[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] NeoteriX:
Kudos. I was actually planning the same post for this weekend, but you saved me the trouble.

I had some facts saved from my research that augment your post. You might wanna add it to the original post.

Point 1) The high-resolution TF700T is due to launch at roughly the same product cycle as the original Transformer and Transformer Prime.

The first Asus Transformer was released in the US on April 26, 2011. [ Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_Pad_Transformer ]

The Transformer Prime was (officially) released on December 19, 2011. [ Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_Pad_Transformer_Prime ]

This results in a product cycle of eight (8) months.

The Transformer TF700t is scheduled to launch "Late Q2" at earliest, and is at the moment, predicted to be May/June 2012. [ Source: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5324/...-for-improved-wireless-adds-1920-x-1200-panel ]

This means, at a minimum, the product cycle will be six (6) months, and delays can certainly happen.

Bottom line? This isn't an admission of a design flaw, or a stab in the back or whatever entitled BS folks want to come up with to victimize themselves. This is a natural product evolution, operating on the same half-year product cycle.

If anything, the RF-optimized backing likely signifies that a 3G version is on the way. Which leads me to Point 2...

Point 2) Performance and design are constant engineering tradeoffs, and other manufacturers make them all the time. The Transformer Prime's GPS, Bluetooth, and Wifi performance strike a compromise with design, thinness, and structural integrity -- the same compromise struck by Apple with their iPad and iPad2.

First, the Transformer Prime's wireless performance is not objectively BAD, it's just not as good as the prior Transformer. However, the Prime is much thinner, more premium, and features a very attractive aluminum back. In order to help mitigate this tradeoff, Asus designed the Prime with wifi diversity. Consequently, when within range, "

The result is peak WiFi performance that is virtually identical to the original Eee Pad Transformer.

"

[ Source: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5175/asus-transformer-prime-followup ]

However, yes, the range of the Prime is understood to be less:

You know what other major company made this engineering and design tradeoff? Apple.

Now, the wifi-only iPad2 got rid of the RF window, and went with an all-aluminum backing for better design aesthetic, thinness, and structural integrity. Guess what happened? Yes, the wireless performance degraded.

Were Apple users up in arms threatening lawsuits and the BBB and boycotts? Maybe, but I certainly didn't hear about it. Apple definitely didn't give refunds or rebates or replace backings or fly customers on their private jets, I know that much for sure. The reality is I know dozens of satisfied iPad2 users, and I'm sure many more appreciate the improvement in design than notice the Wifi diminution over the prior model.

However, if wifi performance is more important than you than any other consideration (CPU horsepower, thinness, aesthetic, attachable keyboard, etc.), that's your prerogative and you should make that the key focus of your purchasing and purchase an all-plastic tablet like the Samsung Tab 10.1. Or, just get the original Transformer. All engineering and consumer decisions are about compromise and people have to find it within themselves to determine what compromise they are ok with.

As for GPS -- it's simple. Apple simply did not bother to include a GPS receiver in the non-3G (non-RF window) versions of the iPad/iPad2. People seem to be living with that compromise pretty well too.

The Transformer Prime is, at essence, Asus's and Android's answer to the wifi iPad2. It rivals the iPad2 in terms of design, thinness, and speed. It makes similar tradeoffs and compromises as the iPad2, because frankly, when you look at the iPad2's tremendous sales figures, it's self-evident the vast majority of people don't care about them. Apple has a tremendous talent in focusing on what the vast majority of people care about, and leaving the extra stuff behind, and so you can't blame Asus for wanting to follow the same design objectives as Apple -- it works.