The New Age school gear

There is more to school tech than laptops and smartphones. To be fully outfitted for the rigors of studying, you need smart solutions to carry, protect and power your tech gear without it all becoming too cumbersome.

Recently, gadget makers have introduced an array of new products that are designed to meet the demands of today’s tech-savvy student. In some cases, that meant rethinking lo-fi tools like writing devices and backpacks. In other cases, it meant adding style to an otherwise mundane piece of technology.

Here are some noteworthy devices to help you ace your fall semester.

Livescribe 3 smartpen
Bring your note-taking into the digital age. The latest smartpen from Livescribe automatically transfers written notes to a digital app; notes can also be synced to recorded lectures using the app.

Also be aware that the pen works only with Livescribe’s specially printed notebooks. Price: ($150 or Rs 9,116)

STM laptop backpack
STM Drifter medium backpack can safely store all your devices - and textbooks, too. The Drifter’s main compartment has a padded pocket designed for a 15-inch laptop, as well as a second pocket for a tablet. Three front pockets are intended for smaller mobile devices. Price: ($140 or Rs 8,508)

LaCie PetiteKey USB drive
Thumb drives are readily portable, but let’s face it: The smaller they are, the easier they are to lose. The PetiteKey drive from LaCie helps solve that  problem with its key-shaped design, which allows the drive to nestle unobtrusively on a key ring. The drive is password-protected, scratch-resistant and waterproof, and it works with either a PC or a Mac. Price: ($15-$35 or Rs  911 to Rs 2,127)

Laptop Lock
With Kensington ClickSafe Keyed Retractable lock, you can prevent your laptop from disappearing at the library and prevent the cable from being tied up into a big messy knot. The lock includes a handy instant-coiling feature - with one click, the lock’s 4-foot steel cable retracts into its compact housing. Price: ($40 or Rs 2,431)

Backup battery
Backup batteries are practically a necessity these days, but the designs are usually pretty boring. Mimoco, the designer of flash drives that look like toy figurines, has found a way to dress up the battery, too. The MimoPowerTube universal chargers come in designs that resemble crayons, rolls of candy and more. Price: ($30 or Rs 1,823)

Trapper Keeper
Kensington Mead Trapper Keeper is back. Mead’s ubiquitous organiser from the 1980s has inspired a line of tablet cases based on that classic look. The cases don’t have all the nifty pockets that the original Trapper Keeper had. Instead, the soft and lightweight cases securely hold tablets.

The cases come in two sizes, one for 9- to 10-inch devices and one for 7- to 8-inch devices, and in several cover designs.  Price: ($30 or Rs 1,823)