Thermaltake BlacX eSATA USB Docking Station

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 3.6 x 2.6 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001A4HAFS
• Item model number: ST0005U

By : Thermaltake
List Price : $44.99
Price : $37.99
You Save : $7.00 (16%)

Product Description

Thermaltake BlacX ST0005U Hard Drive Dock ST0005U Drive Enclosures

Technical Details

• Supports all 2.5" and 3.5" SATA hard disk drives, up to 2 TB
• Hot-Swap Capability for Rapid Multi HDDs Access and Exchange
• Supports eSATA Transfer Speed up to 3Gbps
• Supports USB 2.0 Transfer Speed up to 480Mbps
• Compact Docking Station Design Maximizes Heat Dissipation ; Exhaust

 

Thermaltake BlacX eSATA USB Docking Station

 

Costumer Reviews

Works great. On e-sata, it is every bit as fast as if it was internally installed. I haven't used the USB interface, but it is probably quite a bit slower. My hard drives run barely warm to the touch. The eject button is really only there to help you pull it out. It works best for me to grab the drive and pull while pressing the button. The dock holds on to the drive pretty tightly, and if you eject the drive by simply pressing the eject button without holding/pulling the drive itself, it could easily pop completely out and fall on the desk or the floor. Falling isn't particularly great for hard drives, even if it is only a few inches.

This is SO much more useful than an enclosed external hard drive if you need several. Bare hard drives are a lot cheaper than the ones built into enclosures. They are very easy to install in this dock. It works a lot like putting an iPod into a dock, but this is a lot more robust. I use several hard drives in my computer. I have music on one, movies and recorded TV on another, etc., to keep all of that kind of stuff off my main drive. I have a couple more I use as backups. I put them in an antistatic bag and in my fire safe.

Some reviewers have commented about how it says it works up to 1TB or 1.5 TB. If yours says it works up to 1TB, it is only because you got an older printing of the box. When the box was printed, the largest drives commonly available were 1 TB. Now they have changed the box and the web site to say 1.5 TB. They only changed the box, not the product. I'm not sure why they put the "up to X.X TB" in there. Now drives are up to 2 TB, and they will all work with this as long as the BIOS and the OS in your PC will work with them. When they say "up to X.X TB", it leads people to believe that anything bigger won't work, but it will. This thing doesn't have a controller chip with a bios in it, just a simple straight through connection for the sata, and a simple bus bridge chip for USB.

Functionally, I have no problem with this hard disk docking station. Loading and unloading drives is very easy and requires no special drive rails. Because the drive aren't fully enclosed as they would be in a standard drive enclosure, they run fairly cool. Surprisingly, (since the drives are not fully enclosed) there doesn't seem to be any more drive noise than with a regular enclosure. The only fault I can find is that the cables are too short. Both the eSATA cable and the power cable are only about 3 and 1/2 feet long. That's just not long enough. Three and a half feet is just barely long enough to reach from the eSATA port on the back of my computer to my desktop. Likewise, it's just barely enough to reach from there to my UPS. Unless the top of your computer is fully accessible and that's where you plan to keep the enclosure (and it's close to your power supply), you need to be aware of this. I can understand 3.5 feet for the length of an eSATA cable. But, the power cable should be at least twice that. Because of the cable length issue, I'm knocking off one star and giving this Thermaltake BlacX eSATA Docking Station a Very Good four stars out of five.

iHome iH15 LED Color-Changing Speaker System with Built-In Subwoofer for iPod

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001NJ0PBG
• Item model number: IH15WVC

By : iHome
List Price : $59.99
Price : $49.88
You Save : $10.11 (17%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

A colorful way to enjoy your favorite tunes, the iHome iH15W is a compact, illuminated cube and iPod speaker dock. Set it to one color to match your mood, or cycle through the colors for a little fun.

Give your favorite music a little color. Click to enlarge.

Pick a single color to suit your mood. Click to enlarge.

Convenient carrying handles. Click to enlarge.

Illuminate Your MoodThe iH15W is a small 5.5-inch cube with handy carrying handles and internal adjustable lighting. Change the translucent cabinet to match your mood or the current song. Feeling blue? Go with blue. Not easy being green? Try green. A cowardly yellow? Well, you get the idea.

The cube also features four color change settings for cycling through the colors, which is great for parties and other fun occasions.

Enjoy Your MusicThe iH15W charges docked iPods, so when you hit the road, your iPod will be ready to go. Two Reson8 speakers provide great sound, and a passive subwoofer covers the low-end, so you can count on rich sound from a tiny device.

Auxiliary InputUse the iH15W's auxiliary input to listen to external devices, like MP3 or CD players.

What's in the BoxiHome iH15W, AC power adapter, iPod dock adapters, and user's manual.

A colorful way to enjoy your favorite tunes, the iHome iH15W is a compact, illuminated cube and iPod speaker dock. Set it to one color to match your mood, or cycle through the colors for a little fun.The iH15W is a small 5.5-inch cube with handy carrying handles and internal adjustable lighting. Change the translucent cabinet to match your mood or the current song. Feeling blue Go with blue. Not easy being green Try green. A cowardly yellow Well, you get the idea.

