£499 Transformer Prime Hits UK January, US Dec 19th

After an issue with Wi-Fi connectivity, Asus has announced that the Tegra quad-core Transformer Prime will hit US shelves December 19th, just in time for Christmas.

However, the folk across the pond in the UK can expect to get their hands on the tablet some time in January. Brits will also be lacking in choice as the Prime will come bundled with the laptop dock accessory, which will be an optional $149 purchase in the States. How much will the bundle cost? A pricey £499 (around $775) is what Asus is asking for, a tad higher than other Android tablets, a smidgen more than the 32Gb iPad 2, and above-par for standard laptops (around £400). In comparison, Asus will be selling the Transformer Prime sans dock for $499, making the bundle a more affordable $648.

Are Asus following Apple’s suit by adding a hefty tax for their devices in the UK? Will you be able to afford the Prime when it eventually releases in January?