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Toshiba Thrive review: Heft earned?

We review the Toshiba Thrive tablet, and attempt to answer the question: Is a bulky tablet inherently a bad thing or can a tablet justify its extra mass?

Eric Franklin Former Editorial Director
Eric Franklin led the CNET Tech team as Editorial Director. A 20-plus-year industry veteran, Eric began his tech journey testing computers in the CNET Labs. When not at work he can usually be found at the gym, chauffeuring his kids around town, or absorbing every motivational book he can get his hands on.
Expertise Graphics and display technology. Credentials
  • Once wrote 50 articles in one month.
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Eric Franklin

The Toshiba Thrive is a Honeycomb tablet. Just check out those icons if you're in doubt. Josh Miller/CNET

Tablets are generally expected to be "thin and light" small computers with unobtrusive interfaces. Some tablets are thinner and lighter than others, however.

While we've praised tablets like the iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 for their sleekness, and dinged the HP TouchPad for being too bulky, the Thrive poses an interesting question. Is a bulky tablet inherently a bad thing or can a tablet justify its extra mass?

Toshiba Thrive (photos)

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In an attempt to answer that question I take a long hard look at the Thrive, including its full ports, swappable battery, and removable back panel. I then attempt to justify the hours I spent just staring at the thing, by attempting to convey my impressions via written communication.

I've compiled my thoughts on the Toshiba Thrive here.

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