Binders, books and backpacks are far from the only “must-have” tools for students in the 21st century.
Let’s face it -- technology, such as an Internet-connected computer, is now a necessity rather than a luxury. And handheld devices, PC peripherals and accessories can also help students gain an edge – or at least have a little fun to offset the pressures of exams, essays and report cards. The following are a few recommended products to consider when prepping for a brand new school year.
Petite pal
While your fellow students are breaking their back with a 17-inch laptop, saunter into the classroom or lecture hall in comfort – and in style – with the new HP 2133 mini notebook that weighs just 2.6 pounds. But this tiny PC (about the size of a hardcover book) doesn’t comprise on performance thanks to its Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 120GB hard drive, built-in Wi-Fi, webcam and scratch-resistant 8.9-inch display. Choose from one of four operating system and various battery options such as three-cell for a lightweight configuration or six-cell battery for longer life. It’s also ideal for music, videos, photos and computer games. From $499; hp.ca.
All together now
Lexmark’s just-released X4650 All-in-One is a space-saving machine that prints, scans, copies and faxes. OK, so that’s not terribly unique, but this all-in-one device also features integrated Wi-Fi technology so you can print wirelessly from across the room and allow multiple laptops to print to it (hint: you can split the costs for ink and paper among your roommates). Print speeds top 25 pages per minute for black and 18 pages per minute for colour. And you don’t even need a PC for lab-quality photo prints – simply plug in a memory card, PictBridge-compatible digital camera or USB flash drive and press a button. $149.99; lexmark.ca.
Now and Zen
We’re not recommending the Creative Zen Stone Plus just because it’s an inexpensive 2GB MP3 player that supports multiple audio formats and has a built-in external speaker in case you don’t feel like wearing earbuds (included). It’s included in a back-to-school gadget round-up because it also features an integrated voice recorder can be handy to archive lectures and conversations during study sessions to play back at a later time and a 20-hour battery means you don’t need to recharge it too often. Available in multiple colours, this teeny device can store up to 500 songs and includes a small OLED screen to see the names of the artist, songs and albums, as well as photos, too. Also included is an FM radio with preset spots for up to 32 stations. $49.99; us.creative.com.
Fashion meets function
With all the electronics a typical student totes around today – from laptops to smartphones to voice recorders – picking the right bag could be tough as it must do three things: fit all your gadgets (and books), protect it all, and be comfortable, too. Targus’ new Messenger Fusion laptop cases offer a unique interchangeable shoulder strap system that allows students to have one case with three different looks (mushroom, burnt orange and khaki, or cool grey, lime green and black), plus the cases also offer protection from rain and snow. These cases also have a padded compartment designed to fit laptops with up to 15.4-inch screens and includes plenty of pockets and folds for accessories such as power cords, mice, and such. $79.99; targus.com/ca.
