Working at a certain well-known cutting-edge, upscale electronics and computer store (rhymes with chapel), I'm mixing and mingling with customers varying from the 15-year-old "Just stopped in to check MySpace and oh hey, my mp3 player was sent through the laundry... you'll replace that under the warranty, right?" customer to the pleasantly clueless "Wow, you guys sell computers too? And I can buy it in the store?!?" to the die-hard cult groupie who's been one of the 'elite' since The Dawn of Time or since hooking up with Lisa.

Not everyone who graces our hallowed halls knows a lot about technology or music or home stereos, so they mostly want something they can hook their mp3 player to and get some good sound. Depending on their needs, I steer them invariably to one of two sets. This is the one I'm recommending more than any other.

The Altec Lansing InMotion iM9 is far and away the BEST speaker system you're going to find for the price. On the Altec Lansing website, they're showing the MSRP as $199, but that's old news - it's currently selling for $149, and this product especially shines when compared to others in its new price bracket.

That said, the iM9 still comes out favorably when pitted against such industry hard=hitters as the Bose Sound Dock. How? These are the things I *love* about this product:

• $149 is a reasonable price for any docking sound system, provided the sound quality is acceptable.
• The iM9 offers the ability to insert 4 C batteries to offer 24 hours of playing time while on-the-go.
• When near an outlet, the system can be charged in the wall.
• The auxiliary input allows the system to be used with external hardware, such as another mp3 player, a CD player, DVD player, or anything that can be connected to the unit using a mini-stereo to mini-stereo cable.
• There's a TV output, so any content on your iPod can be sent from the iM9 to the TV using the appropriate cable.
• It comes with a very non-cheesy backpack for portability.
• The iPod is nestled in a tray similar to what cassette tapes used to be slid into when being played. This keeps the iPod snug and secure and recessed a bit, so even if the stable iM9 manages to tip over, your iPod is still reasonably protected.
• The sides are rubberized, and the unit is rugged and durable. It's shock-resistant and even splash-resistant. This means it's good for the beach or pool-side, as long as you don't try to take it into the pool WITH you.
• The sound will blow. You. Away.

I hinted before that I recommend this in favor of the Bose SoundDock. Why? It's simple. Most of us are not looking for something that's going to get us through the next kegger. (If we are, we probably have a Y-chromosome and a surround-sound speaker system complete with gigantic subwoofer and monster receiver, etc.) This thing gives wonderful sound, goes really loud (not *quite* as loud as the Bose, but for probably 85% of people it's PLENTY loud), and has a rich, full sound.

My favorite trick? Take the customer to a portable speaker system we have directly next to the iM9 and play a song on it. It's the same exact price, same color, looks cute to some people, etc. When I play it, they kind of smile and nod and get into it a bit all "Yeah, I like this! It's pretty good, huh?". Then... I go in for the kill.

I load the same exact song on the iM9 and knock their socks off. They thought the first one was nice? This thing is AMAZING. It has never once failed to sell the unit when I demo it like that. Not once.

Why am I so persuasive about it? Because I genuinely LOVE this product. I think it's far-and-away the best one we're offering in the store for the price, and I usually recommend it over even more expensive models.

Nobody who adds this product to their collection could possibly be disappointed. This thing is truly outstanding. (via Apple.com)

There's nothing that makes a hotel room seem more like home than having some tunes. This setup is so handy and portable and the sound quality is terrific.

Portable speakers your your iPod that sounds great, and come with a deluxe backpack to carry everything in? What's not to like? Forget about one of those giant boomboxes ... just pop your pod into these, slip them into the backpack, and hit the road with your tunes. (via Gizmodo)