Time Magazine’s Gadget of the Week: Apple iPod Hi-Fi
Monday, March 13, 2006 - 08:37 AM EDT"For $349, the Hi-Fi is something of a hybrid iPod dock — not quite a "bookshelf" stereo, but not quite a home-theater system either," Wilson Rothman writes for Time Magazine. "To add to the confusion, unlike the Bose and the Klipsch, the Hi-Fi can run on six D-cell batteries. In what locations without a power plug would a 14.5-lb. sound system come in handy? Up in a tree fort, perhaps? Surely even Bart Simpson would rig up an extension cord."
"Whereever one chooses to put the thing, it will certainly sound terrific. Hi-Fi can get a lot louder than the Bose and still maintain the clarity of its sound. (I didn't test it against the Klipsch.) And even though the left and right channels share a central 4.5-in. woofer for rich mid-range, I didn't hear a problem with stereo separation. Things were as spread as they can be in a single unit," Rothman writes.
"The Hi-Fi might have been the star last week, but the introduction of an Intel-based Mini and the updated Bonjour networking software have made Apple's home-theater aspirations a little clearer. Apple has two desktop lines and one laptop line that can be operated with remote controls, and that — according to my tests — are able to effortlessly access each other's music and video files. Now the company is hinting that perhaps one of these remote-controlled Macs should live next to your TV," Rothman writes. "As it is, it takes home-theater enthusiasm and, possibly, a $19 DVI-to-video adapter, to get the thing hooked up to the sound system and TV. But if Apple were to sell a $300 version with no hard drive and built-in TV connectivity — and maybe some higher-definition video at the iTunes store — Microsoft and Sony will surely snap to attention."
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Jim" for the heads up.]
Advertisements:
• Apple's brand new iPod Hi-Fi speaker system. Home stereo. Reinvented. Available now for $349 with free shipping.
• Apple's new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
• MacBook Pro. The first Mac notebook built upon Intel Core Duo with iLife ’06, Front Row and built-in iSight. Starting at $1999. Free shipping.
• iMac. Twice as amazing — Intel Core Duo, iLife ’06, Front Row media experience, Apple Remote, built-in iSight. Starting at $1299. Free shipping.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
Related articles:
CNET: Apple iPod Hi-Fi is a 'box of delights' - March 09, 2006
Detroit Free Press: Apple's new iPod Hi-Fi delivers 'powerful, room-filling sound; mighty tempting' - March 07, 2006
PC Magazine Editor's Choice: Apple iPod Hi-Fi 'this one's a winner' (4.5 stars out of 5) - March 04, 2006
Review: Apple iPod Hi-Fi - March 03, 2006
The Inquirer reports on attack of Apple cultists, blames MacDailyNews for inciting 'email fatwa' - March 03, 2006
CSFB: Apple iPod Hi-Fi a harbinger of things to come - March 02, 2006
Inquirer writer: Apple Mac, iPod users are gullible saps - March 02, 2006
Apple iPod Hi-Fi photos from all angles - March 01, 2006
Videos of Steve Jobs introducing Mac mini, iPod Hi-Fi - March 01, 2006
Apple debuts iPod Hi-Fi speaker system, leather cases for 5G iPod, iPod nano - February 28, 2006
= 
If the price is lower that would be peerrrrrfect.