Picnic Backpacks Galore!

It’s that time of year again when college students pile into cars loaded with suitcases, backpacks and, of course, the requisite mini-fridge and gooseneck desk lamp.

Gadget guy Phil Baker rounds up 14 useful tech products that provide the good value and design needed to spruce up every dorm room.

So check out these gadget recommendations for students …

Logitech’s Rechargeable Speaker S315i – This is one of the most attractive stereo speakers with great sound quality for the price. Plug it in or use its built-in rechargeable batteries for 12 hours of playing away from an outlet. $130; Logitech(dot)com

Pandigital Photo Frame – Not that your kids will ever forget you, but why risk it? Give them a photo frame with family photos already loaded onto it—including one with mom and dad gazing down with a watchful eye. Prices have been plummeting and a decent 7-inch model from Pandigital costs about $50. www.Pandigital.net

FreeAgent Go backup hard drive –This is an inexpensive but durable drive from Seagate (about $80 for 250 GB at discount) that every student should use to back up their files, music and photos. The Free Agent comes with a snap-in dock that lets you easily remove the hard drive and lock it up when not being used. A new back-up drive, the Aegis Padlock, just announced from San Diego’s Apricorn, has a built-in keypad that locks entry to its contents. $120 for a 250GB version; Apricorn(dot)com

Dr. Dre Isolation Headphone – How do you study effectively with distractions all around? Wear over the ear headphones to isolate you from the distractions. One very popular new model is the Studio Isolation Headphone from Dr Dre. It has a stunning industrial design and great sound. $300; beatsbydre(dot)com

Check out Travel Gadgets For Music-Lovers.

Notebook computer – For those who need a powerful notebook, it’s hard to do better than the MacBook Pro 15-inch at $1,700 or the 12-inch model at $1,200. Apple is offering a free iPod Touch for students with the purchase of a new notebook. For PC users, there’s a wide range of very similar models from Dell, HP and Lenovo and Sony. In general, avoid very thin and light models that tend to be less durable under rough handling.

Backpack computer cases – These two models are each designed to hold a 15-inch notebook plus accessories, books and papers. The Brenthaven Expandable Trek BP Laptop Backpack has a huge capacity that’s expandable by 20 percent [brenthaven(dot)com]. For a more discreet backpack with a more mature styling, the InCase Backpack is rectangular-shaped, smaller, but much easier on the back. [goincase(dot)com]. Each is $100.

Kensington ComboSaver notebook lock – This compact locking cable protects a notebook from theft, ideal for working in public spaces like the library or campus center. One end fits into the security slot found on most laptops and the other around a piece of furniture like a table or heavy chair $25.

HP Photosmart C4780 All-in-One Printer – The HP Photosmart C4780 All-in-One is a wireless printer at an affordable price. With a color control panel, memory card slots, and laser-quality text output, several students can print to it without each needing to be connected by a cable. $130; hp(dot)com

Belkin Conserve Power Strip Review – The Conserve power strip with surge protector is an eco-friendly product that saves energy. It has six outlets that can be turned off with a remote switch and two outlets that always remain on. $35; Belkin(dot)com.

Levenger Lap Desk – This beautifully made, kidney-shaped portable lap desk rests across the arms of a chair or sits on the lap while in bed. It supports a computer as well as providing a surface for a mouse, or for reading and writing. $48; Levenger(dot)com.

H2 Handy Recorder from Zoom – This is a serious pocket-sized stereo recorder that’s perfect for recording lectures and music. It has superb fidelity and sensitivity to record clearly from large distances. $150; Samsontech(dot)com

Tekkeon’s TekCharge MP1800 Battery Pack – This pack’s designed for recharging phones, music players, Bluetooth headsets and other devices while away from an outlet. It has a whopping 2600 mAH capacity, about twice the capacity of most phones. It even has a built-in flashlight. $50; Tekkeon(dot)com

iTenna HD Antenna – The iTenna makes it possible to receive HD programming over the air using on a digital TV, making it perfect for a dorm room or apartment. It replaces an outdoor antenna and rabbit ears, and is designed specifically for digital reception. It’s as small and nearly as thin as a sheet of paper and can be taped to a window or onto the back of the TV. $20; Itenna(dot)com

Z-Bar High Power LED Desk lamp – Last but not least, leave behind the old-school goose-necked lamp. LEDs, the newest lighting technology, offer the most efficiency of any lamp and emit much less heat. The Z–Bar is a modern design that offers easy adjustment to put the light where you need it. It uses six ultra-bright LEDs that consume just 9 watts. $130

For more information, visit PeterGreenberg.

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PeterGreenberg.com is a constantly updated source for the latest in travel news, analysis and information led by travel guru Peter Greenberg. For more information, visit www.PeterGreenberg.com.

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