If you're thinking about buying the new Asus Transformer, chances are you're wondering whether getting the Asus Eee Pad Transformer keyboard docking station is a good idea. Does it work as described? Or is it merely a gimmick designed to generate buzz over the new tablet.

Well, since I recently bought the Asus Eee Pad Transformer keyboard docking station, I figured I'd write a review for all you folks interested in buying it.

Connecting the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Keyboard Docking Station

Right off the bat I was skeptical whether or not the Asus Eee Pad Transformer keyboard docking station would be easy to connect. The last tablet to incorporate a keyboard was the Acer Iconia Pad, and it was a disaster.

But as far as connecting the keyboard goes, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer was super easy!

You simply slide the tablet into the bracket and click it in place. That's all there is to it. And once the tablet is firmly in place, it does not move around or come out. You can also fold it and close it just like a regular laptop.

Disconnecting the tablet is just as easy. You just pull a small lever and the keyboard slides out.

A+ on Easy of Use!

Using The Keyboard Docking Station

Asus claims that using the Eee Pad Transformer is just like using a netbook.

While I wouldn't fully agree with Asus, the Eee Pad Transformer does come pretty darn close!

For starters, the keyboard docking station gives you access to a full QWERTY Keyboard and tracking pad for the mouse. However, something I thought was pretty cool was that once you connected the keyboard docking station, you could choose whether or not to navigate using the keyboard or the tablet. The screen is still sensitive to touch, and you can go in between using the keyboard and the tablet.

Typing on the keyboard was for the most part a pleasant experience. I did however notice a little bit of lag when typing words into online forms - the typing on the screen was just slightly behind my typing on the keyboard. But this is just a minor issue, I don't really think it affects the overall functionality of the tablet.

Conclusion: Is The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Keyboard Docking Station Worth It?

In the end, I would say yes. You can upgrade your tablet to a netbook for a mere $130 from some online retailers. This is a great deal if you're a student who wants to take notes in class, but also want to have fun on your breaks using a tablet.

Also, for individuals that like to get work done in coffee shops (such as myself), the Asus Eee Pad Transformer keyboard gives you the best of both world: you get both a tablet and a netbook. Plus, the docking station gives you an extra 6.5 hours of batter time.

If you're the type of individual that would get a lot out of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer keyboard, I highly recommend you check out some retailers. I found that the prices locally were a little pricey, but that some online retailers had the lowest prices on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer keyboard docking station.