(MONEY Magazine) – 1 The tunes Napster's demise hasn't halted student demand for digital music. The latest generation of portable MP3 players just holds more of it. Leading the way has been Apple's elegant little iPod ($299 for 5GB; $399 for 10GB; $499 for 20GB), shown here, which is now compatible with PCs. Larger but in many ways more impressive is Creative Labs Nomad Jukebox 3 ($350). Its 20GB hard drive holds about 4,000 songs; a 40GB model ($500) was released in May. And the Nomad's analog/digital line-in lets it connect to other audio devices or a microphone to create digital files without using a computer as an intermediary. --ART JANIK

2 The bag Book bags are to students what cars are to many adults: a utilitarian item that's also a statement of personal style. Trendy college women are carrying the flamboyantly colorful quilted bags of designer Vera Bradley. The Tote (about $38) and the Vera ($68) are sleek and comfortable for carrying books, while the Villager ($64), shown here, can accommodate a laptop. Find a nearby retailer at verabradley.com. --SANGITA MALHOTRA

3 The camera The Canon PowerShot S200 Digital Elph ($349) is a sleek, James Bondish camera that's about the size of a deck of cards. Perfect for zapping snapshots back home via the Internet, the S200's 2.0-megapixel resolution is also sharp enough for enlarged prints. The durable chrome-and-stainless-steel casing houses a 2x optical zoom and advanced features like red-eye reduction. The S200 comes with easy-to-use photo-editing software and a rechargeable battery. --STEPHANIE D. SMITH

4 The bike Few college students remember Schwinn's heyday. But bankruptcy, a change in ownership and a wave of retrochic later, the bike-maker has produced the Cruiser Deluxe Seven ($550). Beneath the classic 1955 design are all the mod cons: shock absorbers, alloy rims, seven speeds, coaster brakes and battery-powered head- and taillights. --CHRISTOPHER WINDHAM

5 The backpack In the collegiate mind, The North Face Daypacks mean rugged, outdoorsy independence--even in the library. Whatever the reason, the label imparts campus cred, and the bags are durable and versatile. The new Spoke model ($79) has a built-in rain flap, a front flap for carrying a bike helmet, a removable cell-phone pocket, two easy-access pockets on the hip belt, and water-bottle holders. As for bottles, Nalgene's colorful and virtually indestructible containers ($7 to $9) hold both hot and cold liquids and are weirdly popular campus accessories. --S.M.

6 The phone Internet-enabled cell phones make it possible to connect to the Web from anywhere. If you're on a budget, the Motorola T193--free with a one-year VoiceStream service contract--has an impressive array of features, including wireless AOL Instant Messaging, a currency converter, a datebook and a battery that provides about 3 1/2 hours of chatter time. If you're willing to spend for a cutting-edge phone, the extremely compact new Sony Ericsson T68i ($200) can send text messages with graphics, store contact information on up to 500 people and communicate with other gadgets using Bluetooth, the latest wireless technology--and you can talk for 5 1/2 hours. --A.J.

7 The computer A powerful computer and entertainment system in one, the Sony Viao PCV-MXS20 ($2,799 without monitor) is one way to deal with the cramped quarters of dorm life. This seriously souped-up desktop features not only a 2GHz Pentium 4 processor, an impressive 512MB of RAM and a giant 120GB hard drive but also a 40-watt FM stereo receiver, MiniDisc recorder, TV tuner, DVD player and personal video recorder. --BRIAN L. CLARK

8 The card (part 1) The "basic" long-distance phone plans that many colleges offer are rarely the cheapest way to stay in touch. SmartPrice (www.smartprice.com; 877-550-5317) has a feature that determines which of more than 100 long-distance plans is best for your calling habits. Prepaid calling cards are usually even cheaper. We like the Sam's Club/AT&T card (www.savewithprepaid .com; 800-530-6744), which costs 3.47[cents] a minute plus a one-time $8.95 fee. The card is rechargeable and comes with round-the-clock customer service. --APARAJITA SAHA

9 The card (part 2) Many parents want their away-at-school kids to have the safety and convenience of credit and debit cards but limited discretion on how to use them. One option is a prepaid gas card, available from major gas chains and at www.valuecards.com in denominations of $25, $50 and $100. --S.M.

10 More tunes The Bantam BA350 MP3 player ($200) is a relatively inexpensive option for digital music. It holds only 128MB (enough for about three hours of music) but compensates by being strikingly small. The rechargeable battery lasts about 12 hours. --A.J.

11 The road Studentuniverse.com offers savings of as much as 70% off published fares. Mileageworkshop.com and Smarterliving.com list most airlines' student-only deals. AirTran, for example, has extended its X-Fares offer, which lets students fly standby for $52 a segment. For U.S. travel, consider a $20-a-year Student Advantage membership (www.studentadvantage.com), which entitles you to 15% off Greyhound and Amtrak tickets and Dollar car rentals; a $15 credit on any Priceline.com offer; and multiticket shuttle packs for travel between D.C., New York and Boston on US Airways. For international travel, the $22-a-year International Student Identity Card (ISIC) provides discounts at thousands of museums, hotels and hostels, plus access to STA Travel, the largest international student travel agency. --TARA KALWARSKI

12 The books Compared with the campus bookstore, buying books online is less expensive and more convenient--provided that you make allowance for shipping time. AllBookstores.com (www.allbookstores.com) is the best of the sites that offer a one-stop price comparison for online textbook sellers, factoring in shipping charges and sales tax. Discounts range from 15% for new books to 75% for used. AllBookstores.com sells books itself too, so be sure to click on Compare Price or Buy to get the range of prices offered by all sellers. --A.S.