Putting a clock on your work desk is an absolute exercise in redundancy, since you can very easily check the time on your computer, your phone, or even the large wall clock that’s still quite a fixture in most workplaces. Utility, though, is hardly the reason for owning the Blub Uno, a desk clock that uses a single Nixie tube to tell the time.
For those not old enough to remember, Nixie tubes are cold cathode ray tubes that were used to display symbols in the geeky electronics of ancient times. And by ancient, we mean around the 50s all the way to the 70s of the last century, making them both obscure and geeky-cool in an absolutely retro way.
The Blub Uno only displays one digit at a time, showing it in sequence, so you’ll have to pay a bit of attention before getting a full read. Yes, it’s going to be faster to just check the taskbar on your computer, but, again, this thing is hardly about utility. The tube is actually removable from the included stand, so if it ever burns out, you can simply buy another tube and plug it in as a replacement.
While using retro tech, the Blub Uno is designed for modern use and comes with a USB slot for plugging into an open port of a computer for power. A remote control is included for adjusting various settings, including the time mode, date, temperature, alarm, backlight color, and display mode, along with two buttons in the back for the days you misplace the remote again (yes, it will absolutely happen).
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for the Blub Uno. Pledges to reserve a unit starts at $299.