Technical Details

• Supports most iPhone and iPod models with Universal Dock Connector
• Translucent cabinet changes color at the touch of a button; four color change settings
• Charges your iPod while docked
• Reson8 stereo speakers with passive subwoofer for full sound
• Auxiliary input for external audio devices

 

iHome iH15 LED Color-Changing Speaker System with Built-In Subwoofer for iPod

 

Costumer Reviews

I too had read a million reviews for a million products. I decided to risk it with this since most of the reviews were good. I have A 4TH GENERATION NANO- and yes there is an adapter for it. We listen to it everyday. IT CHARGES YOUR IPOD WHILE DOCKED. The sound is great. The color change is cool. I wanted something small that sounded great. I use it in every room of the house, especially the kitchen while I am preparing meals. The sound is great for such a small cube. I would recommend this to anyone of any age. In a day where most things don't do what they say in the advertisement, finally something that exceeds those promises. You won't go wrong with this one.

I've had this for 3 months and have become obsessed with it -- I use it in a 300 sq-ft room, and it sounds great -- PROS/CONS follow.

PROS

Compact and lightweight -- it's just under 6"x6"x6" and maybe weighs a pound? Very easy to transport. It has little rubber feet that grip it to a flat surface.

Surprisingly good, rich sound quality -- I'm not an audiophile by any means, but would rate this very highly for the size and especially for the price. You can't adjust the bass or anything else, but the default is just fine.

Works overseas (100-240V) -- I took this with me while living abroad, and it works great with a simple Euro-plug converter. The plug is also relatively small and light (about 3"h x 2"w x 1"d), and easy to pack.

Charges iPod in its case -- I have the Griffin mirrored case (open bottom) over a 7G classic iPod, and it just barely fits, but it does fit. Also there are several dock adapters so you can use it with other iPod models.

Versatile -- The 3.5mm auxiliary jack allows you to use this with any device supporting a standard male-to-male input cable. It would be nice if a cable were included, but at this price, I can't really complain. Sound quality remains high across devices (I've used it with a Sharp tube TV and MacBookPro). It works with an auxiliary device plugged in, while the iPod is charging in the dock (w/the iPod turned off/paused). So you can use it as a laptop speaker, and keep the iPod docked to charge.

CONS

iPod alarm doesn't work with it -- I've had this problem with other speakers too, so I don't penalize this one too much for what could be an iPod-related problem. I use the speaker with my Mac laptop alarm, via a long (20') 3.5mm inline aux cable, and it works well.

Volume buttons are a little sticky -- You have to press them a few times to register a perceptible change. I prefer the touch sensitive buttons that JBL uses on my OnStage and Harmon Kardon sticks. It also takes a few seconds after turning on your iPod for the sound to "catch up" to the existing speaker volume.

No mute button -- You have to press the off button. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning.

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

Color light -- The stock photo that iHome uses is a bit deceptive. The colors don't change into solid "flat" colors, but into glowing color-lights. You can let it cycle through the colors or freeze it on the color of your choice. It's fun for 5 minutes, or, if you're 8, 5 years. Then you turn it off completely.

Carrying handles -- The handles are incorporated into the speaker as a curved piece protecting each of the 4 grills. This is a clever concept, but it's kind of disconcerting to scrape the grill fabric with your fingernails when using the handles.

iHome iP15W LED Color Changing Stereo System with Passive Subwoofer for iPhone and iPod

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 5.2 inches ; 1.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B004I8WH74
• Item model number: iP15W

By : iHome
List Price : $69.99
Price : $55.33
You Save : $14.66 (21%)

Product Description

Add excitement and color to your music with the iP15. 7 different cabinet colors can be selected, or set to change randomly. Color can also be selected to pulse to the beat of music. Reson8 speaker technology with a passive subwoofer provides great stereo sound. Perfect for parties or setting the mood while listening at home. Works with iPhone and all docking iPod models.

Technical Details

• Translucent cabinet changes color at the touch of a button
• 5 color change modes - slow fade spectrum, fast change spectrum, pulse to music, favorite color ; no color
• Reson8 speaker technology with passive subwoofer
• Charges and plays iPhone or iPod while docked so you can enjoy your music while keeping your iPod fully charged
• Translucent cabinet changes color at the touch of a button with five color change modes (including slow fade spectrum, fast change spectrum, pulse to music, favorite color and no color) that let you set the mood
• Reson8 speaker chamber technology with passive subwoofer gives you big, bold stereo sound
• Simple elegant design with a contemporary yet classic look that suits any décor
• Universal dock fits any iPhone or docking iPod model and includes inserts for popular models

 

iHome iP15W LED Color Changing Stereo System with Passive Subwoofer for iPhone and iPod

 

Costumer Reviews

The iHome stereo system is pretty good. It looks pretty and has some "wow" factor. I like it.

Lets go over the main features:

Charging: Charges very nice. Support for all the various i devices is provided by sticking different plastic plates in the dock. Its really important to use this white little plates because they keep you from putting too much strain on the 15 pin connector. Disappointingly, they did not include a white plate that is compatible with the iPhone 2G. Perhaps they are not aware that many adults pass down their old 2G iPhones to their kids for use as iPod Touch... I have done that and I know several other people who have done it as well. However, this isn't a big deal, its not advertised as including this plate, but rest assured that if your child is using an iPhone 2G as an iPod touch then they will not be able to use the charging feature of this device.

