Desktop toys: The Nabaztag is one lame rabbit
The Nabaztag rabbit has four lights and two ears that rotate. The lights can shine in one of eight colors. And that's about it.
For the entire Desktop Toys series I have tried to remain lighthearted about any criticism --- I mean after all, this is just some fun stuff. But the Nabaztag rabbit does not get the same treatment. This has to be the worst piece of high-tech gadgetry I have ever had to deal with. On ThinkGeek, this device costs an almost unbelievable $150. That is $150 for a wireless device that has only one function --- it makes noise and flashes lights. It is basically an alarm clock for messages. And those messages have to come from the Nabaztag Web site, which requires that you register and give them junk-mail inducing personal information.
All of that is bad enough, but get this mind-boggling detail: If you want the Nabaztag rabbit to read your stock quotes or any of the other lackluster premium services, you have to subscribe to it for an additional cost. According to a Forbes Life article in the December 2006 issue, 62,000 of these things were sold in Europe. In my mind that means there are now 62,000 IP addresses being used by a worthless device that is nothing more then a glorified paperweight. No wonder we needed the IPv6 protocol.
© CNET Networks, Inc.
Mark W. Kaelin
For the entire Desktop Toys series I have tried to remain lighthearted about any criticism --- I mean after all, this is just some fun stuff. But the Nabaztag rabbit does not get the same treatment. This has to be the worst piece of high-tech gadgetry I have ever had to deal with. On ThinkGeek, this device costs an almost unbelievable $150. That is $150 for a wireless device that has only one function --- it makes noise and flashes lights. It is basically an alarm clock for messages. And those messages have to come from the Nabaztag Web site, which requires that you register and give them junk-mail inducing personal information.
All of that is bad enough, but get this mind-boggling detail: If you want the Nabaztag rabbit to read your stock quotes or any of the other lackluster premium services, you have to subscribe to it for an additional cost. According to a Forbes Life article in the December 2006 issue, 62,000 of these things were sold in Europe. In my mind that means there are now 62,000 IP addresses being used by a worthless device that is nothing more then a glorified paperweight. No wonder we needed the IPv6 protocol.
© CNET Networks, Inc.
Mark W. Kaelin
