Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive
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Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive
ntThe Thrive is Toshiba’s first entrant in the rapidly growing field of Android tablets. Follow along as I crack open this 10″ tablet for a look at the hardware inside.
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ntCheck out the TR Dojo blog for my full cracking open analysis of the Toshiba Thrive.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Box
ntAs of this writing, the Toshiba Thrive is available in 8GB ($429.99), 16GB ($479.99), and 32GB ($579.99) versions. The current versions only support Wi-Fi connectivity. Toshiba has not announced 3G or 4G models.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: In the box
ntThe Toshiba Thrive has a dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 1GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display (1280×800 – 16:10 aspect ratio), a 2.0 MP front camera and 5.0 MP rear camera. The Thrive comes with Android 3.1 Honeycomb installed.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Box contents
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Front
ntThe Toshiba Thrive weighs 1.6 lbs. and measures 10.7″ (W) x 7.0″ (H) x 0.6″ (D). Despite being one of the thickest and heaviest tablets I’ve cracked open, the Thrive wasn’t uncomfortable to hold or use.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Back
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Docking connector and speakers


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Power button, screen rotation lock switch, SD Card slot
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Power button, screen rotation lock switch, SD Card slot
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Top edge
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Bottom


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: USB, HDMI, and Mini-USB ports and CD-IN and headphone/microphone jack
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: USB, HDMI, and Mini-USB ports and CD-IN and headphone/microphone jack
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Back cover lock/unlock switch
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Popping loose the back cover
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the back cover
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Back cover removed
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the battery


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 2030mAh 10.8V Li-ion battery back
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 2030mAh 10.8V Li-ion battery back
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the system battery


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the internal cover screws
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the internal cover screws


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Uncovering the camera PCB ribbon cable
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Uncovering the camera PCB ribbon cable


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the LCD screen ribbon cable
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the LCD screen ribbon cable
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Lifting off the inner cover
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: First look inside


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the digitizer ribbon cable
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the digitizer ribbon cable
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Front panel assembly


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the display bracket screws from the front panel
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the display bracket screws from the front panel


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the rear-facing camera
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the rear-facing camera


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the camera PCB ribbon cable
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the camera PCB ribbon cable


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Lifting the LCD and metal bracket away from the front panel (digitizer)
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Lifting the LCD and metal bracket away from the front panel (digitizer)


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: LCD assembly and front panel (digitizer)
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: LCD assembly and front panel (digitizer)
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Front panel (digitizer)


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: EETI EX5404 Projected Capacitive Touch Controller IC Solution
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: EETI EX5404 Projected Capacitive Touch Controller IC Solution
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the camera PCB


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 2.0MP front-facing camera, interal microphone, and camera indicator light
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 2.0MP front-facing camera, interal microphone, and camera indicator light
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: LCD and attached metal bracket


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the LCD screws from the metal bracket
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the LCD screws from the metal bracket
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Metal bracket and LCD assembly
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Metal bracket
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 5.0MP rear-facing camera


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: AU Optronics B101EW05 LCD (1280 x 800)
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: AU Optronics B101EW05 LCD (1280 x 800)


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Motherboard attached to internal cover
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Motherboard attached to internal cover


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the button and system indicator light PCB
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the button and system indicator light PCB


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the button and system indicator light PCB ribbon cable
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the button and system indicator light PCB ribbon cable


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Button and system indicator light PCB
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Button and system indicator light PCB


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the display cable from the motherboard
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the display cable from the motherboard


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the storage PCB ribbon cable from the motherboard
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the storage PCB ribbon cable from the motherboard
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the storage PCB


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: SanDisk SDIN4C2-16G MLC NAND flash storage chip
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: SanDisk SDIN4C2-16G MLC NAND flash storage chip


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the wireless antenna wires
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the wireless antenna wires
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the wireless card


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: AzureWave AW-NH931 802.11 b/g/n Wireless LAN, Bluetooth and FM Rx Combo Half Mini Card
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: AzureWave AW-NH931 802.11 b/g/n Wireless LAN, Bluetooth and FM Rx Combo Half Mini Card


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Broadcom BCM4329 Low-Power 802.11n with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and FM (Tx and Rx)
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Broadcom BCM4329 Low-Power 802.11n with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and FM (Tx and Rx)


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the CD-IN and speaker cables from the motherboard
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Disconnecting the CD-IN and speaker cables from the motherboard
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the motherboard screws
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Removing the motherboard


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Internal cover with speakers, USB port, and antennas attached
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Internal cover with speakers, USB port, and antennas attached
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: DC-IN connector and speaker
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Speaker and wireless antenna
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Wireless antenna


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Motherboard (with EMI shields) - Front
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Motherboard (with EMI shields) - Front


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Motherboard (with EMI shields) - Back
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Motherboard (with EMI shields) - Back
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Motherboard - Front
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Motherboard - Back


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 1.0 GHz dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 application processor (A09B350 1039A3)
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 1.0 GHz dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 application processor (A09B350 1039A3)
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Winbond WPCE775CA0DG IC


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: TPS 658621C Multi-channel Power Management Unit with Li-Ion Battery Charger
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: TPS 658621C Multi-channel Power Management Unit with Li-Ion Battery Charger


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Parade PS8122 1:2 HDMI/DVI Demultiplexer
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Parade PS8122 1:2 HDMI/DVI Demultiplexer


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: AzureWave GPS-S17 SIP GPS module IC
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: AzureWave GPS-S17 SIP GPS module IC


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 1MB Hynix H8TJR00X0MLR LPDDR2 RAM chip
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: 1MB Hynix H8TJR00X0MLR LPDDR2 RAM chip
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: BD9528 0454


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: SMSC USB3315 Hi-Speed USB Transceiver
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: SMSC USB3315 Hi-Speed USB Transceiver


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Wolfson WM8903 Ultra low power audio CODEC
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Wolfson WM8903 Ultra low power audio CODEC
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: FM34NE B04LB


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Texas Instruments SN75LVDS83B FlatLink transmitter
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Texas Instruments SN75LVDS83B FlatLink transmitter


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Alcor Micro AU6254 USB2.0 Hub Controller
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Alcor Micro AU6254 USB2.0 Hub Controller


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Intersil ISL88731C Level-2 Lithium-ion battery charger
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Intersil ISL88731C Level-2 Lithium-ion battery charger


Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Invensense MPU-3050 Triple Axis Gyroscope with Embedded Digital Motion Processor
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Invensense MPU-3050 Triple Axis Gyroscope with Embedded Digital Motion Processor
Cracking Open the Toshiba Thrive: Completely disassembled
ntI’ve worked on, supported, and disassembled electronic devices since I was a kid, and I really appreciate the Thrive’s construction and design. The device has a case that’s tricky, but not difficult to open. The internal hardware is attached with screws and not glued to the front panel or back cover. And, many internal components can be replaced individually.
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ntUnfortunately, the Thrive’s full-size components, “componentized” construction, and user-replaceable battery also make it one of the bulkiest and heaviest 10″ tablets on the market.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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