Latest Chumby Isn’t Cuddly, or Useful
Odds are you’ll never hear the phrase, “I sure wish I had my Chumby right now.”
We’ll admit the notion of a dedicated display for consuming RSS feeds was pretty nifty when it launched in 2006. By 2008, we even named Chumby one of the top 10 gadgets of the year.
And we meant it. Heck, a single-serving, Linux-based device for news can still be a useful addition to any bedroom or kitchen.
But the fact the latest incarnation, the Chumby 8, is billed as “Only $149.95″ says a lot. For starters, the re-tooled hardware more closely resembles a digital photo frame. The original Chumby is the size of an alarm clock radio or a mini-Nerf football. Hence, it was easy to stash on a nightstand or kitchen counter. The Chumby 8 does offer a larger display, but the device’s clunky footprint is all kinds of awkward. The screen is built into a base that’s four inches deep and extends the entire width of the device. Thus, Chumby 8 takes up ample real estate, and there’s no option to mount it or position it flush against wall.
My gripes don’t end there.
This is what happens when a novelty device outlives it’s own novelty.