In which we seek information...

[jesshartley]

I'm late to the iPod craze, but the Viking just bought me one for our trip cross country. I love it muchly, but we're wanting some sort of a little docking station/speaker set to take with us to listen to in the hotel rooms as we cross country, and later for things like setting up at tables when I'm doing signings or at other times when we want decent quality speakers but in a very small and portable form.

Does anyone have a small docking station (preferably with a plug in and battery option) that they are pleased with, that they would recommend?

Comments

[dan-lian.livejournal.com]

http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000F49RAA/ref=s9_asin_title_2-1966_g1/102-9934712-5937757?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=00N62KYE988TQ7DHFT6Z&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=292858701&pf_rd_i=507846

kitf0x got me that one, and it has a plug-in as well as battery-save option. It's delightfully small but not minute, and I like it--it charges the iPod when the speakers are plugged in.

[oneforellis.livejournal.com]

I can also recommend these speakers. The sound is good and I bring mine everywhere. My only complaint is I had to replace my first (after 3 years) when the AC adapter jack became too lose to plug/charge properly, and now it seems like my second is suffering the same problem. Might just be that I put mine through hell.

[ioianthe.livejournal.com]

http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/Products.aspx?DeptID=0&CatID=048720&Grptyp=PRD&ItemId=10ebc9a

or something similar.

[ioianthe.livejournal.com]

oh! for hotel rooms.. never mind.

[netbard.livejournal.com]

Steve has an iHome that we use every so often. Its actually really awesome and i recommend it.

[ckd]

We have the Tivoli iSongBook and like it. However it's a bit big, includes a radio you probably don't care about, and is likely too pricey for what you want. You may want to look at the reviews on iLounge to see what they have to say about various options.

They seem to like this one. I have not tried it.

[doctorcaligari.livejournal.com]

I have the little JBL ring-shaped docking station/speaker, the model is called 'on stage' I think. Anyway it gives really excellent sound at a very small size. No battery though, it works only by plug-in.

[eros-wind.livejournal.com]

Mine is a plug in with no battery. For me the battery didn't matter but what did was good base quality, so I picked the one with that for mine. It's been a good little critter. Though one suggestion is that if you let others use your docking station, make sure they are using the same type of ipod as yours. A thicker one was kinda shoved into it and now the ipod docking port only works half the time. Probably just stressed the wires in the connection. It still works fine I just had to plug it in via the headphones jack instead of the ipod jack. But all in all a nice little speaker.

[metallian.livejournal.com]

The Bose SoundDock produces some impressive sound, but with no battery option.

If you're going on a cross-country trip, though, I'd recommend some kind of adapter(s) that will:

a) Charge it in the car
b) Play it on the car stereo.

I believe that the tape deck adapters aren't too expensive, assuming you have a tape deck in the car. I'm not sure how much a car charger alone will run you.

If you don't have a tape deck, you can get a combination car charger/FM transmitter. You can plug in your iPod and keep it charged while it broadcasts on a radio frequency that you choose. It's really nice except when you're in an area (like smack in the middle of a major city) where there are too many radio stations on the dial and they interfere.

Then order up some audiobooks from a site like audible.com and your long-ass drive won't seem so bad. I know from experience that NJ->WI feels like nothing with the help of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince or Ender's Game on audiobook. ^_^

[cleverusername2.livejournal.com]

I read on the White Wolf page that you are attending some conventions in the Northeast, drive safe.

[jesshartley.livejournal.com]

Wow. It's always a little weird to go there and see my name on the front page.

Thanks for the good wishes. The Viking will be driving me and the Valkyrie down tonight and then joining us on Saturday after his last day of work at HEC. Should be a fun event!

Love your icon, btw!

[cleverusername2.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I'm going to tell a friend of mine about the job announcement for game designers too. He's done a lot of freelance work for the Farscape game, and some other stuff I think, as well as helping on Arrowflight and the Red Dwarf Roleplaying Game.

[poetsheart.livejournal.com]

i home blaster avila ble at linens and things. runs about 50 plugs into wall can update through computer as well... very versatile with a carry case.

[essencenchanted.livejournal.com]

Hello Jess, it's Moira. ^_^ I wandered onto your LiveJournal and thought that I would add you, if you don't mind, of course.

As for a docking station for your iPod...I personally use a Christmas Tree Shop buy that's a clock and docks your iPod. It's not officially by Apple, but it works quite well. I would suggest discount stores first.