Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Odds and ends, Internet, Macbook Pro
Five useful Apple accessories for students heading off to college
Whether
you're on your way back to college, or you're the parent or friend of a
college-bound Apple fan, there are a lot of great items on the market
this summer that are both functional and fashionable. Back in the prehistoric 1970's when I was a civil engineering student at the University of Colorado Boulder campus, I made the mistake of rooming one year with two high school buddies. One of them, Chuck, was a real stoner and was impossible to wake up (even a stereo with the volume turned up to 11 didn't work). His 2009 counterpart would hopefully wake up on time every morning with an iHome iP9SR iPhone alarm clock (US$99 MSRP).
Now if you're like Chuck was, you don't let a class get in the way of snoozing even more. In the 70's, sleeping through classes was usually a one-way ticket out of the university. That was Chuck's fate. Since we're in the enlightened 21st Century, students have iPhones that can record lectures using the built-in Voice Memos app or a number of other apps. There's only one problem, though -- if you oversleep and you're the last person to make it to class, all of the power outlets in the lecture hall are probably taken and you won't be able to plug in your iPhone. Actually, that's not a problem, since in your party-induced haze the night before, you did remember to plug your Ecosol Powerstick (US$60 MSRP) USB charger into one of the USB ports on your MacBook Pro and it's fully charged up.
All too soon, you're awakened by your fellow students scrambling to get to their next class. You decide to slam a couple of Red Bulls and a triple-shot espresso to get your heart pumping, then get to work on some homework. Unfortunately, the campus Wi-Fi is down again in your favorite study area and since AT&T hasn't yet come up with a tethering solution to use with your iPhone, you're without connectivity. Not to worry, since your parents naively decided that you'd get better grades or keep in contact with them more if they bought you a Novatel MiFi 2200 (price varies, usually about US$99 with a qualifying plan) and Wireless Broadband Service from Sprint. Note - MiFi is also available from Verizon Wireless in the US.
After actually completing a few homework assignments, buying books for one of your classes through Bigwords.com, and successfully inviting three of the four women to a party, you decide it's time for lunch. Since you lost your license last year, you're keeping yourself fit and helping the environment by riding your bike everywhere. One of your buds wants to meet you at a new brewpub for lunch, so you fire up the Navigon Mobile Navigator app on your iPhone for turn-by-turn directions. You won't be holding the iPhone in your hands while you're riding; you have an Arkon IPM127 bicycle handlebar mount (US$19.95 at Amazon) for your favorite phone.
About a block away from the brewpub, as
your iPhone is telling you to turn left, you're run off the street by a
resident of your quaint college town driving a bumper-sticker
emblazoned Subaru wagon. Sure, you're a bit beat up after going through
a set of rose bushes, down a rocky slope, and into a creek, but at
least your 17" MacBook Pro is well protected. After all, your kindly
uncle sent you a SwissGear Carbon Backpack for 17" MacBook Pro (US$100) before you headed off to college this year.
There's my take on what useful
accessories might make college life a bit easier for at least one
student. What do you think would make a great back-to-school gift for a
university-bound friend (or yourself)? Make your suggestions in the
comments section.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chris said 8:29AM on 8-16-2009
I've been using the SwissGear Carbon backpack for almost 2 years now and it's absolutely fantastic!
It can take everything to do with my MBP and more.
The bag empty is not particularly light, and even with everything in it and the weight it gets, nothing has broken on it during the almost constant every day use.
Although I've got a 15"MPB I decided to get the 17" bag so I could fit another case around my Mac inside it. (I'm paranoid you see)
I thoroughly recommend this bag, but just beware of the weight. The build quality is superb and plenty of space for everything!
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Joanna D said 8:51AM on 8-16-2009
Yeah because students can afford a £30/month iPhone contract...
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julian said 9:28AM on 8-16-2009
Yeah dude many do. Theyhave jobs or their parents pay for it. Actually about 60% of the people I know have either an iPhone or a blackberry
so quit your bitching
Joanna D said 9:34AM on 8-16-2009
Most of the students I know have a
Etienne said 10:20AM on 8-16-2009
In my school a lot of people have iphone with an expensive contract, so yes. I do get annoyed when I hear most of them have their parents pay for their contract/phone..
crsh said 9:08PM on 8-16-2009
You seem to have forgotten how some students will literally stop eating normal food to fund their gadget needs (and/or alcohol).
