Learn how to set up an Asus Transformer Pad TF300 Android tablet.
Donald Bell
Donald Bell has spent more than five years as a CNET senior editor, reviewing everything from MP3 players to the first three generations of the Apple iPad. He currently devotes his time to producing How To content for CNET, as well as weekly episodes of CNET's Top 5 video series.
The Asus Transformer Pad TF300 is one of CNET's top-rated Android tablets and one of the first to run the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android out of the box. In this gallery, I'm going to walk you through the setup process for this tablet and offer a few tips on customization.
On this first screen, we'll agree to use the default language, English.
To see a video tutorial on setting up an Asus Transformer Pad TF300, head over to CNET's How To blog.
The second page of the setup guide offers options for custom onscreen keyboards. By default, it will use the same language preference chosen on the previous page, but you can change that preference by unchecking the box and selecting a specific keyboard from the options below.
Next we'll setup the tablet's Wi-Fi connection. Although you have the option of skipping this step, many of the subsequent pages will rely on a Internet connection to properly setup the tablet.
Once you've selected your preferred network, you'll be prompted to enter any necessary log-in and password details. Then select Connect, and finally, Next.
Assuming you were able to connect to the Internet using the Wi-Fi setup on the previous page, the tablet will set its own date and time. Before you skip ahead, though, be sure to select the correct region for your time zone.
Here's where the Google magic happens. If you're an existing Google account holder, a one-time entry of your log-in and password will synchronize your Google services and apps to your new tablet (including Gmail, Picasa, Google Books, Google Music, and more).
For new users, Google allows you to register a new account directly from the tablet, though it may be faster to create the account on a home computer. While you're at it, visit Google Wallet to setup a payment method for purchasing apps and media, and skip the next page.
If you don't already have a payment account setup with Google, you can enable purchases by entering in a payment method directly on the tablet. Personally, I think that entering credit card info on a touch screen is a painful experience to endure in the first few minutes of tablet ownership. To avoid the stress, set up a Google Wallet account ahead of time.
On this page, you can grant or deny Google the power to back up your settings, which will make it easier to restore your tablet should you ever need to reset the device later.
This page is here to make you feel good. Unfortunately, it's a lie. There are still a few extra steps worth taking before you're really on solid ground.
To transition you to the Asus Transformer Pad TF300 desktop, you're shown where to access your apps (top right corner) and where you can drag them (the desktop).
First stop: launch the Web browser and follow the prompt to install the Adobe Flash Player. This will come in handy for viewing Flash content on the Web.
While you're in the app store, click on the download tab to manage any automatically downloading apps you may not want on your tablet, and ensure that the updates you do need are being installed.
For reasons I don't completely understand, Google Music defaults to a blank screen for me. To fix it, I need to take one extra step by going into settings to associate my account with the app.
One odd omission in Android 4.0 is Google's new mobile Chrome browser. It's one of the best mobile browsers out there, and Google made it just for Ice Cream Sandwich, but you have to search it out and download it from their app store.
To keep battery life up, dive into the quick settings here and be sure that the screen brightness is set to adjust automatically.
While you're here, notice these custom performance settings directly above the brightness slider, that are designed by Asus. You get a Power saving mode, Balanced, and Performance mode. These are used to throttle the CPU for better battery life, or go all-out for games. I recommend keeping the setting in the default Balanced mode until a time when you feel a real need to kick it up or down.
To see our video tutorial on how to setup an Asus Transformer Pad TF300, head over to CNET's How To blog.
