Ask Engadget: best media display / internet viewer for bedside?
By Darren Murph 
posted June 24th 2010 10:59PM
posted June 24th 2010 10:59PM
So, sweet-dreamers, what'll it be? Do you have a Chumby-infused widget display on your own night stand? Go on, don't be shy -- help a brother out in comments below."I've been trying to buy a new alarm clock lately and am completely appalled at the selection available online or elsewhere. Most are basically docks for your iPod / PMP and have a pre-turn of the century LCD digital clock display and some shoddy speakers. They also range in price from $40 to $200. After seeing things like the Sony Dash and the new Insignia Infocast, I could see those as viable alarm clock solutions (with weather, music, maybe an RSS feed). Are there other items out there that have a great display that you can dim and would be able to serve this purpose? Or or either of those the one to get?"
I would say Ipad but since there is no Clock app probs not best solution, but Sony Dash is really good
@Zeroexe43 Yep. Dash. That's the correct answer.
You could always do a dock+your smartphone, which makes the most sense to me...but if you really need a new toy for internet and alarm clocks, then Dash.
@Zeroexe43
Actually, the Night Clock app works pretty well for me. Using Night Clock, my iPad replaced my old alarm clock instantly.
@LEM Eagle
tell me something. what happens when you go to www.Disney.com on your ipad?
@dark star
What? Why would he need to open up Disney.com? He was only talking about an alarm clock application.
@Zeroexe43 I agree that the Dash is awesome. I had the exact same issue as the guy who asked the question, i.e. everything out there was ugly and/or lacked function, so I got the Dash. Night mode is nice and dim with big enough numbers so I can tell time without my glasses. Having Netflix on it and being able to get the weather report before getting out of bed is pretty sweet. And it's nice to have a dedicated gadget for this stuff so I can just leave it bedside and know it's always there.
@Darkroom
Steve "Blow" Jobs
And back to the topic, although I don't have it I'd recommend Dash. It just looks best. :)
I don't think there are many options out there...Sony Dash would probably be the most decent one.
@kapanak
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Squeezebox Radio. It does everything he asks and it kicks ass at it.
@kapanak To me me more problematic things with the Dash is the lack of WiFi 802.11n dual channel (I want the time to be right when I wake up, not iPad wrong) and a bigger screen. When I wake up I want to know what time it is, not struggle for my glasses. It also doesn't auto dim so it will either light up my room at night or not be visible at daytime.
I would like the iPad as it has other uses but I have yet to see a landscape dock with speakers. Also lights up a dark room when dimmed using Night Clock.
@MartenKL A great solution would be the iPad with the picture frame dock from http://www.theipadframe.com which you can also use in landscape.
@mastercheif
Sorry but this is a terrible recommendation. Search for "squeezebox radio default alarm" and start digging into the official forums. There are literally THOUSANDS of ignored complaints about a terrible firmware release that either makes your SB Radio scream at you in the morning in a deafening default alarm (that you cannot make quieter without fussing with files in the root of the OS), or, that drops network playback at random, or that has a myriad of other random bugs.
I own one, and yes, I experienced the nightmare of having a box that worked, received an update (that you CANNOT ignore), that ruined it.
I finally figured out workarounds (I DID get into the root, lower the default alarm volume, uninstalled Squeezebox Server from my home server [another disaster that would prevent my server from going into standby, would wake it from sleep at random times, etc])...
I got it working to where it wouldn't SCREAM at my wife and I in the morning and then they pushed a fix.
Then, they just pushed another update (a couple of weeks ago). Again, it cannot be ignored (you have to update when there is one). Next morning... guess what SCREAMING ALARM.
That evening, I went into root, lowered the default volume.
Squeezebox Radio: Hardware = 10
UI = 9
Software/firmware/company support = -100
Check the forums... bug reports became complaints became yelling became resignation as days turned into weeks turned into months without a SINGLE word from Logitech that they even acknowledged the problems. And the, issuing a fix that didn't fix anything ... priceless.
Docked iPad?
@aaronbustillos
You do realize that's a $500+ alarm clock, right?
@aaronbustillos I think he is looking for something a little cheaper.
@aaronbustillos
Try a docked smartphone? Droid + dock = decent alarm clock/web surfer
@MrDiSante
And I don't know about your alarm clock, but mine gets owned pretty hard every morning.
Love my phone and use it as all those thing above but Sony Dash is awesome and handy with decent display.
