In Brief

By Owen Thomas

E-TICKET You felt so smart buying Broadway tickets on the Web. But at the theater, you still got stuck in the will-call line. Now Ticketmaster has a better way--tickets you print yourself from ticketmaster.com Just order tickets online, ink-jet them at home, and head out on the town. You get your tickets right away and save on delivery charges. One catch: box offices first have to install bar-code scanners to prevent fraud.

SIGNAL TO NOISE Still wondering what information appliances are good for? Well, here's one that actually solves an everyday problem--Oreck's new vacuum cleaner with a built-in radio. Now you can rock out as you air your rug out without worrying that your Walkman will get tangled up with the vacuum's power cord. There's even a hook to hang your headphones on. Of course, you still have to haul the vacuum up and down stairs and push it around the floor. But hey, what do you expect for $499? The Oreck XL is available in stores or by phone: 800-989-3233.

MEDIA WHIRLPOOL As if a Jacuzzi weren't relaxing enough, now you can numb your brain as well as your body. The new Affinity Whirlpool comes with a built-in 9-in. TV, a wall-mounted CD-and-stereo system, and a floating remote control that runs the water jets, TV and stereo. The whole system will set you back $7,900. We're still waiting for Jacuzzi www.jacuzzi.com to strike a deal with WebTV to let you surf the Net while you're wet.

--By Owen Thomas