Speakers: The speakers performed well for what they are. In fact, I was modestly impressed. It has a port so you can plug in an external mp3 player and get the flashing lights and speakers, so if you have an iPhone 2g, well, thats how you would use it. They make a big deal about the Passive Subwoofer. I did some research on the internet to find out just what a "passive" subwoofer is. The iHome manufacturer website had nothing to say about this, in fact, the "tech specs" page only had the product dimensions (weak). The manual also had no specs (weak). The amazon "technical details" has no specs (weak). So really, we don't know what this passive subwoofer is, or the specs of this subwoofer. Maybe its just an "idea" and all you are really getting is a "subwoofery experience" (boo!).

The lights: The lights are nice. I like the fade mode where it cycles through the colors. They blink appropriately when you have a really strong back beat on a song and not much else. It works perfectly. But as soon as anything that is not a very clear beat or melody enters the music the iHome has something closer to an apoplectic fit. It starts blinking and stuttering and flashing with no real relation to the music. I'm sure its little firmware is trying to do something marvelous, but its not as cool as a disco ball. The lights do work without music, it can sit there and color shift all day without your i device plugged in. The lights were a little jerky to adjust, there are 5 settings, and sometimes its hard to know which setting you are on, or how long to hold the button. But my kids don't mind this. They like to fiddle with it. An adult will dislike the vagueness of the controls.

The box tells you to check out the iPhone app... That the item is "app enhanced". which seems to imply that the iPhone app will somehow help you get more out of your little disco light show. Well, not really. They do have a free iPhone alarm clock app, I downloaded it and tried it and the two are mutually exclusive items. It is true that its nice to have the alarm clock app but I couldn't see how the iHome app worked with the iP15 in any way. I think you should download the free app if you get this device, just don't expect the app+iP15 to do more than they do separately. The app is a nice touch, maybe I'm missing something...

One minor detail... I think that the iP15 is kinda ugly when its not glowing some color. Its a dingy blue-grey when turned off. It doesn't look as white as the Amazon picture shown on this page.

Overall I would say this would be a great gift for a girl. My daughters were very excited when it arrived. I doubt it would disappoint a teen.

Its really hard to say whether to give it 3 stars (its ok) or 4 stars (i like it). I'm going to settle in on 4 stars, as the kids who are the target market felt it was great. And isn't it their opinion that matters the most?

We checked this out at a discount store as we've been searching for a reasonably priced docking station for our 14 year old daughter for Xmas. Was very surprised by the decent sound quality. Much better than some of the other higher priced ones sitting next to it. We love bass and it performed better than expected. Color changing is pretty cool and I like the different settings. She's going to love it. Found it for $49.99 so look around!

Altec Lansing IMT320 inMotion Compact iPod Speaker System

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 5 x 4 inches ; 2.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0038W0N8G
• Item model number: IMT320

By : Altec Lansing
List Price : $79.99
Price : $48.95
You Save : $31.04 (39%)

Product Description

Color: Black

From the Manufacturer

When you need a compact stereo system for your iPhone or iPod, but still want exceptional sound quality, Altec Lansing has you covered with the iMT320 inMotion Compact. The inMotion Compact folds as small as a book for easy portability, and it packs a punch with dual drivers that deliver rich, well-balanced sound whether you're at home or on the road.

The inMotion® iMT320At a Glance:

• Dock is compatible with the latest iPhone and iPod models.
• Compact design for great portability.
• Elegant cover protects the speakers and doubles as a stand.
• Vivid audio and powerful bass.

The inMotion Compact folds as small as a book for easy portability.Compact Stereo System for iPhone and iPod The inMotion Compact is the smallest member of Altec Lansing's inMotion line. When folded, it's as slim as a book, so you can easily take it with you and enjoy the music of your iPhone or iPod wherever you are. The inMotion Compact also features a distinctive design with an attached wrap-around cover. The soft, luxurious cover protects the speakers and also doubles as a stand.

For added convenience, push-button volume controls are integrated directly into the speaker's design.

Get Outstanding SoundThe inMotion Compact delivers outstanding sound for your iPhone and iPod. With dual drivers and front firing ports that provide enhanced low-frequency sound, the iMT320 delivers a rich audio experience everywhere you go.

The inMotion Compact features a dock that is compatible with the latest iPhone and iPod models, including the iPhone 3GS. It also features "Works with iPhone" certification, which means that the music will pause automatically when you receive a call. You won't have to switch your iPhone to airplane mode to get exceptional audio, nor will you have to worry about the annoying GSM buzz that you often get from other speakers.

Auxiliary Input Jack for Connecting Other DevicesIf you have other devices that you'd like to use with the inMotion Compact, the integrated 3.5mm input jack lets you connect a second device, such as a computer, CD, DVD, or MP3 player.

Runs on Either AC Power or BatteriesWhether you're listening to music at home or on the go, the iMT320 will keep you rocking. The iMT320's universal dock will recharge your iPod or iPhone while you're listening to music, and it can be powered by either an AC adapter or four AA batteries (not included) when an outlet is not available.

About Altec LansingFor more than 70 years, audiophiles have recognized Altec Lansing as one of the world's most valuable and innovative audio brands. Headquartered in Milford, Pennsylvania, the company boasts a unique history of innovation that includes the introduction of first talkie film speakers, the first iPod docking station, and the first "Works with iPhone" speaker system. Altec Lansing makes a wide range of audio systems for the home and office, a line of headphones for personal listening, and the popular line of inMotion speaker systems for portable digital players.

