Karaoke Anyone? Well, it is Friday

The economic climate is indeed depressing. It seems like we hear about layoffs every day. In fact, I tend to avoid staff layoff stories because I figure that if you lost your job, you know it, and if you haven't, you've probably seen the headlines elsewhere. Nope, over here, we try our best to keep our passions in the hardware zone (certainly straying a bit from time to time). So, in that vein, let's take a look at some fun (or funny) light-hearted hardware. The Singing Machine, a manufacturer of home electronic karaoke equipment, karaoke music, and related audio products has teamed up with MTV to release The Singing Machine/MTV STVG-700, a karaoke machine that includes a fully functional television. A line of CD with graphics (CD+G) discs also being put out by the companies features MTV core music in three formats (pop, rock and R&B) and a line of theme CD+Gs - from Christmas favorites and party tunes to pop, country and oldies hits. MTV CD+Gs include songs from such groundbreaking modern luminaries as Destiny's Child, NSYNC, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. The system features a CD+G player, a sampler CD+G with MTV music, a single cassette player/recorder, an AM/FM radio (in case you get tired of listening to yourself), a video output for an additional TV connection, automatic vocal changer, two microphone inputs (for duets, of course), microphone echo and volume, music vocal/balance and tone controls and built-in speakers. The STVG-700 retails for about $199.00. The Singing Machine website even gives a brief history of the venerated music format. It's Friday. Lighten up.