Asus recently announced the first tablet computer to run a quad-core processor, called the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. The Transformer Prime, being referred to as a supercomputer tablet by Asus, is expected to out-perform the existing tablet PCs on the market, including the high-demand Apple iPad tables. A huge aspect of the appeal is its ground-breaking quad-core Tegra 3 processor, by NVIDIA, also known as the Kal-El processor. This beautifully designed tablet computer does not have an official launch date, but is promised sometime in December.

The Transformer Prime is a follow-up of Asus' popular Eee Pad Transformer. This next-generation tablet is a huge improvement on what was already one of the most popular Android tablets of 2011. One of the largest improvements can be attributed to the new design of the Transformer Prime. The original Eee Pad Transformer was a slightly bulky, boring, plastic rectangle. The newer version is much more elegant and visually appealing. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is cased in thin, light aluminum, with a cool swirl pattern on the back.

At 0.33 inches (8.3mm) and 1.29 pounds (586 grams), the Transformer Prime is actually a bit lighter and thinner than Apple's iPad 2 tablet. Asus was somehow able to pull off this impressive size and weight, with a 10.1-inch display screen, almost a half an inch larger than the iPad 2's display. The picture quality of the display is also improved from the original Transformer. The picture is displayed under high-quality Gorilla Glass and boasts a 178-degree viewing-angle capacity.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime has an impressive 12 hours of running battery life. However, when attached to the the keyboard dock, the tablet increases its life by 6 whole hours. The keyboard dock is sold separately, but is worth the investment if the tablet is going to be used for any serious typing sessions. Touch-screen keyboards have improved quite a lot and work great for basic typing needs, such as web browsing, but it can't quite hold up to a physical keyboard when typing lengthy emails or instant messaging with friends. The dock also includes a USB port and SD card slot.

The Transformer Prime tablet also includes an HDMI port and has two built-in cameras; a 1.2 megapixel camera on the front and an 8 megapixel camera on the back, which can record 1080p video. The powerful Tegra 3 processor also makes this tablet ideal for gaming. The speed of the processor is enough to compete with gaming consoles, which is unheard of for tablet computers.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is available in two sizes of storage: 32GB with a $500 price tag and 64GB at $600. The tablets come in Amethyst Gray and Champagne Gold. The 32 GB original Transformer tablet is currently listed for $500, but the price is likely to drop when the Prime models are launched. Asus is marketing the Transformer Prime tablets as their premium device, while keeping the original Transformer available for the mainstream market.