Toshiba Thrive WiFi (1GB + 16GB) Review | 168 Data compared

Walt Mossberg's July 2011 review on AllThingsD evaluates the Toshiba Thrive, a bulky Android tablet aiming to bridge the gap with laptops via full-size USB and HDMI ports, alongside a removable battery. While praised for its functional, PC-like file management, the device is criticized for being notably thicker and heavier than competitors. The review concludes that while it succeeds in port connectivity, the Thrive suffers from limited tablet-optimized apps at the time.

The SlashGear review describes the Toshiba Thrive as a highly functional, "homely" 10.1-inch Android tablet, favoring practical connectivity over the slim design of competitors. Key features highlighting this utilitarian approach include a 1280x800 display, rubberized interchangeable back covers, and full-sized ports—HDMI, USB, and SD card—that eliminate the need for adapters. Proponents of the Thrive appreciate its excellent expandability, including a user-replaceable battery, a full-sized SD card slot supporting up to 128GB, and a robust, custom File Manager app. These elements, along with its solid, easy-to-grip construction, make it a durable choice for users focused on functionality. Conversely, the device's main drawbacks are its notable "chunkiness" and weight, making it less comfortable for prolonged handheld use compared to rivals. Other cons include poor, tinny speaker quality, a bulky power adapter for travel, and reported issues with system stability and difficult access to the rear panel.

The EdTech Magazine review positions the Toshiba Thrive as a, "PC-like" hybrid tablet designed for enterprise use, highlighting its inclusion of full-sized HDMI, USB, and SD card ports. Powered by an Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset and running Android 3.1, the device is lauded for its robust multitasking capabilities and professional features such as Kaspersky Tablet Security and a user-replaceable battery. However, the review notes significant cons, specifically the tablet’s heavy, bulky design compared to competitors and minor issues like a, reversed, volume rocker and occasional, sleep-mode, bugs.

The July 2011 Business Insider review of the 10.1-inch Toshiba Thrive highlights its focus on utility, featuring full-sized USB, HDMI, and SD card slots, which eliminate the need for dongles. While this "Swiss Army Knife" design approach is a key pro, it results in a bulky, "chunky" build with a plasticky back panel that feels less premium than competitors. Despite software glitches and unneeded pre-installed bloatware, the tablet offers a user-replaceable battery and, for those requiring extensive connectivity, a functional experience.

The Ars Technica review of the Toshiba Thrive highlights a, heavy tablet that prioritizes connectivity over aesthetics, featuring a full-size USB port, HDMI port, and SD card slot. It boasts a user-replaceable battery, a secure, rubberized, and swappable back cover, and operates on Android 3.1 Honeycomb with Nvidia Tegra 2 hardware. While lauded for its functional design and utility for power users, the review notes significant cons, including a hefty 1.6-pound weight, a "plasticky" feel, and mediocre camera performance.

The Time review characterizes the Toshiba Thrive as a bulky, "beast" of a tablet that prioritizes utility over aesthetics with a thick, plastic, and textured design. While its 1.6-pound weight and large footprint hinder portability compared to rivals like the iPad 2, the device offers, as primary pros, full-sized ports—including USB, HDMI, and an SD card slot—along with a user-replaceable battery and removable back cover. Performance via the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor running Android 3.1 is deemed generally capable, but the review identifies cons including sub-par 2MP/5MP cameras, noticeable, unavoidable bloatware, and a generally unpolished software experience. Ultimately, it is described as an ideal, highly functional, and utilitarian device for users willing to compromise on thinness for superior connectivity.

The PCWorld review highlights the Toshiba Thrive as a utility-focused, "laptop-like" tablet featuring full-sized USB, HDMI, and SD card ports for enhanced connectivity. It prioritizes functionality over sleek design, enabling easy file transfers without adapters. Key advantages include a user-replaceable battery, a secure, grippy design, and robust performance via an Nvidia Tegra 2 processor with Android 3.1. However, the tablet is criticized for being bulky, thick, and heavy at 1.6 pounds, with weak speakers and occasionally distracting LED status lights.

The CNET review describes the Toshiba Thrive as a bulky but aggressively priced Android 3.1 tablet that prioritises functionality, featuring a user-replaceable battery, a textured grip, and a 1280x800 display. Key advantages include full-sized ports—HDMI, USB 2.0, and SD card—alongside an effective file management system and a competitive entry-level price point. Significant drawbacks identified in the review include its excessive weight and thickness, awkward rear camera placement, distracting LED lights, and a restrictive 90-day warranty.

