Top Portables for Back to School

From the 1st grade through college, portable electronics are all the rage this back to school season. Beststuff.com's John Kelley previews a plethora of portable products, for tikes and teens alike, Labor Day on the FOX morning show Good Day NY. Here's a preview:



Wild Planet Data-Tek Watch
No longer will kids be out of the PDA loop. This fun, versatile organizer wristwatch features over 10 different functions and easy-to-use modes including digital time, world time, calculator, alarm, stop watch, phone book (holds up to 38 numbers), scheduler, password, memo, back light and energy saver. Comes in a variety of hip iMac looking hues. Ages 6 and up. $13 www.wildplanet.com



From Vtech, another PDA for kids includes a digital camera and organizer-- in one! Create digital photo albums and slide shows. Edit and transfer photos to and from a PC. Includes docking cradle for PC connection, address book, alarm clock, class scheduler, calendar, memo pad and calculator. www.myphusion.com



Cybiko
Designed for hormone frenzied talkoholic teens, Cybiko is a handheld computer-like device with keyboard and screen that allows users to wirelessly send/receive messages using radio frequencies at distances up to 300 feet away. Cybiko's can communicate simultaneously sending instant messages between friends. But that's not all, Cybiko can connect to the Internet and download games and send/receive Internet email as well. It has a built-in cyber pet, a journal page plus a number of other fun utilities. Cybiko comes in four fashionable translucent designs and is available for $150.www.cybiko.com.



Motorola Talkabout T900
This tiny keyboard equipped clamshell pager, dressed to the "nines" in a host of translucent designs, allows users to send and receive pages via the internet or phone. Anyone can email the pager and two T900's can communicate directly. Other features include a 4-line 80 character display and a contact database that holds 250 names. What's best about T900 is it's under $200 retail and cell phone rate zapper $15 month service charge. www.motorola.com



onHand PC Watch
This tiny wristwatch PC/PIM (personal information manager) is powered by a 3.6Mhz processor with 2MB of flash memory -enough to store as much stuff as a Palm Pilot. An on screen keyboard and tiny joystick make navigation a snap.
Other features include a music player and a couple of cool games (snowboarding and Rforce). Did I mention it tells time too? OnHand is an open platform design paving the way for numerous other apps. It sells for $300. www.onhandpc.com



The Palm m100 handheld is Palm's new entry-level product, featuring a contemporary, customizable design and a new Note Pad application, for jotting quick freehand notes, maps or drawings. Debuting at an estimated street price of $149, it is the company's lowest introductory price point to date. www.palm.com



Handspring Visor
The Handspring Visor is not only an address book, calendar, memo pad and calculator, but this palm pilot look-alike (which is based on the Palm OS) has one major design change called the Springboard. The Springboard is a slot on the back of the Visor that allows third party development of modules that can transform it into just about any product imaginable. Prices start at $150 for the 2MB version (without cradle), and the Visor Deluxe has 8MB of memory for $250 (with cradle). www.handspring.com



Olympus Voice Recorders
Olympus' new VN90 and VN180 Digital Voice Recorders are the 2nd generation of Olympus digital voice recorders. These recorders weigh less than three ounces and are ergonomically designed to fit snugly inside the palm of the hand. The VN90 stores 90 minutes of voice recordings for the price of $80, and the VN180 stores 3 hours of voice recordings for $100.

With their long talk time, the VN-series recorders are ideal for recording meetings, school lectures or study groups, as well as short memos, ideas, phone numbers, shopping lists, and other notes. Since the VN-series is so small (4 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1/2") and lightweight, it can be taken everywhere. www.olympusamerica.com



Duck Brand Dry-Lighter
At some colleges and universities, textbooks cost more than tuition. That's why Duck Brand's dry highlighter makes sense. Unlike traditional highlighters that devalue pricey textbooks by leaving permanent marks, the dry highlighter is completely erasable, non -liquid and non-toxic . It goes on and comes off. Simply erase it with your fingers. Best of all, it sells for only $2.50. www.duckproducts.com. Or call Duck Products toll-free at 800-321-0253.