School’s In

College Tech Necessities

By Joel Nelson on Aug 31, 2024 in Technology

Technology for college students used to mean lamps, typewriters and alarm clocks. Essential items for thriving in today’s higher education environment include:

Laptop. “Small screen touch notebooks are a great solution for everyday computing and entertainment around the dorm or apartment, or on the go from class to class,” said Scott Shutter, a senior manager for computing, graphics and visualization technology provider AMD in Austin, Texas.

Tablet. With some textbooks being formatted for eReaders, it might make economic sense to get a tablet in addition to a laptop. “I have all my textbooks, take all my notes and store assignments on [a tablet],” said Brian Kearney, a student at Rowan University in New Jersey. “It has truly helped me in organizing my hectic college schedule.”

A key accessory for tablet owners is a stylus, an active digitizer that enables note-taking on both tablets and 2-in-1s, which combine tablets and notebooks.

Smartphone. Virtually every student wants a smartphone equipped with the latest operating system and relevant apps. Most professors and student groups send mobile updates to smartphones.

Smart notebook. This device digitizes handwritten notes for later reference. Some models offer a paper-like writing and reading experience and syncs notes to the cloud for access across multiple devices.

Digital audio recorder. This is useful for recording lectures for later transcription or review. “With transcription software, students can write papers without touching the keyboard, significantly speeding up their work.

Portable charger. This helps keep all devices powered up throughout the day without the need for a wall outlet.

Data storage. Flash drives hold data for access on the go. An external drive or cloud storage provides backup storage.

Backup computer battery and power cord. Just in case the unthinkable happens, such as a power outage or a disappearing printer cable.

Noise-canceling wireless earbud. Sometimes the activity around a room, suite or dorm gets to be too much. That makes earbuds (or headphones) designed to shut out external noise a necessity.

Wellness tracker. One way to prioritize health among the rigors of college is a wellness tracker that can monitor sleep patterns and offer healthful reminders throughout the day.

What tech is top priority for you or a friend or loved one who’s about to embark on the college adventure?