Yes, I know. You’re still out there enjoying the sun at the beach, maybe tossing the Frisbee around or playing a little volleyball. Unfortunately, it won’t be long before you’re sitting behind a desk again, listening to some talking head yammer on about socioeconomic stratification or the mating habits of ring-tailed lemurs. As you get ready to go back to school, Futurelooks is here to help you find the technology that will make the experience a little easier, a little more comfortable, and maybe even a little more stylish too.
Given the nature of the “starving student” syndrome, I’ve approached this guide from two different (but related) perspectives. First, I wanted to make sure that every item I picked for this back to school guide would be affordable. You won’t find some ultra-baller gaming notebooks here, nor will you find any Swarovski crystal-encrusted iPods. I’ve kept your wallet in mind. Second, students typically don’t have a heck of a lot of room in their dorms, so the tech has to either be small or very portable. It’s not exactly practical to shove a 60-inch HDTV into a room that is less than a 80 square feet.
What do you need to survive another year at college, university, trade school, or wherever else you are heading this September? Let me pave the way.
Dell Studio 15 Laptop
Naturally, it starts with your main computer. This is where you will be busting out those world-class emails, exchanging emails with your professor, and maybe chatting with some study buddies via instant messenger. You might get in a few quick sessions of online poker on the weekends too, but don’t let that get in the way of cramming for the big exam!
The Studio series from Dell is relatively new and it is clearly designed for the consumer market. You can get the front cover in a variety of different colors and designs, letting you fully express your personality beyond simple wallpapers and startup sounds. Don’t be afraid to add a little “flair” by way of stickers and decals too. You’re in school. You’re allowed to be edgy.
At the time this guide was written, the base configuration on the Dell Studio 15 started at $799. For that price, you got a 15.4-inch glossy widescreen display, Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 processor, 2GB of DDR2-667 RAM, 160GB SATA hard drive, integrated 2.0 megapixel camera, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, slot-loading CD/DVD burner, Microsoft Works, back-lit keyboard, biometric fingerprint reader, and Windows Vista Premium.
If you prefer something a little more compact and conservative, you may want to consider the Dell Vostro 1310. Also equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor, the Vostro 1310 has a 13.3-inch WXGA display, 2GB of RAM, and 160GB hard drive. Prices start at $699.
VIZO Mini Ninja Notebook Cooling Stand
Now that you have yourself a decent notebook at an affordable price, you’ll want to provide yourself with an ergonomic typing angle and an adequate cooling solution. Laptops can get pretty hot, and I find that active solutions (with working fans) tend to work a lot better than the passive coolers.
The VIZO Mini Ninja may not be the most exciting product in the world, but it gets the job done. Built from a solid sheet of black aluminum, the Mini Ninja comes with a couple of adjustable 70mm fans. These fans can slide from left to right to best accommodate your notebook.
Although it is powered by USB, the Mini Ninja comes with a T-adapter so that it doesn’t actually hog up one of the USB ports on your notebook. A new revision was just released adds in a four port USB port for even more value. As you can imagine, there is virtually no installation or setup needed. Just prop it up, plug it in, and say goodbye to fiery hot laptops.
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Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse
Some people are really good at using the trackpad on their notebooks, but nothing quite offers the same level of comfort and precision as a physical mouse. If you plan on doing any picture or video editing (and you don’t want to invest in a tablet), you’re probably going to want a mouse. And if you’re getting a mouse, you’ll want the accuracy of a laser mouse.
The Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse was designed with notebooks in mind, storing the wireless USB receiver right into the body of the mouse itself. It’s almost as good as the larger MX Revolution, but in a smaller form factor and at a more affordable price. The MicroGear “free spin mode” is particularly cool and that’s partly why the VX Revolution is a winner of the Editor’s Choice Award here on Futurelooks.
Saitek Cyborg 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset
I know. I know. When you’re at school, you should probably have your head in the books and the only reason why you’d be on the computer is so that you can type up a paper or interact with your fellow students. That said, we all need a break from time to time too.
While the aforementioned Dell Studio 15 may not be able to handle the latest games at the highest resolutions, you can probably still get in some gaming on that thing. The trouble is that it may be hard trying to outfit your dorm room with a 5.1 speaker system. The Saitek Cyborg Surround Sound Gaming Headset mimics the 5.1 experience without taking up any more room than a regular headset.
In addition to the 5.1 thing (which is achieved via USB and an inline sound card), the Saitek Cyborg Gaming Headset also has standard 3.5mm connectors for the microphone and headphones. This little bit of extra utility can come in pretty handy.
OCZ Rally 2 USB Flash Drive
Going to college and university probably means that you’ll have some group projects to do or study groups to attend. It is in your best interest to network with your fellow students, after all, so you’ll want to make it easy to exchange files and information.
Of the USB flash drives that I have used, the OCZ Rally 2 is one of the best. It doesn’t come with any fancy encryption software or a biometric fingerprint reader, but it gets the job done and it can get it done at an affordable rate. The metal body offers durability and you know that OCZ only outfits its products with quality memory.
Prices will vary, but I was able to find 4GB and 8GB versions of the OCZ Rally 2 HIgh Performance USB 2.0 Dual Channel Flash Memory Drive for $14 and $22, respectively. At that price, you may want to pick up a couple.
Exercise Restraint for Back to School
As much fun as it would be to have an incredibly powerful laptop that would rival even the best of desktops, you may want to make sure that you can live on more than Kraft Dinner during the school year. The products described in this guide are reasonably priced and are more than “good enough” to satisfy most of your student needs. Just make sure you set aside some beer money and you’ll be fine.
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