Aug. 17--Ashley Key, an art major at the University of Tulsa, checked out the camera selection at the Best Buy at 71st Street and U.S. 169 before classes resumed.

Though a camera could come in handy with her classes, she was thinking more about extracurricular activities.

"I'm an art major, but this is going to be for personal use," she said.

Key was one of many college students headed to stores recently as they stocked up on computers, music players, televisions and other electronic gizmos to fill dormitory rooms or give them an edge in class.

However, students, like the rest of the country, might be cutting back this year. The National Retail Federation estimated college students would spend an average of $211.89 on electronics, down 18 percent from the year before.

Ron Witmer, CEO of Tulsa TV specialist Video Revolution, said he's seen less of a college rush this year. Then again, he suspects more and more students are using new technology to downsize.

"Sometimes they'll get dual-purpose monitors that work as both a computer monitor and a television," he said. "And sometimes kids will watch TV on their laptops."

Space is typically tight in the average double-occupancy dorm

room, so most students go for smaller sets.

Still, Brian Lowery of Best Buy said this year's surge of college buyers seems as large or larger than in previous years. That may be partially due to the particularly strong science programs at local colleges.

"OU has a lot of science paths that require you to have a laptop," he said.

Naturally, slim and portable laptops are the computer of choice for students; it's easy to bring it to class for notes or stealth surfing of the Internet during boring lectures. But Lowery said there's a growing divide between laptop users.

Many are choosing PCs, which tend to be more powerful and more compatible with many popular programs. But a growing number are leaning toward Apple's Mac line, which Best Buy Co. started selling earlier this year.

"A lot of people have the iPhone and iPod Touch, and it's easier to integrate them with Macs," Lowery said.

Melissa O'Brien, a spokesman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said computers are the hottest item for college students at the discount chain as well.

"We continue to see computers as a growing need not just for college, but for high school," she said.

Cell phones are also getting a burst of sales. Mark Simone, area retail sales manager for AT&T Wireless, said many students going to college want to upgrade from a basic phone.

"August is one of our busiest months," he said.

Students often go for smartphones like BlackBerrys that allow them to be more productive on the go. IPhones are popular with them just as they are with seemingly every demographic, and demand is such that AT&T stores must ask customers to order them in advance, he said.

Best Buy, which will start selling the iPhone next month, and Wal-Mart also have higher cell sales in August.

Though some new cell phones have global positioning capabilities, Lowery said stand-alone GPS systems for vehicles are selling well because they go beyond simply telling you where to go.

"You can get Bluetooth capabilities with them, so if you get a call it'll go through to your GPS," he said. "They can also play MP3s."

Stereos are also getting smaller. Witmer said most students are going for something more portable rather than a traditional bulky set.

"Most of them now have an iPod that they plug into a clock radio or portable speaker," he said.

Lowery said digital music player sales also jump as school nears, although students now have more choices than before.

"The more models that are out there, the more iPod sales creep down," he said. "The overall sales of music players hasn't changed."

Students are also stocking up on flash drives to quickly transfer papers and assignments from their laptops to the computer labs -- and yes, many flash drives can play music, too, Lowery said.

Robert Evatt 581-8447 robert.evatt@tulsaworld.com

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