With excitement for the new academic year kicking up, we are looking for the right products to bring the comforts and security of home to college. Big transitions, such as leaving for school again, or for the first time, can be difficult for many of us. As a college grad with a younger brother going away to school for the first time, I have been thinking about how to prepare him for anything college life can dish out. Here is a handful of products I’ve shown him that you might also consider bringing along as you embark on a new semester.
The Basics
In many of today’s courses, especially for students interacting with storage-demanding multimedia, a good hard drive is considered a necessity. Whether you are going to school for the first time or considering upgrading, investing in a solid hard drive to last through your academic career and beyond is a great way to hit the ground running. With this in mind, the 5TB Rugged USB 3.1 Gen 1 External Hard Drive from LaCie checks all the boxes.
This 5TB hard drive is light and portable and can withstand the hustle and bustle of college life. It features an impressive crush resistance of up to 1 ton, drop resistance up to 4', and is also rain resistant, making it the kind of tech that is accident-proof and perfect for an on-the-go student. In classic LaCie fashion, it also sports the signature bright orange case, well suited for a student who tends to misplace their tech.
In a similar vein, the Samsung 1TB T7 Portable SSD is a sleeker alternative to the LaCie. SSD technology, a newer addition to the external storage space, is smaller, faster, and quieter than its hard drive counterpart. The T7 fits snugly in the palm of your hand, featuring a stylish aluminum hard case that stays cool during extended use. Its compact size makes the T7 a great addition to a mobile workflow, or when space is tight. Do not let the size of this gadget fool you, though; it is an exceptionally powerful and lightning-fast SSD that is built for daily use.
The Samsung T7 is additionally equipped with 256-bit AES encryption and password protection to keep user data safe. If you are choosing between the LaCie and the T7 and are concerned with user security, especially if you do not have a personal laptop or PC, the T7 might be a good fit. However, if you value durability over aesthetics and already own a personal device, the LaCie could be more compatible with your lifestyle. The LaCie is notably less pricey than the T7 per terabyte, which aligns with the industry standard of SSDs generally being more expensive than HDDs. But fret not, dear reader—you really can’t go wrong choosing between these two.
If you are looking for a more casual external storage device, the PNY 32GB Attaché 3 USB 2.0 Flash Drive is a great option, especially if you are just beginning college and are uncertain of the external hardware your course load will demand. B&H offers these little guys bundled in packs of 16GB and 32GB, so you can assuredly go through the semester without running out of storage space. This PNY product uses a uniquely built-in sliding collar to protect the USB from dust or debris in your backpack. It also includes a key loop, so your flash drive can safely attach to your keyring without the worry of being lost or damaged.
Surge protectors are another college must-have. On some campuses, unprotected extension cords are not permitted in dormitories, and can even be confiscated because they are considered unsafe. Avoid this rookie mistake entirely with the APC Home Office SurgeArrest 8-Outlet Surge Protector. This device utilizes fail-safe detection features to protect its user and connected devices immediately from dangerous power surges and spikes. The APC SurgeArrest design includes LED lights to indicate that the surge protector unit is working properly and if there are any building wiring faults. Additionally, it features an adjustable cable-management design, and is available in black or white, making it a choice room accessory to complement either a dark or light color scheme.
Lifestyle Upgrades
If you are anticipating a heavy semester, or are just looking for an accessory that will make laptop usage more comfortable, consider the HyperStand Aluminum Alloy Laptop Stand. This is a practical no-fuss stand built with a lightweight aluminum alloy that is compact, foldable, and easy to bring to the library or a lecture. With five adjustable levels, the HyperStand is constructed to accommodate your ideal height and angle, thereby alleviating eye and wrist strain during long study sessions. It is a game-changer for a student who spends a lot of time working on their laptop. And, like the SurgeArrest, it is available in light or dark finishes, meaning you can choose one that best complements your tech and existing décor.
Another great addition to consider for a more comfortable workflow is the Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse. This Bluetooth mouse features a slightly tilted ergonomic design to improve wrist posture and alleviate discomfort. A thumb rest is built into the design, as well as a MagSpeed secondary scroll wheel, which enables ultra-fast and precise scrolling at up to 1,000 lines per second. This mouse is perfect for a student who interacts with large files and data, as the MagSpeed function cuts down on time and strain while perusing long documents.
The MX Master’s uses aren’t exclusive to students working with large documents. For the user who appreciates aesthetics and feel, this mouse has Quiet Click buttons and a satisfying weight as it skates over the surface. It is a delight to use, compatible with multiple devices, and employs Logi Bolt technology to overcome wireless congestion. The receiver additionally boasts encrypted connections, meaning the MX Master is a great way to minimize vulnerability for a student who does not have a personal device. This mouse, when paired with the HyperStand, can be the ultimate duo in a relatively luxe setup that you can bring virtually anywhere.
Fun Stuff
Rounding out the list of college essentials are two admittedly non-essential, but exciting products. The first is the JBL Clip 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, a hardy, oval-shaped Bluetooth speaker with a built-in carabiner to clip onto virtually anything, from your backpack to your bicycle. The Clip 4 is waterproof and dustproof—a good choice for the student who wants to jam out while biking or skateboarding around campus. Lightweight and compact in its design, the Clip 4 delivers impressive sound quality and volume capacity, making it an excellent addition to the impromptu quad picnic or study session.
A solid polaroid film camera is another great piece of gear to have on hand throughout college, especially at parties. If you are like me, the toy-like designs of some of the more prominent polaroids on the market can be off-putting and can even be a reason to avoid getting a neat camera altogether. The INSTAX MINI Instant Film Camera, from FUJIFILM, is an unpretentious, subtle, and delightfully retro-looking alternative to the more vibrant models.
This camera includes auto exposure and auto shutter speed to capture credit-card-sized prints seamlessly. It also features a selfie lens, meaning no more clumsy searching for a shutter button when you want to take a fun, spontaneous self-portrait. The INSTAX MINI develops film in around 90 seconds and uses automatic built-in flash for low-light conditions. It truly is ready to go immediately, making it a great gift for a student who has limited experience with photography but wants to capture memories with their friends.
Do you have any college essential recommendations? Which tech gear do you wish you had brought to college? We would like to hear all about it in the Comments section, below.
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