(Case – Macbook pro case, Keyboard – Accessories, Bag – Mackbook Bag, Laptop – 15” Macbook pro with retina Display, Kindle – Kindle Fire, iPad – 16GB iPad 2, Stylus – smartphone/ tablet stylus.)
Last week I wrote about the joys of “Back to School” week and the basic must haves supplies of going back to school. However I realized after writing that article, that many of those items are very slowly being replaced by numerous tech devices. Take the last decade for example (2000-2010), the only things that kids in school used to do homework was a pen, paper, and notebook and for the most part technological exposure was limited to using the internet for research and using a computer to write essays. However in recent years, technology has been making its way into the classrooms. Online courses can now be substituted for regular courses, smart-boards replace chalk boards and assignments can be given and submitted online rather than in a classroom. While the modern classroom still requires the use of a pen and paper, these are being gradually replaced by different technology. So this week I’m going to focus on certain tech-stuffs that you can add to your collection of school supplies.
For college students, having a laptop is a must. Sure, any student can make use of computers at a campus library, but having a laptop (while expensive) is very, very convenient. Many students in college prefer to take notes on their laptops, and as an added bonus some college professors post lecture notes on their course websites, so being able to access those on your computer while in class can be helpful. And if you’re planning on spending a decent amount of money on a laptop, you might as well make sure it’s worth it and get a laptop that does the job. I personally use a 15” Macbook Pro. While it’s a little heavier than the Macbook air, the hogher processing power and memory storage are mean that I can use my Macbook for things other than school-work.
And lets be honest, when you buy a laptop, it’s not going to be just for schoolwork, you’re going to use it, most likely for every day use, so why not personalize your laptop? Apple has developed many accessories for their products, but some of them are worth buying for both practical and aesthetic reasons. Take a Macbook case for example. It provides some protection for your very, very expensive piece of tech, and can be customized to fit your personality. Keyboard covers can give your laptop an added flair and also serve to protect your laptop from scratches, dirt, or food/drink spills. Laptop bags are essential if you plan on going somewhere without a backpack or an adequately sized purse. It limits your laptops exposure to anything that can damage it which is equally important if you’re traveling somewhere far or simply looking to use your laptop at the local Starbucks.
Some students that I’ve met don’t like using their laptops but instead prefer to use their iPads. They’re lighter than laptops and can access the internet the same, however you probably won’t be writing essays or working on assignments with them. You can however take written notes with them. Thanks to the app Paper for iPad, your iPad become an electronic notepad. All you need is an electronic stylus and you can draw, or take notes on your tablet or mobile device.
Last week I also mentioned that Amazon has a special membership for students that need textbooks. Well as I’ve found out, some textbooks now are available for purchase on Kindle. Now I don’t think I can overstate how convenient having three or four textbooks worth of information on one small device. Not only does it cut down on the amount of stuff you have to carry with you, but you’ll have all your information consolidated in one place!
With this decade already well underway, technology seems to be a part of every day life. And the strange thing is that many of the tech that we already take for granted wasn’t available to us barely ten years ago. However, in my opinion, no matter how far technology can take us there will always be some things that technology cannot replace.
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