The iMT320 inMotion Compact is backed by a one-year limited warranty.

What's in the BoxThe inMotion Compact speaker system, miscellaneous adapters for iPhone and iPod, AC power adapter, andquick connect guide.

Altec Lansing Speaker Docks

Orbit M

Octiv Mini

Octiv Duo

inMotion Compact

inMotion Classic

Mix

Ultra-portable sound for MP3 players or mobile phones

Compact speaker/charger/speakerphone

Designed for multiple iPhone and iPod players

Perfect speaker for hotel, beach, or backyard

Ideal speaker to take around the house

The ultimate party speaker

Key Features

• 360-degree sound field
• 2.5mm adapter for use with mobile phones
• On/Off button and battery life indicator

• Fits in nearly any space
• Wake up to music with free Alarm Rock app
• Makes video calling easy

• Dock, charge and play two players at once
• Shuffle tunes from two players with free Music Mix app
• Wake up to music with free Alarm Rock app
• Fits neatly in tight spaces
• Built-in USB port lets you charge a third device

• Integrated cover protects music system during travel
• Cover folds back into a stand
• Ported drivers deliver deep bass

• Built-in digital FM radio with At-A-Glance LCD
• Rechargeable battery allows for portability
• Kick-stand flips up into a handle
• Class D amplification
• Advanced audio Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

• Specially engineered horn-loaded tweeters and mid-range drivers
• XdB bass-enhanced side-firing subwoofer
• Built-in digital FM radio with 4 station presets
• 7-band graphic equalizer
• Convenient grab handles

Sound Enhancement Technology

Audio Alignment

Audio Alignment

Audio Alignment

Audio Alignment

Audio Alignment, Waves Maxx Audio

Audio Alignment, Xtreme Dynamic Bass

Onboard Controls

Power

Fully iPhone or iPod controlled

Power, Source, Volume

Power, Volume

Power, Volume, Track back, Track forward

Power, Volume, Track back, Track forward, Source, EQ

Power Type

3 AAA Batteries

AC Only

AC Only

AC, 4 AA Batteries

AC, Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery

AC, 8 D Batteries

Orbit M

Octiv Mini

Octiv Duo

inMotion Compact

inMotion Classic

Mix

Wireless Remote

iPhone ; iPod Compatible

Audio Inputs

2-channel analog (stereo)

Universal dock for iPhone ; iPod

Two universal docks for iPhone ; iPod

Universal dock for iPhone ; iPod

Universal dock for iPhone ; iPod

Universal dock for iPhone ; iPod

Secondary Aux In Jack

Shielded for Interference

Speaker Configuration

One 1.5" full-range driver

One 3" full-range driver

Two 2" full-range drivers

Two 2" full-range drivers

Two 3" full-range drivers

Two 1" tweeters and two 3" mid-range drivers;5.25" subwoofer and 5.25" passive radiator

When you need a compact stereo system for your iPhone or iPod, but still want exceptional sound quality, Altec Lansing has you covered with the iMT320 inMotion Compact. The inMotion Compact folds as small as a book for easy portability, and it packs a punch with dual drivers that deliver rich, well-balanced sound whether you're at home or on the road.

Technical Details

• Crystal-clear sound; two full-range neodymium drivers deliver pure, distinct full-spectrum audio
• AC or battery-operated; blast your sound for up to 24 hours with four AA batteries or use the included AC adapter
• Audio Alignment technology; drivers, enclosure, and electronics are balanced for optimum sound
• Stylish cover folds back to double as a stand
• Music pause: automatically pauses music when a call is received on the iPhone

 

Altec Lansing IMT320 inMotion Compact iPod Speaker System

 

Costumer Reviews

Length:: 0:23 Mins

My video is to show how compact the system is and how quickly it sets up. The sound on the video is not very good, please do not take it as an example of what you can expect from this system.

I currently have two docking systems in use in my home. The iLive IS208B Stereo Speaker System with iPod Dock and iHome iH64BA Multimedia Stereo Speakers wth Dock for iPod. Both offer decent sound, but neither are compatible with the iPhone for charging. So when I was given the opportunity to try out the iPhone compatible Altec Lansing IMT320 I was very excited to do so.

When it first arrived I was shocked at the size. Even though I had read the description, it didn't quite register until I had it in my hands. This was compact, extremely portable and nice looking to boot! The soft, yet rugged dual use cover folds over to protect the speakers during transit and folds under to act as a stand during play. I was anxious to try this out so I plugged it in using the AC adapter (4 AA Batteries can also be used on the go), dropped in my iPhone and turned it on. I wasn't prepared for what I heard next; quality, balanced sound. I raised up the volume and switched between Jazz, Pop, Rock and R;B. All of them sounded great and with no distortion. Had I not plugged it in myself I wouldn't have believed that the music was coming from such a small little system.

Overall I am very impressed. It's easy to set-up and use, with the function buttons on top consisting of On/Off and Volume Up and Down. Charging compatibility with the iPhone is a plus and a reasonable list price when compared to many others out there on the market. Add in the nice sound quality and portability and it makes it a very smart choice.

