So you couldn't cough up $3,100 for Super Bowl XLIII tickets and another grand for a flight to Tampa Bay. Looks like the Steelers will have to battle the Cardinals without their number one fan in the stands. But don't lose hope for an amazing Super Bowl. A few wisely spent bucks can turn your disheveled living room into the place to be on Super Bowl Sunday, and you when it's all over, you can doze off peacefully in the comfort of your own recliner with a Bud in your hand that you didn't even pay $10 for. From beer-cooling gadgets to even bigger TVs to shout at, here are a few Super Bowl tech essentials.

TiVo HD DVR, $300

Why rely on a bunch of nerds packed in an editing room at NBC to choose which replays you see? Get your own DVR and you can watch any play as many times as you want, at any speed you want. Or just use it go back and watch that Monsters vs. Aliens commercial again with your 3D glasses on. In either case, you're in control. This model even does HD, so you can relive that hit in every bit of bone-crunching glory.

Samsung LN46A650 46-inch 1080p LCD TV, $2,100

Going with a low-end HDTV to get the biggest screen size for the buck might seem like the cheapest way to impress your buddies, until they realize that players turn into a blurry mess of yellow and red as soon as somebody yells hike. An HDTV with a fast 120HZ refresh rate, like this Samsung, will help keep on-field images crisp, even during fast motion. And unless your living room is more like an auditorium, 46 inches of screen should ensure everybody gets a good view.

RC Cooler, $50

The beer is over there. You're right here. Eliminate that pesky "getting up" part with the RC Cooler, which will drag your bucket of brew to the couch-side at a moment's notice, and impress your friends in the process. You'll still have to play rock-paper-scissors to see who refills it, though.

Madden NFL 09 Collector's Edition, $60

Should your team lose, be prepared to replay the big game with a "proper ending" in Madden NFL 09. Your victory may be fictional, but you can still celebrate with a Lambeau Leap, right? The Collector's Edition, which commemorates 20 years of Madden football, comes bundled with NFL Head Coach 2009, which offers more strategic, long-term gameplay.

ESPN The Ultimate Remote, $300

Plenty of universal remotes will reign in all your digital devices with one controller, but only ESPN's delivers real-time stats and scores right on its built-in 2.2-inch QVGA screen. Why would you need that when they're plastered across the giant screen in front of you? We're not sure, but you can also ding your buddies with condescending text messages when your team mops up, and do a little online shopping and surfing if the commercials aren't all they're cracked up to be. Still not sold? Come on, it has ESPN printed on it!

Oregon Scientific AW131 Grill Right Wireless Talking BBQ Thermometer

True grill gurus can tell when that patty of ground up cow is ready by its sizzle against a prod of the spatula. But if you're a little less of a fire aficionado, this wireless grill thermometer will ensure your guests don't end up gnawing on blackened hockey pucks. If you're looking to go rare, thermometer readings also go a long way in appeasing the well-meaning overprotective moms and Nervous Nancys of the group who shiver at the sight of pink. This model actually wireless transmits meat temperature from your grill inside the house and audibly tells you when it's ready, meaning you can take care of all the other prep without worrying about the main course. 

Tinchilla, $10

When you and your guests have killed the 30 drinks you managed to pack into the fridge, but thirst has not relented, it's time break open the case of cans in the corner of the garage. But who the hell wants a warm grape soda? Tinchilla uses two AA batteries to spin a single can in a bath of ice, supposedly dropping it down to drinkably cold temperatures in just 60 seconds. You may have to dig around to find one, though, since they've recently been discontinued.

Heineken BeerTender, $350

For those who aspire to classier Super Bowl parties and scoff at the very mention of domestic beer from a can, there's Heineken's BeerTender. The appliance both refrigerates and dispenses perfectly chilled Heineken from the company's widely available DraughtKegs. A digital LCD even displays the temperature, so you know your brew is at a perfect 38 degrees. Five liters should also go quite a ways with the trendy crowd you invite up to your loft for hors d'œuvre, too.

iRobot Roomba 416, $200

Party's over, and your house is a mess. Before you bust out the Hoover for those Frito crumbs, consider iRobot's Roomba 416. Not only will it vacuum your whole living room for you, it will put itself away, charge up, and pull the entire routine again tomorrow. You can even upgrade to the Scooba to scrub that ranch dressing off your kitchen floor, if you fall in love with the concept of robotic helpers.

Acer Aspire One Netbook, $300+

You may be focused on the game at hand, but having a computer handy for settling trivia disputes, watching YouTube clips of Super Bowls past and ordering pizza never hurt, either. Acer's Aspire One is compact, powerful enough for all your basic surfing needs, and has an 8.9-inch display that's just big enough for most tasks. It's also light enough to handle with one hand when the other one's covered in day-glo artificial cheez dust from a bag of Cheetos - and cheap enough not to care if a little gets on the keyboard.