Jonathan Takiff: Cool for school

THE ELECTRONICS industry finds lots of seasonal reasons to introduce new products. Some of the most practical pop up just as students head back to school. Today, let's take a gander at a bunch. While most are pint-sized, they're also full-powered and practical.

TAKES A LICKING, KEEPS ON TICKING: Athletic, outdoorsy types need a mobile phone that can survive the elements and the occasional fall from a pocket. If it's also loaded with cool features, so much the better. Created by Casio in the vein of its sporty G-Shock watches, and now available from Verizon Wireless, the second-gen G'zOne Boulder is just such a hearty and stylish communicator.

It meets military standards for water resistance, shock and dust. Other survivor instincts include a flashlight and electronic compass, a 1.3 megapixel camera and access to two unusual Verizon services. Push-to-Talk lets you communicate instantly in private networked fashion with other phone users ($5 extra per month per line). And V Cast Music with Rhapsody opens up a catalog of 5 million tunes for download to the phone for a reasonable, $14.99-a-month access fee. The Boulder rolls out for $129.99 after rebate with a two-year service contract.

EDUCATIONAL TOOLS: Closely resembling grown-up electronics products, the coolest educational devices for kids make learning fun and hip. Franklin Electronic Publishers' Speaking Spelling Bee ($99.95) looks like one of those snazzy little mobile phones with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard conventionally used for text messaging.

But your young 'uns (ages 8 and up) will use this device to improve vocabulary. A game-show host throws down the spelling challenges, offering example sentences, definitions and word origins. Up to six players can participate - most communally when this Bee is connected to a TV set. It also features a rhyming dictionary and games like Sudoku and Hangman.

LeapFrog's just-launched Leapster 2 (ages 4 to 8, $69.99) and Didj (ages 6 to 10, $89.99) portable gaming systems resemble other videogame playthings. But these require the kids to conquer math, spelling and other skills to move on-screen characters to glory in cartridge-based ($19.99-$29.99) titles built on "Wall-E," "Dora the Explorer" and "Star Wars" themes, among others.

Reworking its Fly Fusion Pentop Computer technology for preschool to 3rd graders is LeapFrog's Tag Reading System ($49.99). A handheld pointer speaks stories like "Ozzie and Mack" when kids tap on words and images in specially coded picture books.

The devices' Internet connectivity encourages parents to customize content to a child's skill level and supervise his/her progress.

MEDIA-CENTRIC CAMPUS LIFE: For the TV- and movie-loving collegiate who's sorely missing the home entertainment center, the sleek HP Pavilion dv5-1015nr laptop computer ($1,249) almost fills the bill.

Its multi-format disc drive plays even the newest, high-res Blu-ray video discs, displayed either on the decent, built-in 15-inch screen (1280 x 800 resolution; a higher-res screen is available) and built-in Altec Lansing speakers, or better on a connected HDTV and external speakers.

This larger laptop also comes pre-loaded with software to link to a Slingbox, that $150-and-up device which lets you tune in from a distant location to, say, the bedroom cable box or satellite TV receiver/DVR left back at home.

Sweet.

Warning: This laptop's high-power blue-laser pickup does take its toll on battery consumption. A charge gives you only 2.5 hours maximum playback.

Another, far more economical way to beef up your dorm-room entertainment setup is with a Cambridge Soundworks i765. This deceptively small, tabletop box packs alarm-clock functionality, a CD and DVD video disc spinner, an excellent FM/AM radio and a built-in dock for iPods.

Just add a TV and you've got a full media center!

The i765's integrated stereo speaker system (with a separate, downfiring subwoofer) delivers room-filling sound from any and all sources. And with Cambridge Soundworks's newly slashed, direct-to-consumer pricing, you can't beat the i765's $299 price tag.

If your campus is blanketed with Wi-Fi connectivity (and most are), there's a way to enjoy many of the entertainment and interactive applications of the vaunted Apple iPhone without having to pay AT&T a steep monthly service fee.

Buy a look-alike Apple iTouch, the top-of-the-line iPod. New, slimmer models (endowed with a built-in speaker!) just hitting stores this week at $229-$399 also let you e-mail, read online newspapers and blogs, listen to Internet radio, download games and lots more, wherever there's an accessible Wi-Fi network.

And, of course, you can also connect an iTouch to a computer to download tons of music, TV shows and movies from the iTunes store, including the newly released WB85 series of film classics marking Warner Brothers' 85th anniversary and newly cemented relationship with Apple.

KEYBOARD UPGRADES: Is there life left in your computer? Give it (and yourself) a new attitude with a smart new keyboard from Logitech.

Their spiffy diNovo Edge Keyboard Mac Edition for Mac computers (OS X, 10.4 and newer, $159.99) features dedicated media keys, a touch-sensitive volume slider and unique control wheel for scrolling, selection and cursor control.

This wireless keyboard functions as far as 30 feet from your Blue-tooth-equipped computer. Plus, the lithium-ion battery is good for about a month's use before recharging (on the supplied, upright keyboard stand).

For students who like (or are sometimes forced by slumbering room mates) to type in the dark, Logitech's Illuminated Keyboard for Windows XP and Vista PCs ($79.99, available later this month) should prove a blessing. The keys glow from behind at an adjustable light level and move in a very comfortable, fluid and silent fashion. An ultra-thin profile make a snazzy fashion statement, too.

ALL-IN-ONE: A multi-function ink jet printer/scanner/copying machine like the Epson Stylus NX400 really justifies its space on a cramped student desk. This new model uses Epson's excellent DuraBrite inks for crisp printing, vibrant photos and resistance to smudging from water and highlighter.

There's a unique photo correction and restoration feature, usable with the built-in, 2.5-inch LCD screen (no computer necessary). This workhorse reduces/enlarges images from 25 to 400 percent and prints as fast as 30 copies per minute. And at just $99.99, Epson is practically paying you to buy one! *

E-mail Jonathan Takiff at takiffj@ phillynews.com.