If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you have probably figured out that it can sometimes take me a long time to pick between multiple options of a device or accessory that I need. In particular, I had been searching for a great iPod speaker with charging capabilities for over two years when I finally found a speaker that suited all my needs only a few months ago. I had originally wanted a Bose Sound Dock Portable Speaker, but I found the hefty price tag of $399 to be much to high for an item I knew I would not be using on a daily frequency. I wanted something cheaper, but still with a Bose like quality of sound. I also wanted something small and slim that would fit nearly anywhere I needed to put it, another issue I had with the Bose speaker as it was a bit larger than I desired.
I know there are plenty of iPod speaker docks out on the market, but sifting through the designs and reviews I never found a quality item that suited my exact needs. Plenty of docks worked well enough but incorporated some design element I did not want, like an alarm clock or a radio feature, both of which I was desperately trying to avoid. I just wanted a small dedicated iPod speaker and finally, I found my precise match in the Phillips Fidelio DS7550 Portable Speaker Dock. At $129.95, the Fidelio was highly rated with an excellent sound quality that has been compared to that of a Bose system time after time. It’s portable slim frame, rechargeable battery, and charging dock capabilities were exactly what I wanted and look excellent paired with my first generation iPod touch that remains permanently docked to the unit. To make matters even better, the Fidelio line of products has a free dedicated App to help manage your playlists which I have downloaded to my iTouch and find very useful.
My overall opinion of this speaker is that is an unbelievable deal at nearly 1/3rd the price of the Bose portable dock, but with a full array of functionality, superb sound quality, and a great volume range that fills my entire apartment. Although it took me years to find it, it was certainly worth the wait!
It’s been some time since I have seriously blogged here and since I have the day off and nothing to do, I decided that today was as good a day as any to catch you up on my tech acquisitions from the past few months. One of which is the Twelve South BookBook for the 13″ Macbook (Pro). This very unique laptop case has been the primary home of my white 13″ Macbook since I was given it as a present last summer. I had been struggling for some time with the idea of hiding my unused Macbook in plain sight until this nifty case came into my life.
As you can see from these pictures, the BookBook has a beautiful antique suede exterior that truly looks like an antique book, but is strong and sturdy, providing great protection for the laptop inside. In contrast, the interior is a beautiful bright red fleece like material that acts as a soft cradle for your laptop, protecting it from scuffs and scratches. One great feature of this case that I like is how it enables you to use your Macbook while it is still completely encased and protected. Now, one comment I feel I must make is that you may notice that on Twelve South’s website that they suggest this case only for the aluminum Macbooks and Pro’s, because they suggest that the red interior may discolor a white Macbook. I, however, decided to disregard this warning and still used the case to protect my Macbook. It has been over 6 months since I began using this case on my Macbook and still it seems that the interior of the case has not discolored the white casing of my Mac. This does not mean that another case may not discolor your white Macbook, as Twelve South probably has good cause for making this suggestion, but in my experience with the case there has been no problem!
Overall, this is a very nice case for those who either enjoy the look and feel of old books, or perhaps need a case that can hide the Macbook in plain sight. It is a bit pricey, starting at $79.99, but at least for me, the price has been worth the quality of protection.
Since I am home from work today for the President’s Day Holiday in the U.S., I decided that I should refresh my flickr feed with a new “what in your bag” picture. Since I bought the iPad early last summer, it has pretty much completely replaced my Macbook Pro in day to day use. Since I no longer carry around a full out tech bag, I recently purchased a new spring tote for my lighter tech load. It took me a long time to find a bag that was both fashionable and practical for carrying my expensive toys, but ultimately I ended up choosing this Gia Milani large tote from Target. It was a complete bargain for just $36 and it has a nice sized center zippered compartment that fits my iPad perfectly and makes an inconspicuous hiding spot for it.
Contents (Left to Right, Top to Bottom):
3G iPod in it’s silver business card case
Silver Zebra camera case
Bronze oversized wallet
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Headphones with pillowed carrying case
