When an iPod speaker dock costs almost four hundred dollars, it should sound awesome, look nice, be easy to use, and have some cool extra features. This latest model from Altec Lansing fares pretty well on all counts. The speakers have decent audio, certainly look interesting, and are definitely simple to operate. The major selling point here, though, is the devices distinctive feature: an 8.5 inch widescreen placed between the speakers for viewing iPod content or videos from external devices like camcorders (via an Aux input).

And yet the iMV712 leaves me feeling a bit blah. The subwoofer lacks the rumble you’d expect for an audio product that costs this much; the remote feels cheap; and the stereo speakers offer up slightly tinny sound-though the dock's screen is adequately sized. YouTube videos converted for the iPod looked pretty good on the 480-by-240 screen, and iTunes store-bought video content looks plenty sharp. The screen, however, did seem a bit dark.

I still question whether anyone really wants to view iPod videos on a slightly bigger display, as opposed to a TV. Ultimately, I think the price is way too high for this average-sounding niche product.

Altec Lansing IMV712: $350

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