On the basis of a ton of good reviews from reputable audiophiles, I recommended a set of Audioengine 2 (A2) Premium Powered Desktop Speakers. These are simple, self-powered desktop speakers that will connect to just about anything. They come with all the cables you’ll need to hook them up to your desktop computer, TV, game console, or iPod. (One of the guys on the Audioengine team was formerly with Apple, and their products show an Apple-like attention to detail. That connection also helped me make the sale to my colleague, who is a major Apple fanboy.)

Audioengine also makes a larger, bookshelf speaker, the 5, which has more power. But the 2’s are getting even better reviews for their sound than the 5’s. Both systems can be used with a sub if you want more bottom end. But they sound great right out of the box. Also, my colleague is an iPhone user, and unshielded speakers tend to buzz in proximity to his phone. We didn’t experience this issue with the 2’s.

At $199, the 2’s are a bargain. They sound large. The sound seems to come from beyond the speakers, creating a “soundstage” with more width and depth than the physical space they occupy. They’re also attractive, with hand-polished wood cabinets. I was impressed! If you’re looking for realistic, uncolored sound, look no further.

• How much more space do you need?
• What will you use it for?
• Who needs access?
• Does this data need to be available online?
• Where will any new devices go?
• How do you want them connected?

Working out a plan for storing and backing up files is complicated by the wide range of choices available these days. But I found an article at Macworld.com that helps sort out one section of the puzzle—online storage. It’s a side-by-side comparison of seven online storage solutions.

CrashPlan, one of Macworld’s favorite picks for online storage

The article points out some of the obvious benefits of online storage: protection against data loss from a fire, natural disaster, theft, or hard‑drive failure. The solutions Macworld.com reviewed will let you restore files from anywhere through a web browser.

But there’s some potential downside. What happens to your data if your online storage provider goes out of business? And what about privacy and legal issues? Unless the backup site provides a personal encryption option, your data may be more vulnerable than it is behind your own firewall. (My advice: If your data is sensitive, don’t back it up online! Keep a local or secure off‑site backup instead.)

Enough scare tactics! For plain old work files, family photos, music, and so on, online storage is great. You’ll need a fast internet connection, but the best solutions are rated as pretty easy to use. You can schedule your backups to take place while you sleep, then have peace of mind that your data is safe out there in the ether.

Macworld’s favorite online storage/backup solutions? CrashPlan and Jungle Disk. Read the article to find out more.

“2.1” means that this system includes left and right speakers plus a subwoofer. In the ProMedia system, the subwoofer contains the power supply for the other two speakers. The simple installation begins with setting up the left and right speakers wherever you want within the 30-foot range of where you’ll use your laptop or desktop computer. Connect them to the subwoofer, and plug it into a power outlet. Then plug the transmitter—a tiny device that looks like a thumb drive—into one of the USB ports on your computer.

Once you’re all hooked up, launch iTunes—or Pandora, or another source of your choosing—and play some music. If you have an iPod Touch or an iPhone, you can also install Apple’s Remote app to turn your handheld device into a remote control for iTunes.

Wireless, really?

For those of you who can’t forget the disastrous early attempts at wireless sound, keep in mind that Apple has been doing it well for years now through the audio‑out port on the Airport Express. Wireless sound has come a long way; it’s done digitally now, like good 2.4-GHz cordless phones, so it works well and sounds terrific.

Go give these a listen, and tell me what you think. (My bet: you’ll want to leave the store with a set of them.) And for those of you on a tight budget, I’ve found the non-wifi version of the same system for under $115.

Enjoy!