I just got this mammoth 17-inch laptop. The screen is quite an upgrade for me, and makes curling up on the couch with “Lost” almost watchable. The one thing that is keeping me from crossing over into the “must-see PC” threshold is the tin-can sound that every laptop seems to provide.

While sound may not be important for a quick YouTube monkey video, it’s imperative for the castaways, my DVDs, or any other video content I need to watch for more than 3 minutes.

Instead of upgrading the inside, Creative’s Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 (via Crave) will let you take the easy (and cheap!) way out.

For only $60, this baby hooks up via a USB port to provide 5.1 sound. Creative says it works with desktop speakers, a full set and even headphones.

Creative doesn’t quote an exact weight for the unit, but it looks easy enough to slip into a laptop bag—a lot easier than a full set of computer speakers.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.