Memorex iMove Boombox (black)

Speaker add-ons for the Apple iPod are not in short supply, but we've seen relatively few that cater to our '80s nostalgia by integrating the player into a revamped-yet-old-school boombox design. Altec Lansing did a rather successful job of it in the IM7, so we're not surprised to see Memorex follow suit with the iMove Boombox ($100). Though we're not as keen on the iMove's wedgelike design and subpar sound quality, it's a passable unit for picnics, trips to the beach, and rides on your shoulder.

Like the iM7, the iMove takes a departure from the classic rectangular design, opting for a triangle that tapers at the top to provide the traditional boombox handle. Dual speakers flank a rectangular chrome indent from which an iPod dock connector protrudes. It's not as streamlined or as innovative as the iM7's tape deck-like dock, but it does the trick, and several iPod adapters are provided to ensure a secure fit. On either side of this area are the volume and tuning rocker buttons, and below that are the power, mode, set, and preset keys along with a small, monochrome LCD screen. The latter is rudimentary: it displays the word "iPod" in iPod mode and station numbers in radio mode. The back of the iMove houses ports for line-out, auxiliary line-in (for Shuffles and non-iPod MP3 players), and AC power, and there's a compartment for eight D batteries.

The iMove isn't ultraportable--it measures 15.7 by 6 by 7.9 inches and weighs 7.3 pounds with the batteries installed--but it's more totable than Apple's iPod Hi-Fi, and it's appropriately sized for short-distance travel by car: camping trips, picnics, the beach, and so on. However, the overall feel of the unit is a bit cheap and plasticky--we've already noticed some superficial scratching, and all it's done is come out of the box and sit on a desk. Still, it's more than 100 bucks cheaper than the iM7, so we can forgive the cheaper construction.