Philip S. said 8:54AM on 8-16-2009
Hey! That's my backpack! I'm a recent college grad heading off to grad school next week, so I'll attest to it being EXTREMELY useful. The backpack is durable, it fits my laptop perfectly, and has pockets the exact size for my power plug and mighty mouse. The only thing I added was a Booq Vyper M2 laptop sleeve for a bit more protection.
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John Gaskell said 9:11AM on 8-16-2009
Many *high school* students around here have smart phones with expensive plans. Don't be a jerk.
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cmuska902 said 10:36AM on 8-16-2009
That backpack seems nice, but it's a little too elementary school looking for my tastes. I have been very pleased with my Incase backpack that is also designed to hold a 17 inch MacBook Pro, and in my opinion, it looks a little bit classier.
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backpackingnerd said 11:10AM on 8-16-2009
Another useful, often overlooked, accessory would be a notebook cable lock. Out of the many that I've used, I would recommend the Kensington MicroSaver DS. It's a very sturdy design and it doesn't chew up the aluminum around your Macbook's security slot like other brands do.
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Joe said 12:25PM on 8-16-2009
Boo on the middle three. If you have an iHome, why would you need another charger? This is college, not a wilderness adventure camp. Same with the bike mount...
And a MiFi with a $60 a month plan, in the off chance the campus wifi goes down? For a college student??
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d-man said 12:56PM on 8-16-2009
I was going to mention that, too. Want some new lady-friends (as mentioned in the scenario in the article)? By them coffee and use the wi-fi there. I mean, I'm going to buy the coffee anyway, right?
Liam said 12:07PM on 8-16-2009
Suitably shocked that the LiveScribe Smart Pen didn't make the list. I wouldn't know where I'd be without it.
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Justin said 12:21PM on 8-16-2009
I really expected to see some reasonably priced and useful products here. Being a recent collge grad I can assure you that much of this is extraneous junk to a college student on a budget. I doubt a MiFi hub is owned by many outside of the business sector. Also a tech savvy college student is more likely to run an alarm app/script on their computer instead of an expensive alarm clock dock.
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d-man said 12:53PM on 8-16-2009
I was about to say that. I keep seeing lists of "best stuff for students" or "best for college students" and a lot of this stuff is just extraneous. The list should focus on ways to get the most out of stuff you have, because that's what students need. Instead of an iHome, which have not-so-good sound quality anyway, I have a set of portable speakers bought with my parents costco membership, from Sonic, I think... they're the zipper ones, I think apple has them too... NPR podcasts synced to a playlist the night before, and the built-in alarm app. Bam, clock radio. I don't have a modem, I just hang out where there's wi-fi -- mostly coffee shops. Macworld and TUAW both had the most useless back to school list I had seen in a long time.
Megarain said 3:08PM on 8-16-2009
Not even that. I have an iPhone, and the basic alarm feature hooked up to my desk speakers secondary input(got a bare of Bose a few years back as a gift, a real must have in my book) and BAM, I had an alarm that could, and has, waked the dead.
And for 99 cents, you can get Night Stand which will give you your ipod playback.
John Hamilton Farr said 1:23PM on 8-16-2009
This is all pretty hilarious to old farts like me who went to college before anybody even had stereos, but the comments dissing people complaining about cost are pretty sad.
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soxneon said 2:24PM on 8-16-2009
It is pretty funny to see the die-hard, high-society fanboys lash out against the commenters who make a valid point. All of this stuff is expensive unless you have mommy or daddy flipping the bill. Kids who have to struggle *gasp* don't have smartphones or exorbantly deep pockets for novelty crap (like most of what is found in an Apple store). This coming from somebody who DID struggle but now has most of the stuff on this list.
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bizarro said 3:01PM on 8-16-2009
I'm a college student without my parents footing the bill, and I can afford an iPhone plan. Is it foolish? Perhaps. It's one of the two foolish amenities I allow myself: an iPhone and beer. I'd probably be better off with an extra $60/month in my pocket, but it's not really breaking the bank for me and it's a nice convenience.
The other stuff seems like a bit of a waste though.
LeeMo said 4:15PM on 8-16-2009
As a "mommy" paying my son's way I say - hey, if I already have a plan for myself and my kid is a cheap "add on" anyhow - why is that a bad thing? Why should people insult him just because I buy him something cheap and useful? Those of you insulting the cost - how do you know what the parents are actually paying? Maybe it's a big family plan?
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