Hi-Tech Gear for the Home, School and Office

Whether you're heading back to school or work -- or just think the home office is ready for an upgrade -- these gadgets are the must-have items for the fall.

LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen

Ever wish a pen could write for you? The Pulse Smartpen can record lectures while you take notes. Back at home, you simply tap on your notes with the pen and the spoken words for that portion of the notes are instantly replayed. You can e-mail your written or audio notes to your classmates or study group or upload them to your Facebook page. Special notebook paper allows you to tap on controls to turn your pen into a calculator or translator.

Price: $199 for the 2GB version or $149 for the 1GB version

Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere Compact Speakers for iPod

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Fill your dorm room or home office with sound with the Compact Speakers for iPod. Simply dock your iPod and enjoy your music anywhere. A wireless remote lets you control your iPod and browse your content from anywhere in the room. The speakers also charge your iPod while your music plays.

Price: $129.99

Beats by Dr. Dre

Hip-hop producer Dr. Dre and Monster Cable have teamed to make Beats by Dr. Dre. The noise-reducing headphones are specifically tuned to the demands of rock and hip-hop.

Beats, like similar models from Bose, reduce ambient noise and create a seal over the ears to heighten audio clarity. The red-and-black headphones can also be used as an iPhone headset -- with the included microphone attachment -- and fit almost any MP3 player or music-playing cell phone.

The kit includes a carrying case, and a jack adapter for connecting to stereos and amplifiers.

Price: $349