CES 2010: Logitech N700 brings booming speakers to lapdesk

Logitech on Tuesday announced the Lapdesk N700, which adds two booming speakers to a cooling pad for your lap.

As laptops replace desktops, more consumers are using their laptops for multimedia use. The Lapdesk N700 does away with the wires and external speakers needed for such application, and brings the entire setup under one roof, so to speak, so you can sit and watch a movie with the kids where no TV is available without needing headphones or external speakers.

In addition to a pair of speakers embedded on the top surface, the N700 has a cooling fan and soft underside for comfort. It connects to your computer via USB and is entirely powered by your machine.

It's also got volume/mute controls on the outside for sound.

In a demonstration, I found the N700 to be loud and boomy, offering a surprising amount of volume for a device powered entirely by USB. Is it the best audio? Hardly, but it beats the pants off any built-in laptop speakers.

The Lapdesk N700 can securely hold laptops up to 16 inches using two flip-up rubber holders.

It will be available in February for $80.