Bose, how many sound docks does it take to hold an iPod?

November 16, 1:06 AMMiami Technology Careers ExaminerFrancine Adams

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It was a perfect day to wander into Target (Tar-jay) if you are chic.  I took a drive over to Super Target on Miramar Parkway.  I needed to find some items for my new Toshiba Tecra A9.  Immediately, on entering Target, I was sidetracked and drawn to the plethora of technology revolving around iPods and MP3 players.  Lest we forget, these mini concert paraphernalia were originally promoted to provide us with a private getaway of resounding bliss.  That marketing campaign has gone down the tubes and we are back to sharing our music with our roommates, mom, dad and the neighbors in all its earsplitting glory.  I confess to experiencing the thrill of plugging a tiny MP3 into my Logitech 6 Speaker Surround system and rocking the planet.  Target  also sells a JBL wireless radio with an MP3 cradle that is very cool.  Even though we are discussion iPods,  I would be remiss if I did not give props, oops mention to the Crosley Mission Stack-O-Matic Home Audio System , a vintage turntable reminiscent of the retro RCA Victor phonograph.  This system actually plays up to 6 vinyl, yes I did say vinyl records, along with AM/FM radio and CDs.

As for the iPod; how clever of Bose, king of surround sound, to develop the Bose SoundDock Portable Digital Music System for the itty bitty iPod.  Not only did Bose offset the competition, they married into the family, or is this just the boom box revisited?  Target is selling this system for $299.00, however, I found it online at Electronic Warehouse for $219.00.  After wandering aimlessly around Target awhile longer, I realized they did not sell the items I was seeking for my Toshiba.  Non-plussed, I piled back into my Toyota Rav4 and headed for Red Road where you can go shop hopping for miles.  Actually, I was searching for a spare set of PC speakers to enhance the sound on my Toshiba.  The other objective was to experiment with a new USB sound card that plugs into your laptop or PC USB port.  This external sound card  is promised to deliver better sound than you get from your internal speakers and to do so without any sound card installation.  They are amazingly dirt cheap and getting pretty good reviews.   Don't expect to find them in your local store just yet.  Some of the in store sales people I spoke to have not heard of it.  As a matter of fact, no one I spoke to on the street has heard of it.  You can find them in online stores like Wal-Mart or Office Depot but I wanted instant gratification and it just was not happening on this trip.  After checking in both stores I finally resigned myself to ordering one online from Amazon for an utterly ridiculous price.  I will leave you to confirm that for yourself.  Don't forget to read the reviews.

As for the speakers,  I was aiming for the economy set.  You will still need to pay close attention even when economy shopping.  I preferred the Altec Lansing BXR1120 set of 2 speakers because they come with an extra socket for the MP3 so you can plug in and play it while still connected to the computer.  Curiously, I found the Altec speakers online at Office Depot at what appeared to be a regular price of $19.99.   When I arrived at the Office Depot brick store on Red Road, much to my chagrin, they were sold out.  I stared forlornly at the empty shelf and a shelf tag which advertised the speakers for $29.99 and on sale for $10 off, at $19.99?   The sale was ending that night so I didn't pursue the matter.  I left dejected at not finding my speakers and drove up Red Road to Wal-Mart.  There I was thrilled to find the same set of Altec speakers at the regular price of $14.95.  I hugged them snugly under one arm and strode happily back to my Toyota.

So let's recap today's shopping experience.  Dock your iPod, Target your Bose.  Red Road for reality and Amazon for USB.