There's a way to mix business and pleasure, digitally speaking.

Buy two computers, one for managing the books, writing letters and e-mail. Then, buy another computer for managing media.

All businesses — from truck driving to road building to beekeeping — can gain from the efficiencies of a digital work environment.

It can come in ways like using digital photos to record and show others the daily progress of projects, audio recording the sounds of the environment or digital ways to present the business or service.

With a little creativity and digital know-how, a businessperson can get around the limits of time, space and geography.

For example, a friend of mine recently sold a car on eBay.

In addition to taking plenty of pictures for the eBay ad, he offered callers to take a virtual ride with him.

He took his speaker-equipped cell phone, started up the car and drove around a couple of blocks.

The potential buyer could hear that the engine ran smoothly, the brakes didn't squeal and the transmission was nice and tight.

The next time he sells a car, he plans to use his camcorder to record a virtual test drive and make it available for everyone who reads his ad. For sure, the digital content will help buyers feel more confident about purchasing a car they haven't seen firsthand.

When I think of digital content, however, it reminds me that a regular lone PC is not the right tool.

Sitting in a cramped home office with gobs of e-mail, spreadsheets and documents is not the right scenario to set up a digital universe. It takes a PC with extra kick to conquer the digital world, and the family room is usually a better location.

Enter Gateway with its new line of digital — and very fun — products. Gateway's 901 Family Room Media Center, for example, is fine-tuned as a media powerhouse.

Looking more like a piece of stereo equipment than a computer, the stackable design computer is created to fit perfectly on top of a VCR or stereo. It comes with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 and a super-sized hard drive — mine has 250 gigabytes.

The Family Room Media Center also comes with a personal video recorder that lets you record TV shows and watch them on your schedule.

To power the media center, you need the remote control unit and the integrated wireless keyboard and mouse. The mouse uses a new motion-sensing technology that lets you control it with natural hand movements.

From the comfort of an easy chair, you can watch video, TV, play digital music, watch digital video, surf the Internet, arrange digital photos and play or record DVDs.

Add a few more features with Gateway wireless entertainment products for the connected home. A new Wireless Connected DVD player, the ADC-320, and the Connected Home Theater system will become the first home theater system that can play digital media streamed from a nearby PC.

Who knows, the next time my friend sells something on eBay, he might just have a full multimedia production to support it.