This 5-foot version of the LoveSac is called MovieSac. Click photo for larger image.

Like most kids his age, Jonathan Keller wouldn't dream of heading off to college later this month without a few of the comforts of home.

A sophomore at Thiel College in Greenville, Mercer County, the 19-year-old's list of dorm essentials includes a microwave oven for late-night munchies, a mini-fridge for sodas and power drinks and a color television.

The one thing Keller won't be hauling to his tiny home away from home, though he desperately wishes he could, is this season's must-have for dorm rooms and college apartments: a LoveSac.

A modern version of the '70s bean bag chair, these oversized, DuraFoam-filled seats are all the rage with the younger crowd, having been featured on shows like "Cribs" and "The Real World: Austin." They're so popular that dozens of kids (and young adults) started lining up at 3 a.m. the night before the LoveSac store's grand opening last month at The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills.

"It was pure madness," says inventory manager Joel Thomas, who noted that when the doors opened at 10 a.m., some 100 people had queued up for special discounts.

It's not hard to see why. They're incredibly comfortable chairs (imagine being hugged by a marshmallow), especially when you upgrade from the standard nylon sport-utility cover to one made of microsuede or fake "phur."

"It's not your parents' furniture," says Thomas, who notes the chairs are just as popular with young college grads. "They look rebellious."

The company's irreverent ads undoubtedly add to their appeal. Tag lines on the store's promotional pictures include "Sacs in the City" and "Love, Sacs & Rock 'N Roll."

But, alas. With prices starting at $299 for the best-selling 6-foot "SuperSac" and $439 for the super-sized 8-foot "BigOne," they're a bit on the expensive side for a cash-strapped student like Keller, even with a lifetime guarantee.

"You know, you really need some place for your friends to sit," he said as he snuggled into one of the seats at the company's store at The Galleria, one of just two LoveSac shops in Pennsylvania.

EyeTV 200 from Elgato enables MAC computer owners to watch TV on their MACs. Click photo for larger image. SOURCES: Brookstone -- www.brookstone.com 1-800-846-3000 Dance Dance Revolution -- www.ddrgame.com EyeTV 200 -- www.elgato.com iSight -- www.store.apple.com; 1-800-MY-APPLE LoveSac -- www.lovesac.com; 724-274-7984 Senseo -- www.senseostore.com; 1-800-211-9610 Timbuk2 -- www.timbuk2.com; 1-888-Timbuk2 WinTV USB 2.0 -- www.hauppauge.com; 1-631-434-1600

Of course, something comfy to stretch out on isn't the only necessity for college living. Electronics gadgets, both large and small, are still an essential part of the collegiate experience. No self-respecting student would step on campus without a desktop or laptop computer, and occasionally both; flat-screen TVs are just as ubiquitous, along with DVD players, stereos, iPods and PS2 or Xbox gaming systems. And don't forget that all-important cell phone, which also can serve as an alarm clock and even play music.

When it comes to keeping in touch with home, some students are turning to personal video conferencing systems, like the iSight from Apple ($149). As with anything having to do with Apple, this computer add-on is quick and easy to install. In seconds, a student can get -- via a high-speed Internet connection -- full-motion video and sound so that parents and siblings who also have an iSight can see exactly what Junior is up to, and vice versa.

And if your college student gets tired of looking at you on his computer screen? Elgato's EyeTV 200 ($349) can turn his Mac into a fully-functional cable television receiver. Billed as the "ultimate digital TV recorder" for the Apple, it allows users to watch, record, pause and even rewind their favorite TV shows and movies directly on the computer. With an Internet connection, it will even automatically record your favorite programs when you're at class or the library, eliminating the need for a VCR along with a TV.

"We love gadgets and this was such a cool device," says Lisa Giusti of Ben Avon, who bought one for her son Ted Matwijec, a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis. "And it's a very efficient use of space in a small dorm room."

Similar technology is, of course, available for PCs; Hauppauge's WinTV-USB2 TV Tuner ($349) plugs into any desktop or notebook using a USB port, allowing users to watch TV on a full screen or in a resizable window while they work.

If all this technology keeps your student up late at night, she might just need something equally cool to get her up again in the morning. Brookstone's Wireless Projection Weather Clock ($80), fits the bill. Like most alarm clocks, it boasts the mandatory snooze feature.

But it also projects the day's time, temperature and weather conditions (sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy) onto the ceiling or wall in an easy-to-read format. And because it synchronizes itself with the U.S. Atomic Clock in Colorado, she'll never have an excuse to be late for class.

Hot coffee is another thing that most college students need in the morning, but the cost of a daily Starbucks can add up quickly. The no-fuss Senseo coffee maker ($70) brews one or two servings of coffee directly into the cup in just 30 seconds using pre-measured "pods" of coffee. This compact machine, which comes in bright blue, red or black, also turns off automatically after an hour so you don't have to worry about accidentally leaving it on all day. A bag of 72 individual coffee pods costs about $18 at Target.

As for actually getting your books, graphic calculator and notebooks to class, Nathalie Bruce, a sophomore at Community College of Allegheny County, prefers a messenger bag over the traditional backpack. Designed for the long haul (bicycle couriers ride in all kinds of weather), messenger bags are generally a little roomier and more stylish than backpacks, as well as more comfortable to carry. Two brands that are particularly popular on campus, says Bruce, are Chrome and Timbuk2.

The more-expensive Chrome messenger bags, which are available at Bike-tek in Squirrel Hill, have a liner made from heavy-duty tarp used on trucks. So no matter what happens to the outside of the bag, the inside will stay cozy and dry. Prices start at about $80 for a small bag and run as high as $130 for the massive "Kremlin" model, which holds 3,000 cubic inches of cargo. Laptop sleeves and cell phone and radio holsters cost extra.

"They have this really nice big belt buckle in front that looks pretty cool," says Biketek manager Bob McKinney.

Timbuk2's messenger bags, which start at about $70, also are sold at Biketek, as well as Eastern Mountain Sports. Students can also "build" a custom bag on-line for an additional $10.

Need a surprise gift for students looking to unwind after a long day of classes, or get their blood flowing for a long night of studying?

Check out Dance Dance Revolution, a Japanese game distributed by Konami Digital Entertainment. Once offered only in arcades, this popular interactive game challenges players to match their dance steps with the flashing arrows on a screen. It can now be played on the computer or on gaming consoles such as X-Box, PS2 and Gamecube. Prices for the game start at about $30; depending on the type of pad. Plastic or metal floor pads run between $20 and $300.