While other tablet companies are focused on things such as bettering performance within their tablet operating systems or attempting to grab some market share from Apple, Toshiba was struggling to come up with a name for its all-new tablet. That is, until some marketing genius came up with the Toshiba Thrive.
Identity issues aside, the Toshiba Thrive is ready to take on the iPad and other tablets with the Google empowered Android operating system. And, for the first time, Toshiba will feature customizable colours and graspable rubber backs for their tablet PCs. Also setting the Thrive apart from the iPad's “Hey, it’s a bigger iPhone” mystique, is that the Thrive is built more like an actual laptop complete with an HDMI port and an SD card reader.
The rubber rear surface is a great departure from other PC tablets, not only because it helps protect the device but also provides extra stability especially while holding this thing with one hand. The custom colours to the all-new rubber grip will also appeal to a younger user in the ever-changing OMG techniverse. Weighing in at 1.6 pounds though, it seems like the Toshiba Thrive tablet really needs to go on a diet. How else can it compete with the skinnier, sexier tablets in the industry today if it is not sleek and lightweight?
But, being the only fat kid in town is not all that bad. Not solely relying on Android apps, Toshiba has a few apps of its own which you can get at... wait for it... yes the App Place. Toshiba might have a few problems down the road as many of these same apps directly compete with the existing Android market, providing a possible overcrowding of options for Toshiba. The Thrive is well priced, and time will tell on whether Toshiba can become David to the Apple Goliath, or if the iPad itself just stomps Toshiba into oblivion as it has done with most of its other competitors. Godspeed, Toshiba.