Philips CushionSpeaker examined, found to be ok cushion, decent speaker
By Donald Melanson 
posted September 7th 2009 4:37PM
posted September 7th 2009 4:37PM
It's not every day that someone attempts to redesign the humble laptop cushion, but Philips has done just that with its new CushionSpeaker which, somehow, someway manages to combine a cushion and a speaker. As our pals at Engadget Spanish found out first-hand at IFA, that combination actually delivers mostly as promised, but not without a few trade-offs. The good news is that speaker does seem to be of reasonable quality, and should be an improvement over most laptop speakers (the retractable USB cord is also a nice touch). On the downside, while the cushion is apparently suitably cushiony, the hard plastic surface isn't exactly the most conductive to keeping your laptop in place -- such are the perils of innovation. Hit up the link below for a closer look, and look for the CushionSpeaker to be available sometime soon (in Europe, at least) for €69, or just under $100.
100$ for that?
ok this person is definitely not getting that testicular cancer, so yes $100 dollars is well worth it
Your laptop is not heavy enough?
With all that bulkiness, it should have a lot more than just a speaker. But I guess it's ok.
@quantumphysics
. . .Ummm
QuantumPhysics:
You might want one of these
http://www.geekologie.com/2008/04/warmth_and_privacy_while_using.php
Making the laptop as unportable as possible!!! honestly, who would use this thing legitimately in the real world.
also note the fact that its a macbook
I would use it at home. And so what if it's a Macbook?
Believe it or not, I actually didn't notice it was a MacBook. Normal person: MacBook = White.
I like this but it would completely ruin my Louis Vuitton notebook scheme, Pass!
BlackBook!
Also, it probably won't cost that much in the US, and even if it does that would be MSRP. Retailers like Amazon and Newegg would drop the price in no time.
I'd pay like $25 if the laptop stays in place when i put it on a 45 degree slope. Otherwise it's useless.
if i'm at home with my laptop why wouldn't i just stream it to some speakers or something
Ouch! $50 is more likely the going rate for something like this.
Why not just use a real cushion and headphones.....?
news slow today?
Conducive, not conductive. One t needed
Lol yeah that confused me at first. I was like... not good at conducting heat? How do you conduct a laptop? =S
one fuckin hundred dollars for this... no WAY!
You can buy a regular non-speaker cushions for about $20-$30 at your local barnes&noble, Target, etc. For $100, I expect more than just speakers. Some extra USB ports would be nice.
For $100, it should at least come with speakers all around, and add 5 extra hours of juice to your laptop.
And ask you how your day was.
Not many surfaces are good for keeping MacBooks still, since the feet things on them are themselves smooth, unlike those say on a Latitude or ThinkPad, which are rubber.
it's actually quite an interesting option if you're using your notebook on the couch suring, listening music or streaming movies...if the quality is ok then the price would also be considerable since it's quite a unique "device"
Maybe not. Just like nobody wants your links, free or otherwise.
Interesting, but i pass
So, you guys *aren't* going to be trying out their model from the ad?
No, they want it under their laptops.
I know my mum would love this, but not at that price!
don't most laptops already have rubber feet?
Add a cooling fan and I may consider it. Actually, this would be relatively easy to make. Hmmm.
Come on guys, it’s just a laptop cushion! And its design sucks! It looks so 1999! Okay, okay, maybe you’ll use it, find it cool to watch movies while lying in your bed, but it will eventually end-up in your closet or on eBay in even less time than it took you to make up your mind and purchase it.
To my opinion, I think that a laptop cushion per se should be easily transportable; most of the time I’m sitting in a place where there are no tables is anywhere but at home! So what’s the point here? I think that Philips really do innovative stuff. But this laptop cushion speaker seems more like a distress call saying “hey, we’re lacking innovative ideas at the moment”. I believe that it’s better not to release a crappy product than to do so to give your customers the feeling that you’re always at the forefront of innovation!
Personnaly for that price ($100 USD!) I’d expect to get an inflatable laptop cushion I could also use as a laptop case so I could take it anywhere (with or without the speakers)! Unfortunately most designs I’ve seen are only prototypes.
So R&D, why don’t you get to work!
And if you manage to include a built-in lap massaging engine, I’m telling you: you just won a new customer!
In the meantime, I’m going to IKEA to get my own $15 BRÄDA laptop cushion with its handle and mobile phone pocket on the side…
Why is the read link pointing to Spanish version of engadget?
looks nice