I'd have to say the Sony Dash is the best, however, if you ask for best value then Chumby definitely gives the Dash a run for it's money. However, since you've waited this long to get the best, I'd still get the Dash, but I'd consider waiting for a $50 price cut (I have to imagine they will do this within 3-6 months, though I've been more wrong about more necessary things).
why hasnt anyone mentioned the Chumby?
@Cheers12 Read the comments above you, there are some mentions of the Chumby already
@Cheers12 I will put in another vote for the Chumby. I was in the same situation, looking for a nerdy alarm clock and ended up buying myself the Chumby One for Christmas.
It has been great as an alarm clock. I now wake up to NPR and have a rotating collection of cool clocks all day long. I love it! It is nice a small and gets very dim in night-mode.
If you do end up getting one, get it from Costco if you can. They had it for $100 a little while ago. You can save a few bucks that way if you have a membership.
Why would you get any of these? Any smartphone will do great as an alarm clock, rss reader, internet browser, blah, blah, blah. I have the EVO - nice big screen and you can use the kickstand so it is even propped up for ideal early morning time checks. Oh, and you can also you it as a phone.
@Esteban Ballmero "You" should be "used" in the last paragraph. Heading the grammar police off at the pass.
@Esteban Ballmero
It's "use," not "used." And it's in the last sentence, not paragraph.
@Joseph9307 Why yes, thank you :) I type fast, and I've been drinking.
@Esteban Ballmero
Actually used should be use
Just saying. ;√{
™®©
@Esteban Ballmero Actually it should be "use". Two straight grammar mistakes, and one coming from the self proclaimed "Grammar Police". Tsk tsk :)
@Dreads34 Actually, I'm the self proclaimed Karma Police, as I am claiming that now.
@DefPoet U got a funny nose, but use mustash makes up for it :-[P mine is a handlebar stash.
@NeatOman Where "use" is, i meant "your"
@Esteban Ballmero For a clock by the bed the Evo has a tiny screen. The only time the Evo is big is in your hand or in your pocket. Try putting a normal alarm clock in your pocket to see the difference.
I have a Chumby. It's OK as an alarm clock...more toy than tool.
@CRA1G did anyone else lol at this? Anyone? Chumby? Toy? Tool? Ha?
100% Dash so far. But just because it's the best at the moment doesn't mean it's particularly amazing. I honestly would wait just a little bit longer for some other company to release their offering for this strange little bedside connected market, wait until there's a Dash that doesn't have to be plugged in and has a little bit snappier processor
Personally I find the Sony Dash a less than perfect solution, mostly because if you wake up and proceed to hit your alarm clock/Dash until you hit snooze, you might unplug it or break it
iPad.
iPad is what I use.
Laptop.
I use a laptop with a computer arm holding it right where I want it, with a wireless trackball. so basically i'm laying down sleeping.
i been thinking about projector to the ceiling, though.
I second the EVO. I had been looking for such a thing. Looked at Chubby. Looked at Sony. And then luck smiled upon me and I got the HTC EVO at Google I/O and my problem's solved. FM radio, web browsing, browse my local network for media. All of those were must-have features for me. For now I've kept my featurephone for outside the house and this thing has become my bedside phone. That may change when 4G comes to town. I've a second EVO (swapped Droid for one at Google I/O). May sell it or make it my official bedside device. Kickstand - a small but powerful thing.
@Chris Harrington I am actually getting the Galaxy S, and they made a major push to have it as an alarm clock. Evo would be nice with the slightly larger screen, I'd actually like to see both since I'm sure there are apps that are comparable or better than Samsung's but I like the fact that it might have a slight built in edge to the device X.
I just didn't think advising on a smartphone was the way he wanted to go, especially a specific smartphone, if he has one then he should explore it's utility a bit more...
@ Ask Engadget: best media display / internet viewer for bedside?
Engadget replies. Mac is the best PC. iphone 4 is the best smartphone. iPad is the best tablet... What's the point of asking?
@cdf74dc9
Engadget is letting the readership reply. So their imaginary Apple bias doesn't affect anything.
I have the Ambient Mist clock radio with weather forecast. It is a basic device but had low hassle weather since it gets it from some unknown to me, signal. Other radios seem too much trouble to set up; this is simple.
I play with my Chumby at night. :)
@One Love Me too, it helps me sleep.
If you don't want to use your phone in a dock and the money is burning a hole in your wallet, get the Dash. Otherwise, i'd wait until the end of summer for more competition/price drop. Already seen the Dash @99 through American Express before.
If my iPad could dock sideways, bingo... I hate the portrait view :(
iPad? so the question should be "what is the best HALF of the internet reader?" since you can only view about half of the internet content on the iPad.