LaCie 'Air Vents' USB Speakers, Designed by Neil Poulton

Followers of Neil Poulton should take note of this pair of portable USB speakers from LaCie. Most designers embrace minimalism, and the LaCie is no exception. The two-piece speakers bear some resemblance to the air ventilation outlets sitting atop of modern skyscrapers. The surface of each of the 2" drivers has a rough finish; and the bottom features a rubber ring to keep the speakers in place. The simple black-and-white color scheme also complements nicely with most laptops.

As with most USB speakers, this pair neglects an AC adapter, but it will take away one of your precise USB ports from your lappy. There's actually a FireWire version, but it might not be meeting sales target given it requires a 6W FireWire port that is rare on most notebooks, unless you have a MacBook. LaCie lowers the price of the USB Speakers to $59.99 while the FireWire is still available for $99.99. The price difference is probably due to the lower USB power output.