Top five gadgets every college students should own
However, two things that are certainly not lacking in this country are gadgets and our country’s love affair with them.
There is no better example of the latter fact than last Friday’s launch of Apple’s iPad 2, the second revision of its mega popular tablet computer. Thousands of eager consumers lined up outside Apple’s retail outlets across the nation, waiting to be among the first to get their hands on the company’s latest and greatest gadget.
Even more astonishing is that an estimated 60 percent of opening day sales was to customers who never purchased the original iPad. It’s becoming clearer and clearer each day that the market for consumer gadgets is expanding at near exponential rates, with a highly diverse base of customers coming from many walks of life.
For those of us attending college, these devices are often both highly desirable and highly expensive. While buying technology is a significant investment for most people, for students having to balance tuition, room and board, books, and other living expenses, often without a source of heavy income, it’s an especially heavy endeavor.
Still, students can benefit tremendously from their choice of gadgets, both personally and academically. However, in a market so dense with choices and categories, it can be challenging to make the purchase that gives you the best value for your dollar.
That’s exactly the challenge this guide intends to tackle: to show you what’s hot on the market, how and why it can benefit you, and whether or not it’s worth your hard earned dollar.
Tablets
Tablets are not the newest category of devices on the digital block, but were relatively obscure devices before the last year’s release of the iPad. Today, the market has become the newest space race in the tech market, with nearly every major manufacturer planning to release a tablet to compete with Apple’s game changing product.
Despite the surge in popularity, many still ask: what can a tablet do that my laptop can’t?
There are a number of key advantages that the tablet form factor has over traditional laptop devices. Battery life tends to be significantly better, ranging from eight to 10 hours in comparison to laptops’ life of four to five. They are also lighter and more compact that most full-size laptops, and tend to have better displays than most compact notebooks.
However, perhaps the most important factor that draws users to the form factor is the emphasis on touch controls and the simplified interfaces that follow it. These work together to create a more personal experience than one typically expects from a traditional computer.
So, once you’ve made your decision to buy a tablet, the next step is finding the device that works for you.
Obviously, the iPad 2 is the first product that will jump to anyone’s mind, and for good reason. With its beefed up dual-core processor, slimmer profile, and dual cameras, the newest iPad is marked improvement over it’s already impressive predecessor.
What hasn’t changed about the device may still be its strongest selling points, though, with its 10 hour battery life, hyper responsive touch interface, and its high quality, 9.7 inch screen.
Perhaps it’s best attribute though is it’s access to Apple’s famed App Store, which Apple claims has over 65,000 applications developed solely for iPad, along with the close to 300,000 apps already present in the store front.
Still, there is some significant competition for the iPad already on the market, most notably Motorola’s Xoom.
The first device on the market to run Google’s tablet optimized Android 3.0 software, the Xoom offers a few advantages over its rival, including a more customizable interface, the ability to run Adobe Flash content, and free upgrades to run on Verizon’s 4G service (though users will have to send their device in for servicing).
Plenty of other companies are throwing their hat into this ring as well, with some compelling offerings coming in the near future. HP Touchpad, running the well-regarded WebOS software, is expected in June, and RIM has announced its Playbook tablet, which will feature strong compatibility with its Blackberry line of smartphone’s.
Smartphones
Speaking of phones, this category of devices is another rapidly growing segment of the gadget market, though it’s more mature than the tablet world.
What major advantages do smartphones have over traditional cell phones?
First and foremost, they typically provide users with a plethora of features, including real-web access, MP3 and other digital media playback, and access to thousands of specialized mobile applications.
Like in the tablet market, Apple’s iPhone 4 is the current heavy-hitter, being the best single selling smartphone on the market. While it features a super slim profile, duel cameras, and one the highest resolution displays on the market, its biggest attribute is its complete integration with iTunes and the App Store, giving the device access to both the largest digital music and largest mobile application storefronts on the market.
However, the phone’s running Google’s Android operating system has exploded in the past year, and the OS is currently number one in the U.S. in terms of smartphone market share. In comparison to the iPhone, the phones feature a vast array of different sizes, form factors, carrier options, etc.
RIM’s line of Blackberry phones are not to be forgotten as well. While they lack the size and breadth of the iOS (Apple’s mobile OS) and Android app markets, they feature some of the best hardware keyboards available, as well some the most popular mobile messaging and email software.
One downside to smartphone ownership, though, is the cost of wireless plans that accompany it, with rates for minutes and data often costing significantly more than regular “feature” phones.
Also, particular phones are tied to specific carriers, meaning that choices must be made on both the device and which wireless company you wish to deal with.
MP3 Players
With this fact in mind, it makes sense that many students for opt to use a regular cell phone and a feature laden MP3 player as well in place of a smartphone.
Apple’s iPod line of players has become synonymous with the digital music market, and for good reason: they are available in a number of form factors and price points, and can suit the needs of almost any customer.
The iPod Touch is particularly compelling product, featuring nearly every feature of its iPhone cousin, including the dual cameras and high resolution display, but without the need for wireless provider.
Another interesting iPod model is the newest revision of the Nano, sporting an incredibly small form factor, with a one-inch touch screen display. There are even some accessories available that allow you turn the device into wristwatch, albeit not the most practical one.
Still, Apple is not the only player in this market.
Microsoft’s Zune HD is a pretty compelling product in its own right, with its strongest feature being it’s integration with Microsoft’s subscription-based Zune Pass music service. Samsung has also announced it plans to make a number of Android based music players for the US as well, though prices and availability is not yet available.
E-Readers
Similar to MP3 players, e-readers serve a particular function, but do so remarkably well. Obviously, e-readers are meant for reading books, periodicals, and other digital content, but do so in a manner that gives it advantages over similar technology.
What sets the e-reader experience apart from that of computers, tablets, and other backlit displays is its use of e-ink, a technology that renders text in a manner that closely resembles paper. While the display lacks a backlight, it gives devices incredible battery life, with many users going for weeks between charges.
The most popular e-reader on the market is Amazon’s Kindle, thanks in no small part to the company’s large market of digital books that are easily purchased right on the device itself. Its price is also a compelling feature, with its cheapest model costing $139, a sharp contrast to that of tablets and other devices.
Barnes and Nobles’ Nook is another strong device in this category, differentiating itself from the Kindle with its color LCD screen in addition to its e-ink display. The company has also recently released another e-reader, the Nook Color, which eschews an e-ink display for a traditional backlit, full-color screen.
Cameras/Camcorders
Finally, anyone who is remotely interested in capturing the important moments of their lives should invest in a good digital camera. While smartphones and even tablets are getting increasing good at capturing visuals and audio, they still can’t hold a candle to the abilities of even the most meager of point and shoots.
While most cameras these days provide both excellent photo and video taking, products such as Cisco’s line of Flip Video camcorders provide a more inexpensive way to capture video content on the go. In the era of YouTube and other user created video sharing, these micro camcorders are an ideal solution for amateur film makers and enthusiasts.
Good luck and happy hunting!
