Soundbars...HELP?

My house has a really small living room (I'm talking bachelor pad small), so I don't really have the room for a surround sound system. But, I have heard good things about soundbars and was wondering if any of you guys have experience using them in smaller areas. Basically, I'm looking for something that will give my TV a little oomph while watching movies/sports and playing the vidya games. Oh, and I'm not the wealthiest guy, so I would like to get one in the $100 range. HELP?

I've never heard the term soundbar.. But a quick google search revealed this Engadget thread which may be of some use!

The layout of my living room makes an actual surround setup really tough to implement, so I went with a soundbar. I couldn't be happier with it. It was a bit more than you are looking to spend (about $300), but it also came with a subwoofer. It makes a very noticeable difference -- definitely adds the oomph you are talking about.

Sorry I don't have a specific model to recommend (mine is a Sony HTCT550W, for what it's worth), but I can tell you that the idea of a soundbar is a good one.