Gearing Up for School

Besides traditional back-to-school purchases, a growing number of students—particularly those in high school and college—look for items that are plugged in and turned on. The National Retail Federation estimates college students and their parents spent $34 billion during the 2005 back-to-school season—more than double the amount spent on kindergarten through 12th-grade back-to-school supplies. Almost a fourth of the collegiate spending went for electronics.

What kind of electronics? For college students, think small. "Because the typical dorm (room) is still no larger than a walk-in closet, smaller, sleeker technology is a must," says Stephen Saint-Onge, a designer for Philips Electronics. He suggests trading in bulky computer monitors for space-saving flat-panel monitors, or investing in a laptop computer such as an HP Pavilion notebook (cost: from $570 to $1,000), which provides mobility and takes up less room.

Co-eds also might consider purchasing a pair of high-quality headphones or small ear buds, the latest in "conflict prevention" for roommates. If there's money left in the budget, digital photo display systems such as the Philips Digital Photo Display ($199) and web-cams can keep students connected to family and friends back home.

The days of the shared dormitory telephone have gone the way of 8-track tapes. According to a recent survey by the research company Student Monitor, 95 percent of students living on campus have a cellular phone, making them nearly as common as textbooks and highlighters.

Younger students have their own back-to-school needs, which encompass everything from a box of Crayola crayons to Texas Instruments graphing calculators (around $150), and the latest handheld organizers ($29 to $399). For example:

? High school students no longer have to worry about their note-taking ability—or their handwriting. Digital voice recorders such as Sony's ICD U-50 "Voice Plus" digital recorder ($100) allows students to store hundreds of hours of class notes, which can be played back in an MP3 format. Many digital models also are USB-compatible for high-speed file transfer to the family computer.

? Remember writing "I love Jack forever" on your blue binder, only to have to cross off Jack's name to add your new boyfriend? Not a problem with Mead's new three-ring binder ($5). Its cover is a handy board on which students can scribble down homework reminders, phone numbers or their latest crush—all erasable using the attached pen.

? Most students would love a laptop computer. But for younger kids, who don't need the research capabilities (or need to be monitored online), using portable word processors such as the AlphaSmart Neo ($200) lets them practice their writing and keyboarding skills without the lure of online distractions.

? Technology also has impacted the backpack. "My daughter gets an insane amount of homework and must carry lots of heavy books home on a daily basis," says Newport News, Va., mom Mary E. Tyler, who invests in costlier backpacks, which have proven more durable and ergonomic. This year, a popular item is the AirPacks Backpack ($55), which includes a patented ergonomic air transfer system to redistribute weight from the shoulders to the hips and lower back. And, of course, it has room for students' back-to-school gear.

Mary Dixon Lebeau is a frequent contributor to American Profile.

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