The iPod travel dock should be so many different things at once. First and foremost, it shouldn't cost a fortune. It should easily fit into my luggage, if not my carry-on bag (this is where most "portable" docks usually strike out). Ideally, it should also deliver excellent sound, but I'd settle for a speaker unit that produces decent sound without distortion at a reasonable, lower volume. Sonic Impact's i-F3 may be a bit on the heavy side, and it's more likely to be a checked luggage item than a carry-on, but it truly surprised me on a recent vacation: It sounds good! Does it have tremendous rich lows and a throbbing bass? No, but do you really want the cops coming to your hotel room because of the noise? The i-F3 delivers clear and distortion-free audio with enough low-end to make me happy; a dependable, built-in alarm, which lets you wake to your iPod; and FM radio that gets good reception. Add in a reasonable price tag of $170 and it's definitely a worthy travel companion.