Asus' Eee Pad Transformer launched with much fanfare last year as it bridged the gap between tablets and netbooks via its docking station. At the time, we thought the Eee Pad Transformer was a great bargain, but that value was slightly diminished later in 2011 when Asus unveiled its $620 Eee Pad Transformer Prime.

Although the Transformer Prime's price increase was technically justifiable, it pushed the upper budgets of some shoppers. Addressing that issue, Asus has released a more affordable yet still powerful version called the Transformer Pad TF300T.

True to its word, Asus has begun shipping its Transformer Pad 300 stateside this week for $379.99 (16GB) and $399.99 (32GB), undercutting the third-generation iPad by more than a hundred bucks for the entry-level model (excluding the keyboard dock, which sells separately for $149)...

Asus is set to join Samsung with the launch of a new tablet on April 22. The Transformer Pad 300 tablet is already showing up online at select retailers for under $400 but don’t let the price fool you – this is one feature-packed slate.