The 10.1-inch Toshiba Thrive distinguishes itself with a focus on utility, offering full-sized ports including USB 2.0, HDMI, and an SD card slot, along with a user-replaceable battery and a textured back cover. Despite these pros, the tablet is notably bulky and heavy, leading to cons regarding its 0.62-inch thickness and 1.6-pound weight, alongside disappointing battery life that falls behind competitors. Furthermore, users may experience issues with a bug preventing the device from waking from sleep, coupled with pre-installed software that is difficult to remove. Reviewed

The Toshiba Thrive (Wi-Fi) is a 10.1-inch Android 3.1 tablet designed for utility, featuring a bulky, rubberized plastic chassis that houses full-size USB and HDMI ports alongside an SDXC card slot and a user-replaceable battery. Pros include this superior port selection, allowing for easy file transfers without adapters, and a bright, responsive 1280x800 display, making it a functional choice for business users. Conversely, the primary cons are its extreme thickness and weight, being significantly bulkier than competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The 8GB model is considered overpriced, and the device lacks the premium feel of thinner alternatives, limiting its appeal to those prioritizing portability. Powered by an Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, the Thrive offers solid performance, but its roughly 7-hour battery life is merely average for its time. While the software provides good multitasking, it suffers from a lack of tablet-optimized apps, ultimately making it a niche, "PC-like" device rather than a sleek consumer tablet.

The Toshiba Thrive, a 10.1-inch Android 3.1 tablet, prioritizes a "PC-like" experience with full-sized ports, including USB 2.0, HDMI, and an SD card slot, allowing easy peripheral connection and storage expansion. Additional pros include a removable battery and customizable, rubberized back covers, though the design is notably bulky, heavy, and described as "plasticky". Despite crisp performance from the Nvidia Tegra 2 chip, the device suffers from reported "sleep/wake" bugs and a display that struggles in direct sunlight. Battery life is reported as subpar compared to competitors, lasting 6 to 7 hours, and the audio quality is frequently cited as a weakness, according to evaluations. Tailored for users prioritizing utility over portability, the Thrive is a functional alternative to sleeker devices.

The SmallNetBuilder review highlights the Toshiba Thrive as a "techie's tablet" that prioritizes utility over thin, fashionable designs. Key advantages include full-sized ports—HDMI, USB 2.0, and SD card—eliminating the need for adapters, alongside a user-replaceable battery. Conversely, the Thrive is criticized for being "chunky" and heavy at 1.6 pounds, with a large, inconvenient charger and a difficult-to-remove back cover. Performance-wise, it offers a standard, stable NVIDIA Tegra 2 experience with good screen brightness, though the physical, non-tactile buttons and overall bulky form factor are considered drawbacks compared to competitors.

The EdTech Magazine review highlights the Toshiba Thrive as a versatile, IT-friendly tablet running Android 3.1, notable for its robust connectivity and user-replaceable battery. Its pros include full-sized USB and HDMI ports, solid performance via the Nvidia Tegra 2 chip, and built-in security features, though it is heavier than contemporary alternatives. Cons center on a counterintuitive volume rocker, only average camera performance, and a known issue where the device struggles to wake from sleep while charging.

The Toshiba Thrive is described by MobileTechReview as a functional, "outer geek" tablet prioritizing PC-like utility over thinness, featuring a bulky design with a rubberized, textured back. It stands out with a user-replaceable battery and a full suite of ports, including USB 2.0, HDMI, and a standard SD card slot. Powered by a 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor with 1GB of RAM, the device delivers a stable experience on Android 3.1, featuring a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display. Key pros include excellent connectivity, easy battery swaps, a secure grip, and a good display, while cons are highlighted by its significant 1.68-pound weight, weak 6–7 hour battery life, and minor design flaws like stiff buttons. The device is geared toward users prioritizing functionality over portability.

The 2011 Gizmodo review characterizes the Toshiba Thrive as a bulky, 0.6-inch thick "heavyweight" that prioritizes utility over aesthetics. While its size was compared to a "giant Kit Kat bar," this design allowed for practical features like full-sized USB, HDMI, and SD card ports. Pros include excellent connectivity, a user-replaceable battery, a responsive 10.1-inch screen, and solid performance from the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor. Conversely, the primary cons focused on ergonomics and portability, with the "absurdly fat" design making it less appealing than sleeker rivals. The 16:10 aspect ratio and awkward front camera placement hindered user experience. Despite being a functional "powerhouse," the reviewer found it difficult to recommend due to its lack of portability. For more details, visit Gizmodo.

The Toshiba Thrive is characterized as a "laptop-like" tablet prioritizing utility and connectivity over sleek design, featuring a rubberized "Easy Grip" back. Pros include full-sized USB, HDMI, and SD card ports for easy peripheral connection, alongside a user-replaceable battery. However, significant cons include its bulky, heavy design and a battery life of roughly 6.5-7 hours, which underperforms compared to competitors. A critical, early, and serious sleep/wake bug further hampered the user experience. Offering a bright 10.1-inch screen and Nvidia Tegra 2 performance, the Thrive serves as a niche, PC-like tool suitable for, rather than a portable, consumer-focused device.

The Toshiba Thrive, a 10.1-inch Android 3.1 tablet, prioritizes utility over design with a thick, heavy construction, featuring user-replaceable batteries and full-sized ports (USB, HDMI, SD) as key advantages. While the display provides good brightness, the device's bulky, rubberized build makes it less portable than competitors. Performance is marred by noticeable software choppiness, and battery life is merely average, falling short of market leaders. Ultimately, despite its superior connectivity, the Thrive is deemed a buggy, unpolished device that falls behind rivals like the Asus Eee Pad Transformer.