2014-06-23

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We all know those people who just love their electronics. They always seem to be up to date on the newest devices and can often be found hauling around a variety of gadgets to ensure they always stay connected. When I think of these technology experts, a few people I hold dear come to mind, but I am definitely not one of them. In fact, I am the exact opposite. Yes, I am a technology latecomer. I did not jump on the Facebook  and Twitter bandwagon until 2009 and was one of the very last people I know to get an actual smartphone. When it comes to tablets, I never even felt the need to make the plunge since I had my trusty laptop while at home and my phone while away, but after my latest review opportunity, I now realize that I simply did not know what I was missing.

ASUS (derived from Pegasus) has been a global leader in technology, and their company promise, to create an effortless and joyful digital life for everyone, shines brightly through their high quality product assortment. With items ranging from motherboards, monitors and graphics cards, to notebooks, desktop computers, and routers, ASUS definitely embodies strength, an adventurous spirit and continues to soar to new heights with product development, much like its namesake.



The ASUS MeMO Pad 8 which, thanks to impressive specs and exclusive features, allows users a totally new mobile experience, recently arrived on our doorstep and quickly fell into the hands of my very excited husband. Moments after our tablet’s arrival I could not help but notice the slight stature of this device. Weighing in at 350 grams (just over 12 ounces) and a mere five inches wide, the ASUS MeMO Pad 8 is certainly a little guy, but don’t let its size fool you, there is not much this petite powerhouse can’t do.

Let’s begin with the basics!

8 inch LED backlight display screen (which offers a 30% larger display area than 7 inch tablets)

1.6GHz quad-core central processing unit with 1GB of memory

5GB of Webstorage (allows you to sync all devices and share documents, pictures, videos, etc. via cloud)

15Wh Li-polymer battery with 9 hours of battery life

Stereo speakers with SonicMaster technology

Dual cameras (5MP rear camera and 1.2MP front camera)

Interface includes 2 in 1 audio jack, micro USB slot and micro SD card reader slot

Wireless router and Bluetooth compatible

Those spectacular stats alone are definitely enough of a selling point, but when we took some time to experience our ASUS MeMO Pad 8, it was definitely easy to see this is a first-rate device the entire family can enjoy.  There are numerous unique attributes that really set this tablet apart from others I have briefly used in the past. All are worth mentioning, but that would make for the longest post in history, so I have instead gathered a few of my favorite MeMO Pad 8 properties and discussed them in depth below.

My very first SuperNote!

* SuperNote: A revolutionary way to take notes, SuperNote is an app included on the ASUS MeMO Pad 8 and allows users to take notes by writing, drawing or typing. Thanks to convenient and flexible editing functions you can easily change the style, font and color of text, as well as insert images, sounds, and video. Choose to share your SuperNote creation via Gmail, Facebook or Twitter, or password lock your notebook for extra privacy.

*Audio Wizard: This awesome function enables users to preset audio volume and levels while in different modes. For example, you could have your MeMO Pad 8 get louder and add more bass when in movie mode or quieter while gaming. Regardless of your settings these speakers rock and definitely will not have you miss a single sound. In fact, the speakers were one of the features I was most impressed with and was I surprised such a small tablet could create such terrific tone.

*Power Modes: There is a handy power saver that allows users to control battery life in a few different ways. Ultra Saving Mode maximizes battery life and disconnects from a network connection when the device is suspended. Optimized Mode extends battery life while staying connected to a network. There is also a Customized Mode option and a handy graph that shows you how much and when the battery is being used.

*Photo Options: While I still need some more time to fully explore the camera quality of the ASUS MeMO Pad 8, what I have seen thus far is nothing short of stunning. There is also an amazing variety of photo options included on the tablet. Aside from standard Panorama and Night modes, there is also Smart Remove which allows you to get rid of unwanted objects or people, All Smiles which gives users the option to cut and paste everybody at their best to create one eye catching photo, Beautification (easy photoshop) where you can remove blemishes, add blush and so much more, and GIF animation, which allows you to easily create short motion clips. Thanks to the included ASUS Story app you can successfully store all of your photos while also being able to design story books, add captions and more.

*Google Play: As a longtime Apple gal, I was totally unfamiliar with the Android platform prior to this review. Since then I have fallen in love with the Google Play store where I was nothing short of amazed at the selection of apps, games, books, and music, many of which are free. In a matter of a few days we have managed to download a ton of great learning apps and entertaining games for the kids, who have been each enjoying their individual time on the ASUS MeMO Pad 8.

*Support: The included ASUS app give users 24/7 access to an ASUS agent that can assist them with technical support, product questions and much more. I always seem to have a random question and now obtaining an answer is easy!

Using the ASUS MeMO Pad 8 has definitely been an eye opening adventure and assisted not only me, but our entire family, in enhancing our electronic experience. I can definitely see the need and benefits to having a tablet on hand and look forward to exploring my MeMO Pad 8 on a regular basis.

Buy It
The ASUS MeMO Pad 8 retails for around $199 and is available at retailers such as Amazon, Newegg and Tiger Direct. For more details, a full list of retailers, and to make your purchase, please visit the ASUS website directly!

Win It
ASUS has generously offered 1 lucky Obviously MARvelous reader the ASUS MeMO Pad ME 176

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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