Gadget Of The Week - The MechaPillow Chumby

Ok, this one wins GotWeekage on weird factor alone. The Chumby answers this age-old question: "What do you get when you cross a softball with a Linux computer with a 3.5" touch screen with speakers and Wi-Fi?" Well, Grandpappy Tiny, here's your answer: Chumby, which probably ends up pulling quadruple duty as a digital photo frame, internet radio, alarm clock and/or some user-specific, ingenious use like, say, checking to see if your gay-themed tech blog is still alive without getting out of bed.

I'm just guessing here.

At $179 the Chumby is most likely a luxury buy, and I'm sensing that it's most often a gift rather than a direct purchase. Because I look at it and say, "Hey, if my boyfriend bought me that I'd be happy, but I wouldn't snap it up on purpose." But with two USB ports, a headphone jack, and alarm-clock caliber speakers (not to mention creamy upholstery), Chumby ain't half bad. Whimsical and impractical, but cute.

I've been called worse.