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Digital convergence at last. Remember all the hype about how television and computers will soon merge? This is it. The first of such products to reach the market, Gateway 2000's Destination is a sleek 166 MHz Pentium-based multimedia computer with a 31-inch monitor and wireless keyboard. It's a TV, it's a computer, it's both and more. Equally at home in the living room and the classroom, the Destination allows you to sit 10 to 15 feet from the monitor and work on a spreadsheet while you watch CNN, or you can surf the web from your easy chair with the wireless trackball remote. For classroom instruction, the wireless input devices give teachers freedom of movement, while the big screen allows the kids to see without the need for cumbersome projection devices. With a built-in 8X CD-ROM player and connections for a VCR, laser disc player, and optional surround-sound audio system, the Destination is the ticket for collaborative multimedia learning. At $4,699, this could be the end of computing as a solitary experience. Reach your Destination by calling (800) 555-3020.

No more dead math. Math equations shouldn't appear static--they should sing with life. MathSoft's new StudyWorks software allows students to author documents that combine text with "live" math equations and graphs. When students plug in new numbers, the changes are automatically recalculated and reflected on the page. Popular with technical professionals, this powerful spreadsheet-like feature now is available at the high-school level. In addition to being a cool math visualization tool and a great way to prepare and print out presentation-quality math and science homework assignments, StudyWorks also is a reference library with live formulas and data on subjects from algebra to calculus and chemistry to earth science. What's more, students can use StudyWorks' built-in Internet link to access MathSoft's resources and share live math documents with other students on the web. For under $50, it chops, it slices, it dices; find out how by calling (617) 577-1017.

Network binoculars. Most technology coordinators would probably rather eat a bug than have to troubleshoot a school's network. Computer networks can get ornery when they don't work--to say nothing of how the users react. That's why it's important to have the right tools for the job. The Fluke Enterprise LANMeter lets you see through Ethernet switches and behind routers to analyze network performance and pinpoint troublesome segments, even on remote wide-area-network links. You don't need a Ph.D. in packet switching to see what your network is doing, because the LANMeter presents information in an easy-to-understand manner. The Fluke Enterprise LANMeter 685 for Token-Ring and Ethernet networks goes for $11,495; other versions start at $6,795. Call (800) 44-FLUKE to locate a dealer in your area.

Works well with others. Networks should connect people, not just computers. Groupware is designed to do this by helping organizations get the most out of both their networks and their human resources. Now in its fourth incarnation, Lotus Notes--the original groupware product--connects users to a shared document database and a sophisticated messaging system over a local area network or telecommunications link. A built-in application development environment gives your school district the power to create custom applications, too: The Department of Defense Dependents Schools uses Notes to deliver distance-learning courses worldwide, and the Hawaii Department of Education has chosen Notes for communication and collaboration between schools statewide. Vastly improved in its latest iteration, Notes Release 4 benefits from a better interface, quicker performance, beefed-up security features, and integration with the web. Prices start at under $100 per client; find out more by calling (800) 346-2219 ext. 846 for Lotus Academic Solutions.