Why You Can Trust CNET Get a Chumby 8 digital frame for $129
Plus: the tablet price-slashing frenzy is just getting started, as the Motorola Xoom and BlackBerry PlayBook see huge drops.
It started with August's $99 HP TouchPad and culminated with yesterday's $199 Amazon Kindle Fire, but suddenly the tablet deals are everywhere. (Well, not everywhere--cough, Apple store, cough.)
For example, today only, and while supplies last, Woot has the refurbished 32GB Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi 10.1-inch tablet for $349.99, plus $5 for shipping. Price just a couple months ago: $600.
Meanwhile, the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook is now selling for $299.99 at retailers like Best Buy (where it's currently backordered, interestingly). Days earlier, it was $499.99. Of course, unless you need built-in cameras, I can't see choosing that over the Kindle Fire.
This is just the beginning, folks. I'm already seeing lots of cheapo, no-brand Android tablets selling for less than $100 (but steer clear--they all absolutely, positively suck), and it won't be long before the Fire forces the big names to cut prices even more. (Mark my words: Apple will have to knock the entry-level iPad 2 down to $399.)
Anyway, today is all about a cool photo-frame/alarm-clock/tablet hybrid. From now through Sunday, October 2, you can get the Chumby 8 (red or black) for $129, plus $12 for shipping. This deal is actually a CNET exclusive, and not available anywhere else. (Nice one, bosses!)
What, you may ask, is a Chumby 8? It's a tablet of sorts, one that runs all kinds of apps but is designed more for sitting on a kitchen counter or nightstand than on a lap.
It's an alarm clock, a photo frame, a media player, a Facebook/Twitter reader, and so on, all wrapped into a stylish-looking frame with an 8-inch touch screen. I'll let CNET's review fill you in on the rest of the details.
The Chumby 8 sells direct for $199.95, so $129 is definitely a tempting price. I could see putting one of these in the kitchen, and using it as a photo frame, Pandora streamer, weather reporter, and so on. In other words, it's a nifty little media/info hub, one that might make somebody a nice gift.
By the way, if you previously bought a Chumby One, you can get an additional $10 off the Chumby 8. See the promo page for details.
Bonus deal: More free-credit goodness from Amazon! Get a $2 Amazon MP3 credit when you use coupon code FALLMP3S.