I'm going to discuss the Altec-Lansing's less important features before reviewing (the SOUND) the most compelling reason(the SOUND) to buy it (the SOUND). While I think the docking station could use about a $10 price reduction, this combination speaker system/charger is a winner.

Functions. So what IS a docking station? This one can charge a variety of Ipod and Iphone devices, and, more importantly, play music through the twin front-ported speakers. Supported Apple devices include (as listed on the package) the following Ipod brand MP3 players: The Touch, (generation 1 and 2), Nano (1-5), Classic, Ipod 5th generation (with video), and the iPod mini ,as well as the 3GS (16 and 32 GB), 3G (8 and 16 GB), and the Iphone (4, 8, and 16 GB) telephones.

Ease of Use and Portability. Very easy, a simple design attractively packaged, the T320 weighs about 3 pounds, and folds into the size of a small purse or portfolio. They really got the looks down. The semi-matte , slightly textured black vinyl cover is handsome and folds around the front to a latch on top. Fold this flap back and it serves as a horizontal base for the station. While in this position, a second fold can be bent back up towards the dock, providing further stability. While no one will mistake the cover for leather, it doesn't look like cheap vinyl either. (It may actually be cheap vinyl, but at least it doesn't look that way.)

The slot on the bottom of your iPod or iPhone fits onto a vertical tab residing in a shallow alcove between the two integrated speakers. There are only three controls: On/off, volume up, and volume down. Volume is controlled by buttons rather than dials (that keeps it sleeker), and the buttons are remarkably sensitive. You can easily control volume, with more precision than you'd expect. There's no volume indicator (not really a drawback), but the power cord is less than 6 feet long, another foot or two would have improved accessibility. It runs also on 4 AA batteries; Altec Lansing claims these will last up to 24 hours. I recommend getting rechargeables. Since the whole idea is to play sound in the open air, there's no headphone jack; besides, your iPod has one.

Telephone Features. I may be one of the few people around without a Cell Phone, so I'll just present this information without comment. According to the packaging, the T320 is "immune to mobile telephone interference, eliminating the need to switch to airplane mode." I don't know if this means you no longer have to catch a flight somewhere--perhaps someone can post a comment explaining this. However, it sure sounds good. Here's one I do get: Music playing on the T320 will pause when you receive a phone call. Nice!

SOUND. Really amazing considering the size! Two 50mm (2 inch) neodymium drivers power the speakers and you'll enjoy deep (but not muddy) lows, a full midrange, and a pleasing treble without the usual thin or tinny quality found in many comparable speaker sets. For being only inches apart, the speakers somehow impart a sense of stereo separation, particularly in the back to front dimension. Regrettably, there are no other specs, either on the package flaps (where set-up instructions are pictured, rather than written) or on the Altec Lansing web site: You'll have to write them if you really have a need to know.

Bottom line: I was very pleasant surprised by the full sound throughout the spectrum, with no discernable distortion, especially in the bass and treble. It will easily fill any room (or rooms) with sonic delight. If Mr. Altec or Ms. Lansing knocked a few dollars off the price, this would sell even faster, but without much competition (let me know if you have an alternative), I think it's worth it.

Cyber Acoustics Portable Digital Docking Speaker for iPod (Black)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 5 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000KE48CM
• Item model number: CA-461

By : Cyber Acoustics
List Price : $49.99
Price : $36.84
You Save : $13.15 (26%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Cyber Acoustics' CA-461 Digital Docking Speaker offers a compact, no-frills sound solution for your iPod or other portable device.

A compact, no-frills sound solution for your iPod or other portable device. Click to enlarge.

Inserts for various iPod models included.

Rear aux input.

Charge and Play Your iPodChoose the appropriate insert for your iPod model, and connect it to the CA-461. It will receive a charge while you enjoy your music, so it'll be ready to head out the door when you are.

Big Sound, Small PackageThe CA-461 is designed to deliver plenty of sound, despite its compact size. Two-inch full-range speakers offer 6 watts of room-filling stereo sound. The "Xtreme Bass" feature ensures the low-end is not left behind.

Magnetically ShieldedBecause the CA-461's drivers are magnetically shielded, they can be used near computer or video monitors with minimal interference.

Portable PowerUse the included power supply when near a wall outlet, or pop in four AA batteries when you're on the go. Perfect for picnics or other gatherings, the CA-461 also includes a convenient carrying pouch for transit.

Auxiliary InputThe rear auxiliary input is convenient for amplifying your non-docking iPods or other MP3 players.

What's in the BoxCA-461 Digital Docking Speaker, power supply, 3.5-mm audio cable, carry pouch, and dock inserts.

Use the included power supply when near a wall outlet, or pop in four AA batteries when you're on the go. Perfect for picnics or other gatherings, the CA-461 also includes a convenient carrying pouch for transit,The CA-461 is designed to deliver plenty of sound, despite its compact size. Two-inch full-range speakers offer 6 watts of room-filling stereo sound. The "Xtreme Bass" feature ensures the low-end is not left behind.

