One rule I have is that simple-is-best when it comes to great gear design. I detest music docking stations made of plastic that attempts to look sleek, futuristic, and uber high-tech. Usually, they turn out to be cheap and flimsy, crack under pressure, and smack of poor quality. A nice, affordable, non-plastic alternative for music docking is the newly released Vers handcrafted wood sound system for iPods and iPhones.

Each unit looks retro chic and is made from hand-crafted cherry veneer (no two are alike). There are 8 iPod adapters and a universal MP3 dock, 14 function remote control with 25' range, and full-range speakers that keep your music sounding crisp. Vers is compact, weighing 6lbs, and with dimensions:11.5" W x 5.6" H x 5.6" L.

Vers is kind of like a Feng shui solution for your gazillion tunes.

Price: about $179, and on sale beginning October 7, 2007 at Target and other retailers.

More information can be found at Versaudio.com.