Thrive Tablet by Toshiba

The new Thrive Tablet by Toshiba is perhaps the most innovative tablet that has been released. Of course, for some of you, by the time you read this the Thrive will be an older release and newer, more innovative products will surely have unseated it from the throne of new hotness. Until then, let me tell you all about the Toshiba Thrive tablet.

The Thrive uses the Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system, which is the same as the Motorola XOOM. It has a dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, which is yet again like the Motorola XOOM. It supports Adobe Flash so when you browse the Internet it will feel exactly the same as when you surf on your laptop or desktop computer. As for storage capacity it takes a cue from Apple's iPad and comes in 3 different sizes: 8, 16, and 32 gigabytes. Between these 3 you should have no problem figuring out which size works best for your needs. Downloading a lot of movies? Go for the 32GB model. Only using it to download smaller apps and surf the Internet? Settle with the 8 GB model and save yourself some money.

The 10.1-inch multitouch widescreen has a 1280x800 resolution and is capable of displaying images in 720p. It's not as glamorous as 1080p but hey, the iPad 2 is only 720p too. Toshiba has lent the Thrive the same Adaptive Display technology found in their line of laptops so that the screen can adjust brightness and contrast based on lighting in the room. This is an excellent way to preserve the lifespan of the device, save power, and be easy on your eyes. Another feature called Resolution+ enhances content to be higher definition. This means when you watch a movie in 480p it will look better, and when you look at pictures they will be more vivid than if you look at them on your home computer. As with most tablets there is a front and rear camera. The front is 2 megapixels and the rear is 5. Excellent for photo and video capturing.

As an Android tablet you have access to the Android Market. This means access to over 200,000 apps. Some of them are free, some of them have to be paid for, all of them are at your fingertips. I like to say that you'll have a harder time finding apps they don't have, then apps that they do. In addition to the Android Market, Toshiba offers access to the Toshiba App Place. This is an emerging app market which will continuously expand their offerings, so while it might be limited at this time, it can only become more useful.

One of the strongest features of the Toshiba Thrive is its connectivity. An SD card slot lets you expand the memory, so you can buy the 8 GB model and expand it when you need more space. A mini USB slot can be found alongside a full-size USB slot. This might sound redundant, but it gives you the opportunity to connect multiple devices at once, while being able to connect full-sized USB devices which might not be compatible with a mini USB port. There is also a full-sized HDMI port so you don't have to bother yourself trying to find a micro or mini HDMI cord. I can tell you, with all of these tablets flying around finding one of these cords can be harder than you might imagine. As for sound output, the tablet has stereo speakers with SRS audio enhancement, Adaptive Sound Enhancer, and Noise Making Equalizer. All of this means you can play sound at high volumes with quality output, and also hear your sound easily even in crowded areas.

Another nifty feature is the ability to pop off the back panel. This allows you to replace it with one of 6 colored back panels, but also to replace the battery. A removable battery is a great feature because it allows you to carry extra charged batteries for long trips and put them in when the current one dies. Also, if the battery that comes with your tablet happens to die, you can purchase a new one and won't have to worry about the cost of parts and labor to have it sent to the manufacturer and repaired. Some other features to wrap up this part of the article are Bluetooth capability, a GPS sensor, a compass, and an accelerometer. Standard fair for a tablet of this caliber.

There are plenty of accessories for the Toshiba Thrive tablet, so don't worry about not being able to find any because it's so new. There is a portfolio case with a built-in stand and pen holder. There is easy port access so the cover doesn't... well, cover, any of the ports on the side of the tablet. There is a standard dock with audio output so you can easily hook the Thrive up to your favorite audio device, such as a home theater system. If you want something a little more fancy you can buy a Multi-dock with HDMI. This dock has an HDMI and multiple USB ports which only further enhances the already incredible connectivity of the Toshiba Thrive. If you don't like touching the screen with your fingers you can purchase the touchscreen pen. And if a pen still makes you worried, go with a screen protector. I always advise buying a screen protector. You're already spending over $400 for the tablet, an extra 20 or 30 to protect your investment is worth it.

Sources:

http://us.toshiba.com/tablets/thrive/10-inch/

http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/toshiba-thrive-8gb/4505-3126_7-34776757.html