Despite offering up to 4GB RAM, Asus ensured that the Transformer Book T100 remain within a good price. Other additions include 32GB of eMMC flash storage and 2GB DDR3 RAM.

They may not sound fancy but Intel's Atom delivers and meets every day usage needs of an average slate user. The device offers an excellent speed and allows users to load applications as fast as possible. Web browsing is also fast and smooth. Sources note how impressive the response mechanism of the slate. Not bad for a tablet intended for a lower budget.

Apple iPad Air

Apple's latest approach to their iPad series is to transform everything faster, more compact and easier to carry. The iPad Air is 28% lighter and 43% thinner compared to the previous generation. It offers a similar resolution as the iPad Mini. Along with the new design comes Apple's A7 chip. This offers 64-bit processor power and energy efficiency allowing extended battery life.

The device measures 9.4 inches (240 mm), 6.6 inches (169.5 mm), 0.29 inch (7.5 mm) and weighs 1 pound (469 g). Obviously, it is lighter and more compact compared to the Asus Transformer Book T100. The iPad Air sports a 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology offering 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi) and fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. Similar to the latest iPhone or iPad, the iPad Air runs on iOS 7. People may not realize how fast the device until they do a lot of things all at the same time. The fraction of a second difference can mean the difference between using an app successfully and switching between important programs. The iPad Air trumps the iPhone 5s narrowly which runs the same 64-bit A7 chip.

The overall interface is very easy to use. The arrangement also makes sense. The home screen is bigger allowing people to put more apps into each folder. The Transformer Book T100 is a good deal for people looking for a budget tablet. It offers great features. Nonetheless, for those looking for a higher end device with a premium feel and list of specs, iPad Air is the way to go. However, people must be willing to spend more.