Peter Pachal

As the 2002 International CES drew to a close, manufacturers, investors, journalists, and curious onlookers departed the Las Vegas Convention Center with a sense of wonder and amazement after seeing all the incredible innovations in . . . hehehehehehe BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA . . . aaaaaah. Sorry. I wanted to keep you going there, but I just couldn't keep a straight face.

CLASSY STORAGE If that Ikea TV stand you got in college is now looking like your system's idea of a studio apartment, Salamander's Hampton 236, from its new Chameleon series, is a four-bedroom house. With its elegant black finish and options such as a plasma mount, power conditioner, and cooling fans, your gear will be living a life of luxury.

NEW TRADITION Kevlar woofer cones, Nautilus tweeters, elegant lines - these are definitely B&W speakers. But there's a twist: The VM6 integrates the company's trademark components into a thoroughly modern design. It's only 4 inches deep, just enough for the tweeter's tapered tail to fit, so high frequencies sound free and clear.

GREAT OUTDOORS Too many people coming over for movie night? Move the festivities outside with the Backyard Drive-In screen, ready to serve up your flick on a huge screen after about 10 minutes of setup. Just park a projector in front of it, and your entertainment is stretched out on a 12-foot viewing area - 18 feet for the extra-large version.