Toasters are not what they used to be even only a few years ago. It was only a decade ago that all a toaster did was to give you a slice or two of toasted bread. Well let me tell you, today's toasters are not what they were then. Back then there were different types of toasters, namely toaster ovens for sandwiches, or regular toasters with drop in slots.
When I looked for a new toaster recently, I was not prepared to have to compare the amazing features toasters can have today. Do you know that a toaster can toast bread and cook eggs at the same time. I also looked at a toaster that shoots bread out and sometimes hit the plate. Of course sometimes it misses, but the aim is all yours. A fun cool toaster indeed if you have kids that enjoy a lively breakfast. You may have to step in, or they might miss the school bus.
Another toaster that is rather entertaining is the transparent toaster. How long will you find it fun to watch bread turn brown? I don't know, frankly for me it would be once or twice. I also wondered about the look of this toaster after humidity and crumbs settle in the slots, will it be as nice looking as it is on the store shelf? Sometimes new is not better.
This next toaster is also a lot of entertainment, but will it make your toasting experience faster or better? I doubt it. It is a toaster that can be linked to a computer in order to create images or messages that will "print" on the bread. Personally I want my toast really fast and since I swallow it the design of the toast itself is rather irrelevant.
I am not sure people are really ready for all these new additions to the toaster. I suspect that most people want a well designed toaster that looks good in their kitchen, (like the Alessi toaster for example), and that makes toast simply, quickly and without turning black.