While I was at CES 2009 in Las Vegas this year, I was invited to stop by SDI technology’s display.  I believe that we mis-communicated somewhere, because they called me on my cell later and told me that I missed my appointment.  Funny, I don’t remember making one. 

I had to use the bathroom during the conference, but I didn’t want to wait in line for the men’s room.  I decided to head upstairs and use a less crowded one, and I found SDI Technology’s iHome display precisely where I wasn’t looking for it.  Considering the odds of finding one booth of a particular product at CES in the midst of 2,200, I would say our meeting was more than coincidence. 

Especially when I met the representative at the door, who seemed very glad to see me.  In fact, he greeted me with “this is where you are supposed to be”.  He proceeded to show me lots of iHome stuff.  Much of it was iPod docks and speakers, which I have seen enough of during the show. 

At first I wasn’t thinking that our meeting was as much destiny as it was coincidence, but I found something that I did love.  I was fairly impressed with the iHM77, which are two tiny mini-capsule sized mini-speakers that have some very unique capabilities. 

First of all, they both have “vacuum bass expansion”.  I’m not certain what precisely that means, but each speaker can pop up, for presumably better sound.  When these speakers are collapsed, they can be fit together end to end with some magnets.  If you put them in a special pouch, you have some serious sound that fits in a very small space. 

These speakers need to be charged via USB with an included cord that attaches to both speakers via mini-USB.  From there, you can attach an iPod, laptop, or any other device with a 3.5 mm headphone jack and you will get some very good sound.  I wish I could give you a sample of how good the sound is, but take the company’s word when “you have to hear it to believe it”. 

I highly recommend using this for your laptop, as you can just insert them into a USB port for a continuous charge.  You don’t have to worry about running out of power with this speaker. 

You should be able to purchase the iHM77RC Portable Multimedia Speakers in red or black for a price of about $49.99.