Where pop culture meets geek culture and they make out a little.
Because every battle needs a soundtrack
When playing pen and paper RPG’s or tabletop wargames, I’ve always run into the dilemma of finding a suitable delivery system for background music. Most of the areas I’ve gamed at (back patios, garages, side rooms) do not have either the space or equipment to provide the proper “ambiance.” Let’s face it, I would have been more excited when my trollslayers were taking down Unknown Suavo’s bone giant with this soundtrack playing in the background.
Thus, began my quest for a portable speaker system for my IPod. After looking at this, this and this one, I finally discovered these from Pacific Rim
Technologies. Initially I was put off by the low, low price of $9.99. I thought, “Really, can I get quality construction, sound and portability for just over $10 (after shipping)?” For all of you Normalinauts reading this, the answer is a resounding, “YES!” Now, please understand, you aren’t going to be bumping
these at a party or a wedding in lieu of a full stereo system. But if you want some music at your gaming table with a minimal footprint on the gaming surface (always in short supply) or you want to share your favorite speedmetal band with your cubicle mate then these bad boys fit the bill.
For the portability aspect, they fit nicely in a coat pocket or in the confines of your favorite messenger bag. They are powered by 4 AAA batteries, but also co
me with an AC adaptor. For battery run time, I’ve been able to squeeze about 16 hours out of them. Now, my 2nd Gen Nano won’t fit in the docking station that is provided with the speakers. I have mine using the onboard jack built into the rear of the unit. It’s not as aesthetically pleasing like the full size IPod on the website, but that doesn’t bug me.
The construction material is a white plastic that has a gloss finish and it blends well with IPods/MP3 players of various colors. The speakers are on a very durable spring hinge that survived a couple encounters with my 2 year old. Battery installation is a breeze with a latch system that is easily manipulated.
I highly recommend these for those that are budget minded and need portability for their musical needs.
Na Na Na-Theresa Andersson
Me personally, I would like one of these. Or two or three considering the price. ^__^
If you got a split cord and some extensions you could create your own stereo surround.
[...] My first purchase from GOG was the RTS “Stronghold” which I installed on my MSI Wind U120 netbook. This way, I could enjoy some gaming on my low power machine during lunch breaks. Being a game that was published back in 2001, I felt pretty confident my little netbook could handle the game. After downloading and installing, it ran smoothly and allowed me to begin my campaign to lay waste to rogue barons and arch-dukes. All while listening to appropriate music being piped in from my travel speakers. [...]