# What the heck is a Chumby good for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599 "2011-11-30T19:40:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/1 "2011-11-30T19:40:24Z")
[http://store.chumby.com/](http://store.chumby.com/) Looks to be basically an internet media reader. Why would anyone get this vs. a tablet of some sort? It costs as much as any low-end tablet and isn’t as versatile from what I can tell. Is it designed for people who are afraid of computers but want Teh Intarnet anyway? ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/2 "2011-11-30T19:44:24Z")
Afraid of computers? Quite the contrary, it is open-source and designed to be hacked. It can do far more than what it is capable of from the factory, provided you or someone else is developing for it. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/3 "2011-11-30T20:10:45Z")
Back when I setting up a music player. I looked at Chumby. I have tons of music stored on my computer and wanted a good way to play it in the living room with my stereo. Cumby has apps to allow you to access music on other computers on you network. I ultimately went with squeezebox because I felt it had a better connection to my stereo. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/4 "2011-11-30T20:39:14Z")
My sister was interested in one a year or more ago. I think they came out before tablets existed. At this point I think people would rather get a tablet unless there is a price reason to do otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/5 "2011-11-30T20:56:33Z")
I can see the market for some sort of shared, tablet-like appliance - to store the family calendar, phone book, act as an always-on client for a shared family email account, skype client, etc. Not sure if this is it, but it might be. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/6 "2011-11-30T21:07:47Z")
My sister has one that she got about 5 years ago. She has all kind of applications for it but mostly uses it as a music player and aimless time waster. She used to be the network admin at her company and owns 3 computers so she’s not computer-phobic. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/7 "2011-12-01T02:08:21Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Why would anyone get this vs. a tablet of some sort? It costs as much as any low-end tablet and isn’t as versatile from what I can tell. Because a Chumby is for someone secure enough to enjoy assorted internet applications in the comfort of their home from, say, their bed or sofa. A tablet is for self-centered assholes who have to lug them all over town, flashing them at any opportunity to share with everyone how big their solitaire game is now. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/8 "2011-12-01T02:23:36Z")
Chumby predates (affordable) tablets. They were more about releasing a form-factor than a product. The idea was basically “cheap touchscreen internetty devices for home don’t exist, lets release a generic one and see if anybody finds a killer app.” The big difference compared to a tablet is that Chumby’s aren’t meant as a “take with you” thing so much as a part of your home. An alarm clock + picture frame + media player + home automation controller + etc. ---
**Author:** ![cardinal\_fang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal_fang/32/15316_2.png) [@cardinal\_fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cardinal_fang)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/9 "2011-12-01T03:08:44Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > [snip] > An alarm clock + picture frame + media player + home automation controller + etc. That’s what I use it for, a fancy alarm clock. I picked one up when my last alarm clock died. I never have to set it (it syncs over the Internet), get a news/weather overview in the mornings, stream music as my alarm, and watch Netflix in bed (I occasionally post Facebook and Twitter updates as well). I believe there is a webcam app – I 'll be able to monitor my front door when I get off my duff and install it. 🙂 I picked up the Sony version (Dash) on Woot for something like $60. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/10 "2011-12-01T03:16:35Z")
it was out before small affordable tablets. it is a bedside, armchair device to keep up on selected web things. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/11 "2011-12-01T03:34:39Z")
Is my Kindle safe? I see it has a section marked “Experimental”, and I can almost get onto the web and stuff… Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-a-chumby-good-for/604599/12 "2011-12-01T14:22:46Z")
I got the previous model with a fantastic discount. I use it to run Pandora on the hi-fi, a task for which it is quite suitable. I intended the wee bugger to be a fun toy in the kitchen but its wifi range is a bit iffy.