It’s time to venture into cyberspace in search of that perfect digital holiday gift. San Diego companies have made it a little bit easier for the Santa in all of us by releasing their latest and greatest techno-gadgets to slide under the tree.

Once focused almost solely on computers, Poway-headquartered Gateway is on a diversification binge. A pair of fun cameras and a DVD recorder are new this holiday season.

At $129.99, Gateway’s DC-T23 is the size of a double pack of gum but with longer-lasting fun. The digital photo, mini-movie and Web cam takes good video and photo for its price. It discreetly fits in the palm of your hand and easily slides into a pocket or purse. The 2 megapixel camera features a 4X digital zoom, 1,600 x 1,200 standard resolution, and a sliding lens cover.

The best part is it runs on two AAA batteries. Although a rechargeable pack is recommended, one set of good batteries lasted throughout a test. The 16 mb of internal memory limits users to less than 90 seconds of video, a shortcoming cured by a $59.99, 128MB memory card. (gateway.com)

At 4.1 megapixels, Gateway’s DC-M42 camera is beefier than its 2-meg cousin, but also costs more at $249.99. Features include a 12X zoom (3X Optical/4X Digital), digital movies with Quickview, a 1.6 inch LCD screen, 11 megs of internal memory and easy connection to a television for onscreen reviews of captured photos or videos.

It runs on two AA batteries, but its more powerful features demand the use of a rechargeable pack as batteries are quickly drained by the video feature. Another must is the additional 256 mb memory card — Gateway sells one for $114.99 — or users will quickly exhaust the internal memory. The DC-M42 retails for $249.99 at Gateway stores or online at www.gateway.com. (gateway.com)

Kyocera Wireless Corp.’s latest wireless telephone is the aptly-named Slider SE47. Fronted by a sliding keypad, the tiny phone features silver and chrome function and navigation keys, a large, 65,000-color display with speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, customized ringtones, text and two-way messaging. An MTV edition connects users with news, games and special rings. “Postcards,” short rock star voice clips, can be sent to callers with compatible phones. Users can sign up for alerts so they don’t miss upcoming MTV shows. Downloads cost from 10 cents to $2.

Productivity tools include a scheduler, calculator, alarm clock and stopwatch. A state-of-the-art CDMA product, the phone comes standard with BREW 2.0 capabilities, allowing for downloads of games and ringers, like the “What Up Gangsta” that entertained the Metropolitan staff. The Slider weighs 3.39 ounces and measures 8.8-by-4.8-by-2.3 centimeters closed and 12.2-by-4.8-by-2.3 centimeters open. The only downside was getting used to the flat keys. Priced at $159, it is on sale for $139 through the holidays. (sliderstyle.com)

Gateway’s AR-230 DVD recorder and player makes it simple to copy home videos onto DVDs. Once the machine is hooked to the television and the camcorder or VCR plugged into the front, it is a cinch to edit and record up to six hours on 4.7GB DVD disc. Once those movies are transferred, scanning through to find that favorite moment is a snap.

At $299 after a $50 rebate, the machine is marketed as a replacement for the VCR. Owners can record television programs and copy existing tapes. The DVD recorder plays a wide array of media such as DVD-ROM, DVD+R/+RW, CD-R/RW and CD-ROM. It is compatible with DVD-Video, DVD+VR, Super VCD, Video CD, Audio CD, MP3 CD and JPEG CD. Recordable discs retail in bulk and are available at about $20 for five. (gateway.com)

Sony Electronics’ PDA arm is located in San Diego and its newest offerings include the CLIÉ PEG-TJ25 and -TJ35 handhelds. About the size of a small calculator, 7.5-by-11 centimeters and about half-an-inch thin, the models are small but not too small for comfortable use. The handwriting recognition software makes memo entry easier. Both feature a 200MHz processor. The TJ335 has 32 megabytes of internal RAM and the TJ25 16MB. The dedicated Memory Stick PRO media slot allows for the addition of a staggering amount of extra memory, up to 1GB. The color screens are easy to see. The units retail for about $200 and $250, respectively. The included software is basic; go online for the fun free and for-sale stuff and download it with the included USB cable. (sony.com)

For the gamers on any gift list, Santee’s Mad Catz offers several new must-haves. The Universal Beat Pad Pro is a dance mat designed for PlayStation2 and Xbox. See who has the fastest and most accurate dancing feet. Beat Pad sells for $29.99 at stores including Target, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us. (madcatz.com)

When finished burning all those DVDs, Popio in Chula Vista makes the perfect storage container. Made of plastic, they are similar to many on the market. However the attention to detail and organization makes Popio’s stand out. Tired of putting your CDs into containers and then fumbling to get them out? Popio’s container pops the CD out at the touch of a finger. The containers are designed to hang in a filing cabinet or fit into a shelf. For the truly organized, the slots are numbered allowing for an easy filing system. Each tray can hold up to 24 standard or 48 slim-size CD jewel cases. They are available in four colors — soft beige, burgundy, dark gray and pastel blue. At stores like Fry’s and Tower Records, the trays are priced from $14.99 to $24.94. Online they start at $14.95. (popiotray.com)

LaserShield Inc. of Carlsbad introduced in late November a wireless security system targeted at small business and home users. The company bills its LaserShield Instant Security System as the first plug and go system. The system works through infrared motion detection and wireless technology. When it detects an intrusion, a 100 decibel siren sounds and LaserShield dials The Rapid Response Monitoring Service, which calls back in less than a minute to check on the premises. If necessary, the service will contact local law enforcement. Owners are contacted on their cell phones if not at home. LaserShield can be armed and disarmed from the keychain remote or any touch-tone phone. Panic buttons on the two remotes and each of the wireless units provide additional personal security. The system costs $199 at CompUSA and selected Ace Hardware stores. Monthly monitoring is $19.95. (lasershield.net)

For gamers on the go, Mad Catz has a Universal GameScreen for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox. The folding 7-inch screen has a high-resolution back-lit display, embedded sound system. The $199.99 price includes a 12V DC wall power converter. (madcatz.com)