Here's the problem with all of the primes currently shipping. There are 3 versions, but no changes at all to the hardware. If you are getting an internet signal in your house, whether it's 1 bar or 4 bars, just by looking at the bars you can't know what the prime is transmitting at. For instance, I am on 2 bars right now on channel 2. There is one other router in my range on channel 6. However, when I press the wifi button in lower right corner, and then press again on the name of my router in the pop up box, and once again in the wifi settings menu, my current "router" is transmitting at 19Mbs. I am exactly 12 feet from the "router" (which happens to be my Sprint Epic 4G Touch using Sprint's Hotspot.) No walls are in between us. There are also no Microwaves or Radios in the house on. No BT (although that is an entirely different problem as it dips to 2Mbs). The Wifi fluctuates between 19 and 39Mbs.
Now here's the thing: I am not knocking ANYONE on here. If you have a perfect PRIME then awesome! Good for you! (I am NOT being sarcastic). I really wish I was in your shoes.
If your internet streams well to your prime - it shouldn't matter. If you can maintain a high Mbs with your connection to your router, even BETTER! If you start walking through your house or building and you lose connection, or you use wifi analyzer and see your Prime dropping to 2Mbs or 1Mbs, good luck. I can walk about 20-30 feet from the E4GT and it drops to 5Mbs. I can still use my internet but it slows down considerably. I typically get 19-26Mbs upstairs using the original Transformer with the same Epic 4G touch AND my wimax is usually 8-10Mb/s so I can't complain there.
The real issue (for me) is because I do not have the dock yet, I use an Apple BT keyboard and Logitech VX470 BT Android mouse. When I use the Mouse, the tablet becomes unusable and drops the internet connection off. There is no point. I am able to use the Apple BT keyboard but of course the connection drops lower. So for me, there is no point if I want to watch Netflix and use the BT mouse, whether or not I have the keyboard dock. Perhaps USB nano receiver (if it worked - i'm not sure it does) but as users - we shouldn't have to go and purchase "extended router wifi range" or buy a USB nano receiver mouse just to use our tablet. It's ridiculous.
Aestethically speaking, it looks fabulous. But let's be honest - who wouldn't want this tablet if the wifi range was good past 10, 20, 30 feet? I've had many tablets - from other manufacturers as well, and they ALL got much better range. If the better range and the issues with BT didn't exist because of the back (oh yeah, GPS too and don't say it's an issue when you are using your tablet as a passenger in the car and your gf/wife asks for the number of the closest JoAnn fabrics and you give her the number of the one in South Carolina because your tablet can't recognize you are in Pittsburgh) then we would mostly all want plastic or any reasonable back to the current. Yes the current feels sexy and smooth and looks awesome. But there are real issues here. if you are ok with the issues, don't worry about returning it. But NO user should have to go out and get an extended range router unless you feel the need to buy one for starbucks too. Asus needs to address this, one way or another, and it's just my belief that I'm holding out for Asus to do this before returning this for a full refund and utter letdown from Asus across the board - if they can't manage this tablet which has been SO hyped from EVERY blog/site that i've read - then they won't get my money for the ultrabooks or any laptop/notebook/windows 8 tablet = ever again.
Anandtech did a really good explanation of the current crop of problems - he essentially had to disconnect every router or transmission device in his house - he even went so far as to disconnect everything except his Airplay (which is ironic) and router - and only after literally disconnecting everything was he able to connect at full speeds at his router - but then the distance was also severely cut. If i can find the link I will post it here.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram