By Sherri L. Smith, BlackWeb20.com

So apparently it’s okay to start rocking 80s throwback fashions. From that shag that Kanye was rocking awhile back to will.i.am’s  asymmetrical cut that has the makings of an undercover gumby, the 80s are slowly encroaching on the new millennium. What’s next, a resurgence of jheri curls? I shudder at the thought.

I do however welcome tech that gives respect to predecessors, but keeps its outlook forward. That’s why I’m feeling Altec Lansing’s latest release, the Mix iMT800. Even though its designed to look like a 90s era boombox, it still takes me back to the days of Adidas with fat laces, Kangols, and gold dookie chains (Eighties babies stand up!) when I was snaking and wopping with the best of them. And with that in mind, Altec Lansing does a serious best of both worlds thing with this release.

The Mix might be one of the biggest portable iPod/iPhone docks on the market right now but there’s a method to its madness. The system delivers thunderous knock via the XdB Bass-enhanced 5.25-inch side-firing subwoofer but the mids and highs aren’t lost thanks to the custom drivers and the two 1-inch horn-loaded polypropylene tweeters. Audioheads can customize thier sound via the 7-band equalizer. The psuedo-boombox also get digtal FM radio and has a LCD display so you always know what’s on.

One of the best features excluding sound quality has to be the ability to let friends blast their jams using one of the two AUX in jacks to hook up their devices. In addition, the Mix ensures you never miss an important call choosing to pause the music until you handle your business. The Mix runs on AC power but can get about 30 hours of party with eight D cell batteries.

Retailing for $299, the Altec Lansing Mix iMT800 is a great gadget for those of us with old school sensibilities and new world order vision.

BlackWeb20.com covers website and application launches; culturally relevant Internet industry news; and mainstream Internet industry news from an African-American perspective.  They also analyze emerging web trends and how they apply to web properties that target African-Americans or African-American culture.

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