Retail Chumby gets previewed, unboxed on video

Just about two short months after learning the official specifications and pricing details of the forthcoming Chumby, it looks like one of those lucky "insiders" were able to get their paws around a retail production unit and show us what this thing's all about. Aside from blessing us with an unboxing video, initial impressions of the device explained that overall performance was "very snappy, the screen was crystal clear, and sound performance was excellent." Additionally, it was noted that the Chumby just seems like a gizmo that will enable all sorts of fun, so while we the general public wait our turns, be sure and take a peek at the preview vid residing after the break.

[ross @ Aug 12th 2007 5:54AM]

it looks like a card reader at walmart.

[ScreamingLamb @ Aug 12th 2007 6:11AM]

Wow... is this device a joke? It looks rugged as hell, so I assumed it was for hiking or whatnot, and then I hear that it's designed to be connected to a wireless connection 24/7... And one of its primary internet functions is viewing selected youtube videos... Honestly, it looks like a pointless eyesore to me.

[Bryan W @ Aug 12th 2007 6:42AM]

How many other people want to watch a ten minute video of a man speaking in near monotone over an air conditioner just to find out what the hell the thing actually does?

[KX @ Aug 12th 2007 6:49AM]

wtf is this :/

[Tom L @ Aug 12th 2007 7:21AM]

What's the point of this gadget?

[ssuk @ Aug 12th 2007 10:39AM]

I'm still trying to figure that out. They brand it as an always-on internet... thing... Yet it doesn't look like it can actually surf the net... Which is a bit... Of a downer. If they open the Widgets up to user-created content it may serve a bit more purpose... But as it stands... It's a useless puffy computer which does RSS, YouTube (but not ALL of youtube) and has ChumbyCharms to help just reasure that this product is a complete gimmick.

[milo @ Aug 12th 2007 5:43PM]

According to their site, you can connect an iPod to the USB port.

If it does work well as an iPod enabled alarm clock I could certainly find a place for it.

[Blackster @ Aug 12th 2007 7:50AM]

it's a nice alarm clock with gadgets. i think that was the initial intent, don't remember all those posts from before :)

[geeky @ Aug 12th 2007 7:53AM]

I think I'm the only one who thinks this device is cool.
It's a fully customizable device that can display pretty much anything you'd like via widgets. Neat stuff.

Read a little more here.
http://www.chumby.com/story

[ds @ Aug 12th 2007 8:01AM]

My buddy MG just got one of the 50 prototypes of these chumby things. He posted his initial thoughts so if you are interested in these electro-bean bags check out his site for updates.

@ScreamingLamb: I'm skeptical too but in our current, fickle society who knows what will catch on with the 'masses'. Hope you don't treat this as spam, but if you are interested, check out http://www.parislemon.com/ for updates and reviews of chumby over the next few days.

[umijin @ Aug 12th 2007 8:08AM]

Geez - chill out dudes. The vid is fine. Do you expect professional video from a typical gadget fanboy?

Moreover, the device looks interesting. Yeah - toylike, but it may fit a need for people that want to browse a bit of content casually in their living room or patio or whatever.

Most people didn't think much of the original iPod either, and it was just as 'niche' as this device.

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 12th 2007 8:38AM]

Wow.

All that trouble to clear off the kitchen table for some photos and they STILL couldn't wipe the smudges off of the stupid thing.

Way to show the product off there, Edward Vaseline Hands!

[Blackster @ Aug 12th 2007 12:09PM]

yeah know that it's no professional dude that made those pics.
come down that high ladder ghee ^^

[Scott @ Aug 12th 2007 11:01AM]

I've been wanting a gadget to stream internet radio for a while now.

[Adam @ Aug 12th 2007 1:31PM]

As long as the widgets are good and it's not expensive then it has potential, i'm not sold on that video though.

[ARiza @ Aug 12th 2007 1:42PM]

so is this thing only meant to DISPLAY the internet...

can you interact with any web page or is it all done from the Chumby.com website.

I think it would be a little frustrating to have to log in to their site every time you want to change some setting on the Chumby.

By the way guys - this thing is open so anyone can design Widgets for it - and it's supposedly priced under $200!!

[Mike @ Aug 12th 2007 3:20PM]

Wow: It's a chubby, wifi-enabled digital photo frame. How underwhelming.

[JoshR @ Aug 12th 2007 3:29PM]

My... first... impressions... are... good...
I... talk... like... caveman...

It was so hard listening to that guy try to talk.

[damien morton @ Aug 12th 2007 9:43PM]

Please - no more unboxings - I cant imagine anything more boring than watching someone stating the contents of a box of consumer electronics. This is one fucked up nerd-fetish too far and it must die.

Reviews, yes. Unboxings, eat shit and die.

[Konstantin @ Aug 13th 2007 1:24AM]

This thing looks absolutely pointless. It looks like a very fancy alarm clock. A smart phone will do anything this thing will.

[Todd @ Aug 13th 2007 10:53AM]

After watching the unboxing (it's not THAT bad, give the guy a break), this device looks like cell phone internet on a slightly bigger screen. I can understand why someone would like to be connected 24/7; but connected to random 1 paragraph news stories, random youtube videos, etc? Seems frustrating.

[KevinLeeC @ Aug 13th 2007 1:28PM]

Actually, I'm one of the beta testers and the device is more useful that you might assume. Many of the settings can be changed from the device itself.

The most useful widget for me is the "My EBay" monitor which allows me to keep track of the status of my auctions without logging on.

As this gets out into the world, I think you'll see some really creative uses such as low-cost network traffic monitoring, real-time stocks, smart-home management ... really anything that can send data over the net can be a source for the Chumby.

Ah, one more thing, it's Linux-based so you can hook in via a secure shell and talk right to the OS. That makes it better than 90% of the devices out there right now.