See all Product Description

Technical Details

• Compatible with any iPod / iTouch with dock connector
• Fabric travel pouch
• Charges iPod / iTouch when docked in well and plugged into AC source (except iPod shuffle and iPod 3G)
• Operates on 4 AA batteries or AC adapter
• Auxiliary input

 

Cyber Acoustics Portable Digital Docking Speaker for iPod (Black)

 

Costumer Reviews

[Update: In answer to some questions, this stereo has a conventional audio input, so you can easily use it with sound sources other than an iPod. As someone has observed, the Cyber Acoustic web page claims the Nano 3g can't be charged by the CA-421 dock. Au contraire! When using electrical power and the included dock adapter, I had no difficulty charging a Nano 3g with this CA-421 dock. In fact, contrary to the company's description, it did the same with a Classic and the Touch (I don't own an iPhone, though.) Since writing the following, I've "gone through" other speakers, including the most popular rechargeable Altec Lansing and Logitech, both of which balk at playing the newest Touch. This inexpensive iRhythms model actually sounds competitive and continues to be the only portable I can depend on (no doubt due to the well-constructed adapters and the provision for using regular AA alkalines). As for the outdoors volume limitation, even the very pricey, much lauded Tivoli iPal falls flat on its face when used outside. These battery-operated machines simply are not backyard party animals. Finally, these are far and away the best labeled and designed adapters I've seen.]

After becoming attached to a JBL Micro, I decided I could use another, more affordable version. The Cyber Acoustics dock-speaker seemed like a worthy candidate, especially at a half to two-thirds the price of the JBL. Frankly, I wasn't expecting a unit as good as the vaunted JBL but was willing to sacrifice some quality to save a few bucks.

Surprise. If anything, the Cyber Acoustics sounds better than the On Stage Micro! Tastes will vary, but the CA-421 is slightly warmer, has deeper and fuller bass, and is less inclined to distort when playing files recorded excessively "hot." The Micro is a bit more crisp-sounding with a slight edge in treble frequencies (as noticed while comparing the drum's hi-hats and ride cymbals on the two units). I'm finding the Cyber Acoustics unit "wears" better for extending listening stretches.

Aside from the sound of the two units, the Cyber Acoustics-421 will seem agreeably light and trim--unless you've owned a JBL Micro, which wins on style points (the impressiveness of the Micro's sound is partly due to its coming from such a tiny saucer). The JBL also gets points for finishing touches and detailing--the look and feel are less "plastic" (even though, unlike the boxed CA, it comes sealed in virtually impenetrable plastic laminate). Also, the JBL's carrying bag is supple and cushioned (with interior pockets and velcro straps to keep Micro, iPod, and cords tightly and neatly packed); the CA's is basically a functional "sack." On the other hand, the Cyber Acoustics has clearer labeling of the plastic inserts for adapting different iPod models; the JBL comes with the inserts, but the user has to pick the right one through trial and error.

Even if the cost of the two units were the same, the CA-461 would still be competitive, if for sound alone. Perhaps the most compelling reason to go with the JBL in that case is its inclusion of a remote--admittedly handy for starting, stopping, and changing tunes when the speaker is on the other side of the room. But even without the remote, I doubt you'll find a better value in an iPod dock-speaker than this little Cyber Acoustics overachiever.

Finally, give the Cyber Acoustics people credit for making the power adapter light and compact, easily deployed whenever the user wishes to save on batteries (I returned a JBL On Stage II because the power adapter was practically the size and weight of a small boat anchor, making it clumsy for use even with some electrical installations.)

These speakers have great sound for their size. If you're looking to spend this amount on speakers, then they are great. I listen to dance music when I'm travelling and the sound is good when it's played reasonably loud. My only (small) complaint is that I have a white iPod and only black speakers are available. But apart from that, I'm really happy with these.

Toshiba Dynadock U Universal USB Connect Docking Station

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.1 x 1.8 x 8.8 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001H9O73O
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: PA3575U-1PRP

By : Toshiba
List Price : $149.99
Price : $99.00
You Save : $50.99 (34%)

Product Description

Toshiba Dynadock USB Docking Station PA3575U-1PRP Port Replicators

Technical Details

• One cable connection from your PC to all your devices
• Universal compatibility with all Windows-based PCs including Vista 32- or 64-bit
• Built-in HD Digital Video card supports up to 1920x1200 resolution
• Built-in HD Digital Video card supports up to 1920x1200 resolution
• Space-saving upright slim design reduces cable clutter
• View up to three displays simultaneously
• Hot swappable - add or remove most devices without rebooting the PC
• Easily and safely undock with undock button

 

Toshiba Dynadock U Universal USB Connect Docking Station

 

Costumer Reviews

Overall, I'm very satisfied with this product. Instead of having 6-7 cords I plug and unplug into my laptop every single time I take it with me, there's just one. That's incredibly convenient. Also, my laptop has just 3 USB ports, and the dock has 6, so I can keep all my devices plugged in all the time. And when I want to eject the dock, I don't have to take care of them one by one... there's a special icon for "undocking" which allows you to eject the whole dock.

There is one compatibility issue however. So right now on my laptop, I'm dual booting Windows Vista and Windows 7 RC. I use 7 RC almost all the time, because it simply is much better than Vista. The one problem I've had with 7 RC though, is that I cannot install the video driver for this dock. (You see, to get the dock to work with your audio, video and network, you have to install a driver for each of them.) I've tried several times to install both the driver that came on the disc, and the latest one from the site. And every single time, my computer would crash, and I would not be able to restart 7 RC because some files were corrupt or something. I had to do a system restore every time. Eventually I gave up, and resorted to plugging my VGA cord in my laptop like I did before purchasing the dock. Not that big a deal though. I mean it's understandable... Windows 7 hasn't even been released yet, and nobody's really had a chance to create drivers for it.

