Review: Pyramat Laptop Sound Booster

I had some products recently cross my desk for some articles and thought that some of them might be of interest to writers. The Pyramat Laptop Sound Booster is a quasi-portable device that acts as a combination lap desk and laptop base with a couple of built-in speakers. You can connect a laptop to it via a USB cable. Instead of the laptop, you can also connect an iPod or other MP3 player. The speakers significantly boost sound - I found that they completely outshone the speakers built into my hefty Toshiba Satellite. There was some vibration in the base from the sound, but not unpleasantly so. And the base acts as an insulator, so your lap doesn't get too hot from the machine.

When paired with a laptop, the USB cable pulls power from the machine, or you can run it off batteries when paired with a music player, letting you listen to music if working longhand. They tout an "ergonomic design," and I found it comfortable enough to use. (I often take a laptop down into the living room for a change of scenery.) Sharper Image has them for about $90. It's too large to throw into your laptop case, so if you want to travel with it, expect to make room in your suitcase. If you use your laptop extensively, enjoy listening to music, and want to enjoy music you've ripped from your CD collection or downloaded from the Internet, this is a decent way of doing so without having to wear a headset.