Toshiba certainly knows how to make
solid devices, and its Excite 10 tablet also called the AT300 is ample
testimony to this fact. The big question is, in lieu of Android Jelly Bean
devices and Retina displays, can an Android 4.0 (Honeycomb) tablet still
impress?
To start with, the tablet certainly
inspires confidence from a build perspective, being reassuringly solid, and at
9mm, thin enough in one’s hand. A very nice, stippled aluminum back further
makes it comfortable to hold for long periods which is aided by the Excite 10’s
weight of 599g certainly a lot lighter than their previous effort, the AT100’s
765g.
Toshiba
certainly knows how to make solid devices, and its Excite 10 tablet also called
the AT300 is ample testimony to this fact.
While it boasts a 10.1” scratch resistant
screen, the Excite 10 feels somewhat more compact than other 10.1” devices that
have crossed our path, a factor which certainly counts in its favor when
holding it in one hand.
A considerable differentiating factor is
the presence of expandable storage via a full-sized SD card slot.
Touch enough
The
Excite 10 boasts a 10.1” scratch resistant screen
Despite only having a 1280 x 800 resolution
(149 ppi), in use we had few complaints about the screen, which offered up
deep, saturated colors. Moreover, the Excite 10’s sound is satisfyingly loud,
if a little tinny when pushed to maximum.
The
Excite 10 boasts a 10.1” scratch resistant screen
Performance is also speedy, thanks no doubt
to the Nvidia Tegra 3 qua core processor (recently superseded by the Tegra 4)
and 1 GB of memory. However, the Excite 10 is not just yesterday’s news. A
considerable differentiating factor, and selling point of the device, is the
presence of expandable storage via a full-sized SD Card slot, making this one
tablet that can actually host up to 128 GB of storage. This along with a micro
USB 2.0 and micro HDMI port.
To the point
In many respects, the Excite 10 is a very
solid entry from Toshiba. Yes, you get tablets with better displays, but for
those who require a touch device that can accommodate plenty storage, it’s an
attractive proposition. It has a RRP of R5 500 for the 16 GB model and R6 000
for the 32 GB version.
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Specifications
§
Price: $825
§
Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
§
Technology: LCD
§
Physical size: 10.10 inches
§
OS: Android 4.0
§ Weight:
599g
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