So that's the one problem that I've had with this dock and Windows 7. Not sure if this is the case with Vista, because like I said, I don't really use it. Let me note, however, that at one point after I installed the driver, I did have a few minutes with the monitor displaying, and everything worked great. I had a monitor, speakers, a mouse, a keyboard, an external hard drive, a TV tuner, a printer, and a network cable all plugged in, and everything worked fine... no lag at all.

I'd say if you're looking for a dock, this is probably the best one out there. Has everything an average user could possibly need, and works fantastically. Well, almost...

EDIT: I have to mention, my monitor's resolution is 1920x1200 and the dock had no problem displaying this the one time I got it to work. And like I said, even though I had like 7 different things going on over one USB cord, there was absolutely no lag. I feel like I have to mention this because I saw a few reviews which complained about it. So if it's slow, it's mostly likely your system, and not the dock.

UPDATE 3/16/2010: I have now been using this product for almost a year, and I am very happy with it. As I mentioned before, it allows for incredible freedom for laptop users. You can have all the hard drives and TV tuners and peripherals as you would with a desktop, and then something as easy as a single click, you could pick up your laptop and go.

I would like to mention that since I wrote this review, I have moved on to the final release of Windows 7 (Pro), and a new set of drivers have been released, and everything works great (including the video)! There are two minor problems I still see with the dock. First, although the video now works, it can be a little laggy when running full screen videos. It works fine when running YouTube sized videos and doing most other things, so it's not so bad. The second problem I see is that when you're undocking it, it can be a bit tricky because you may still have some applications hanging on to some of your peripherals, and you'll get a message telling you so, but it's hard to tell which ones. For example even after I close Media Center, it still has some background process running, which prevents me from unplugging my TV tuner. Anyways, the workaround for that is to just turn off your computer and unplug the dock.

UPDATE 5/13/2011: It's been two years now, and not much has changed since my last update. The dock is still working well, with no quality issues. I don't use the VGA port anymore because I often watch full-screen videos and as previously mentioned, this causes noticeable lag. For this reason I also uninstalled the dock's video driver, because when switching between monitors in Windows 7, it would sometimes switch to the dock's monitor, which wasn't actually there, and I would find my mouse wandering somewhere off screen. So my tip is to uninstall the dock's video driver if you are no using it. Another tip I can offer has to do with disconnecting the dock. As previously mentioned, if you have a program or process which is using a peripheral attached to the dock, you will not be able to disconnect the dock. The workaround is to end said process (using Windows Task Manager) before disconnecting the dock. But if you disconnect your dock often, this can be a pain. An easier solution is to create a 'batch file', which is a file that executes a set of commands (in this case, terminating a specific process) whenever opened. In my case, I have the batch file which ends the process 'ehrecvr' which is part of Windows Media Center, and which keeps my TV tuner from being disconnected. The batch file is located on the desktop, and whenever I need to disconnect the dock, I double-click it, and within two seconds, BOOM, process ended. There are a bunch of sites that explain how to create a batch file, and it's really really easy. Just search for "batch kill process", or something along those lines.

I am using this docking station to connect my Dell laptop (XP Home) to an Acer 22" widescreen LCD monitor via a DVI cable. I have also connected my keyboard, mouse, printer, backup drive, and speakers to this device. They are all working well though there are some issues.

First the pros:

1) I am able to get higher resolutions (up to 1680 by 1050) though for personal preference I have set it to 1440 by 900.

2) I am able to view DVDs in full screen and also video chat using Skype without any problems.

3) For graphics/videos it is using drivers from DisplayLink, which has good support. They seem to be actively working to resolve any lingering issues and you can always download the latest drivers directly from the DisplayLink web site. I upgraded mine to the latest from their site.

Issues:

1) The installation wasn't painless. For some reason the audio didn't work at first and I had to re-install the audio drivers from the CD separately to resolve that issue.

2) I am unable to view videos from hulu.com and YouTube in full-screen mode. I am hoping DisplayLink will fix this in a future update.

Other thoughts:

DisplayLink website also provides the beta drivers for Windows 7 Beta. I installed that too (on Windows 7 Beta) and it was able to detect my monitor and set higher resolutions. However, the mouse movements, animations, and video are still somewhat slow and choppy on Windows 7 Beta. On XP, I didn't have any of these issues.

Plugable USB 2.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station with DisplayLink DVI/VGA up to 1920x1080, Audio, Ethernet, and 4 Available High-Speed USB 2.0 Ports

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.4 x 6.3 inches ; 7.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B002PONXAI
• Item model number: UD-160-A

By : Plugable Technologies
List Price : $129.99
Price : $89.95
You Save : $40.04 (31%)

Product Description

Get around the limitations of your laptop or notebook with a single, simple USB 2.0 connection to any DVI/VGA monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and other USB 2.0 devices which can stay on your desk; Share this common set of devices among several users with a swap of the USB cable; use the flexibility of the virtual USB graphics card to extend your Windows desktop across both displays.

Performance

USB virtual graphics provides full performance for office applications and web browsing, but videos and 3D games should be played on the computer's main screen.

