Dream a little dream of DVD: Just add a TV and an easy chair

Friday, April 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Thatâ€™s pretty much the idea behind Sonyâ€™s DVD Dream System, which puts most of whatâ€™s needed for a home entertainment system in one package. But the best news is that the systemâ€™s convenience is more than matched by its performance and price.

The DAV-S300, as itâ€™s officially known, combines a DVD movie player, AM-FM tuner and surround-sound amplifier in one chassis. The central unit mates with a free-standing woofer and five speakers, all part of the deal. The pieces are inconspicuous enough to fit in a small den, bedroom, even a dorm room.

Performance, however, is anything but small. Sound is as crisp and spacious as that of name-brand systems that cost twice as much. The DVD player is the real clincher here, though. Video images are vivid enough to give anyone accustomed to VCRs a convincing invitation to make the switch. And this DVD player, like most, doubles as a CD music player, so the DVD Dream System is also a music center.

Audio and home theater fanatics will spend thousands of dollars more chasing dazzling high-definition video or the sound of room-rocking bass. The DVD Dream System is a simple and cost-effective way for everyone else to start.

Itâ€™s available this month with a list price of $600. Call 1-800-222-7669 for more information.- John Hanan

Starter kit
The Polaroid Digital 320 is a low-priced, low-resolution camera ideal for children learning digital photography, for those whoâ€™d like to e-mail pictures and for online sellers who donâ€™t need to post sharp images of their products.

The point-and-shoot, lightweight camera runs off an included 9-volt battery and stores from 15 to 21 images at a time. Pictures, which have a resolution of 320 X 240 pixels, are imported into a Windows 95/98 computer using a serial port cable.

Polaroidâ€™s PhotoMax software comes in the kit, offering basic tools for cropping and for controlling brightness, contrast and hue. It has fun features, too. One makes photos look like paintings, mosaics or sketches. Another has fantasy art that serves as backdrops for real photos; for instance, you can drop a photo of yourself into a sports magazine cover or a Michelangelo masterpiece.

There is no flash, so the camera is best suited for the outdoors or in a well-lit area inside, such as near a large window. Almost all the indoor shots I took were too dark or too grainy. Outdoor images were better but donâ€™t compare to prints from an old-fashioned, auto-focus camera.

Suggested retail price for the Polaroid Digital 320 is $59.95. See www.polaroid.com or call 1-800-343-5000. - Tyra Damm

Now presenting

There are times when you may want to control a multimedia program on your computer without being next to the mouse and keyboard. For those moments, the Digital Media Remote from Keyspan is a very handy device.

The package includes a 15-key wireless remote pad and an infrared receiver. A clear path between the two is required for them to communicate at a distance of up to 35 feet. The receiver connects to the USB port on a late-model Macintosh or Windows 98 PC.

The Digital Media Remote can control any computer application that accepts keyboard commands, such as a PC slide show or an MP3 player. It comes configured for many popular programs, among them PowerPoint, QuickTime, RealPlayer and Winamp. The remote can be customized to work with others, too, using the included software.

The price, about $79, makes the Digital Media Remote a device likely to be more enticing to businesses or organizations than to consumers. Visit www.keyspan.com or call 510-222-0131.- Jim Buu

No muss, no fuss

If your Sony PlayStation controller wires are weaving a tangled web in front of your television, try MadCatzâ€™s new wireless Dual Force controllers.

These little marvels are easy to set up and a blast to use. Plug the receiver into the controller port on your PlayStation and youâ€™re good to go. The controllers, which otherwise look and function just like Sonyâ€™s Dual Shock controllers, can also be configured to function as a TV remote, which allows you to channel-surf while the game is loading or to mute the volume when the phone rings.

The range is adequate, up to about 10 to 12 feet, and you have to maintain a clear line of sight from the controller to the receiver. You also have to keep the controller pointed in the general direction of the receiver, which is easy if youâ€™re sitting near the console but a little annoying when youâ€™re slouched on the couch across the room.

The controllers require four AAA batteries apiece, making them noticeably heavier than regular, wired Dual Shock models, but at least an initial supply of eight batteries is included. Also, the force-feedback vibration is not as sharp and convincing as the Dual Shock controllers.

Give MadCatzâ€™s Dual Force controllers a chance, though, and you may never go back to wired models. They feel good, they look cool, they function perfectly and theyâ€™re priced at $39.99 a pair. Visit www.madcatz.com or dial 1-800-659-2287.- Victor Godinez

Letâ€™s chat, play and organize

The hand-held Cybiko Intertainment System is a communicator, game player and organizer with an impressive amount of wireless power. Its curves and colors - lime, blue, clear and black - leave no doubt that the Cybiko is styled for the young or young-minded.

With the small LCD, users scroll to get to the chat/e-mail area, as well as to games and applications screens. The little computer has a text editor with a mini-keypad that may cause you to squint to read the letters. Cybiko Inc. includes a small plastic stick to tap keys for typing. Notes or e-mail can be punched into the Cybikoâ€™s e-mail field, then downloaded to your computer using the included cable, a tedious process that didnâ€™t seem worth the effort.

Two Cybikos are necessary for chatting or multiplayer gaming from as far apart as 150 feet indoors or 300 feet outdoors. Within the stated range at a mall, my 11-year-old partner and I tried exchanging messages on fully charged devices. Transmissions were inconsistent between the ground floor and upper level but effective when both Cybikos were on the same floor.

Gaming with a friend is where the real fun begins. The pool match, one of several included games, is particularly addicting. Players use keys to manipulate the virtual pool stick. More games can be downloaded from the Cybiko Web site; a new title is available there daily.

The company promises lots more features in the future. Each Cybiko costs $150 and comes with an address/phone book and planner. Call 630-540-1961 or visit www.cybiko.com. - Jean Nash Johnson