Drivers

Support for all of Windows XP 32-bit, Vista and Win7 32/64-bit with latest service packs. Windows Home Basic/Starter do not support multiple monitors. Not recommended for use with Mac (beta drivers only). GPL driver source on Linux and other platforms. Linux requires manual xorg.conf configuration - for advanced users only.

GPU Compatibility

On Windows Vista and Win7, virtual USB graphics makes use of your primary GPU, so is compatible only with systems with a single Intel, nVidia, ATI GPU running recent WDDM drivers.

In the box

Includes an AC adapter, so even power-hungry USB devices like hard disks can be connected. Note that the docking station does not power or charge your laptop itself. The dock is a multifunction compound USB 2.0 device, with a Terminus USB 2.0 Hub, DisplayLink DL-165 USB Graphics, C-Media CM6300 USB Audio (supporting the USB Audio Class 1.0 standard), ASIX AX88772A USB Ethernet Chip.

Technical Details

• Dock any brand of laptop to an extra display (up to 1920x1080), speakers, ethernet, and 4 USB ports
• DVI/VGA connector, 10/100 Ethernet RJ-45, 3.5 mm plugs for stereo speaker and mic, security slot
• Windows 7/Vista 32/64 and XP 32-bit drivers via Windows Update, download, or disk
• NOT RECOMMENDED for use with Mac OS Lion (10.7). Linux configuration for advanced users only
• Simple and small with no moving parts, no fans, all standard USB 2.0. Does not charge laptop

 

Plugable USB 2.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station with DisplayLink DVI/VGA up to 1920x1080, Audio, Ethernet, and 4 Available High-Speed USB 2.0 Ports

 

Costumer Reviews

I have been looking for a way to connect multiple monitors to my laptop for a very long time (solutions that won't cost an arm or leg, like those Magma express-card extenders). I was so used to having 3 monitors plugged into my laptop's docking station in XP era, but with the arrival of Vista it stopped working. I used the Tritton USB2VGA device back then, but they have never managed to deliver reliable drivers for Vista or now Windows 7. So I was stuck with only two screens for a few years (as none of the laptop docking ports I know offers three monitor ports, at best you get two -- VGA and DVI).

At the CES 2010 I've met with the CEO of Plugable and got a comprehensive overview of their Universal Docking Station product -- which prompted me to buy TWO of them, one for office usage, and another one for home. And I could not be happier with it! The guy used to run the Microsoft USB team, which boosted my confidence that the hardware drivers would be well maintained, and my installation experienced has proved it.

Once you plug this product into your PC's USB port (or laptop docking station's port as in my case) Windows finds the new hardware and just starts downloading and installing the drivers from the Windows Update. It finds about 6 or 7 hardware components (this docking station provides you with 4 USB ports, DVI monitor -- with VGA tranciever -- LAN port and Speakers/Microphone ports). So it is not a trivial device, and I've never seen the drivers installation running so smoothly. Within a minute or two I was prompted to accept some license agreement, and then was able to configure the layout of my monitors through the windows screen resolution box (pointing out which one is left, center and right and setting the resolutions). I did reboot, just to make sure :)

My laptop is running Windows 7 64 bit, it's Toshiba 700m. It drives a monitor through this USB station at 1280x1024 32bit, plus two more monitors are plugged into the laptop's port replicator (via VGA and DVI). Unlike the previous Tritton USB2VGA product I had experience with, this one is actually quite fast. It has its own grapnics chip inside and I could not notice any significant CPU workload increase when dragging some "active" windows with refreshable content (like Internet browser with Silverlight or Flash animation) into its monitor. You would not want to play a video in a USB-connected monitor, but I have tried anyway and it did play the 720p I've thrown at it (though it looked more like 720i -- you could see the video lines were interlaced). However it works seemlessly for Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel) and for keeping an Internet browser window there -- which are my usage scenarios. It did drop my Windows Performance Score from 3.5 to 3.1, but I am quite fine with it. It does support the Windows Aero (the window bars are semi-transparent and you can see through them).

I also have my audio speakers plugged into this docking station, and it emmits clear sound without any problems. The Toshiba port replicator LACKS audio ports, so every time when plugging my laptop into it I had to plug the 3.5 audio connector directly into the laptop -- which was very annoying. Not anymore! I have not tried the LAN port yet, but given how smothly everything else works, would not expect any problems with it. Having the 4 extra USB 2.0 ports is also nice; all my USB wires (phone charger, headset, scanner etc.) are now always plugged, connecting the devices on a single dock, and between the original port replicator and this one I still have couple spare USB ports left.

If I remember correctly, the CEO told me you can plug more than one Dock to your PC for the benefit of all the extra monitors -- but I have not tried it.

Overall, I am VERY pleased with this product, and now enthusiasticly evangelize it to my colleagues at work. Check it out -- you won't regret it!

I have windows 7. All I did was plug all my devices in then plug the docking station into the wall and lastly connect it to my computer. My computer found and installed all the correct drivers and the whole thing worked right from the start. With other docking stations I read lots of reviews about how they never really worked quite right. Not so with this one. It worked from minute one. It's really nice to have two monitors and use the big monitor for most things and then just have the laptop monitor as an accessory monitor. The only real drawback to it is that sometimes mouse movement on the docked monitor can be a bit sluggish. I guess that's the drawback of have all these other items docked through a single USB port.