Tech Treasures for Back-to-College

Our DFNG correspondent Nicole Norfleet is returning to the University of North Carolina for her junior year. Before heading off, she let us know what the campus crowd needs to bring with them.

From Nicole:

It's that magical time of the year when I head back to the majestic UNC-Chapel Hill campus and spend all of my (and my parents') hard-earned money on books, school supplies, clothes and dorm necessities. While blowing my parents' savings on things that I will only use for a couple of months, I came up with a few must-have tech supplies that every college student should have during their time at school.


USB flash drive
I laugh at anyone who still uses CD-Rs. Saving all of your files is a cinch with these easy-to-use, rewritable portable memory sticks. Flash drives are especially helpful if you need to print out a term paper in the computer lab five minutes before class or if your computer has a virus and you need to backup your files. You'll never use a disk again.

PNY Attache 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive; Price: $29.99 at CompUSA.com

Adobe student editions

Take advantage of purchasing software packages that are available to students at a discount. The Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium has all kind of fun programs for a young, creative mind. It has the latest versions of Adobe InDesign, Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, Bridge, Version Cue, Device Central and Acrobat. The commercial price for the whole enchilada is $1,799. The package is offered on the Adobe web site for $599 to students and educators. A classmate got his CS3 package for $320 from a professor. He must have been an all "A" student.

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium; Price: $599

iPod home speakers

An iPod is a college student's best friend. While you are chilling in your dorm, you can charge your faithful companion and play your music. My Emerson iPod Clock Radio with SmartSet is sleek and stylish. It's adaptable for all iPod devices. I can listen to songs from my Nano or the radio plus, it has an alarm clock and a handy-dandy remote. Downsides are you can't easily navigate through your songs like you can do on your iPod and it doesn't play CDs.

Emerson Research iPod Clock Radio IC200BK, Price: $69.99 at Target.com

CD/DVD cleaning repair kits

I have never tried any cleaning kits because I take care of my DVDs and CDs. However, if you are always leaving your discs out on your desk or on the floor of your car (like my boyfriend) then maybe you should invest in a repair kit. There are different products that claim to make your scratched and smeared discs look like new. Personally, I don't care what a disc looks like as long as it works. I heard the sprays don't normally have any lasting effects, but I know some students who use machines to clean their stuff. The Skip Dr. Motorized Automax Scratch Repair System is in the student price range and has received majority positive online reviews.

Skip Dr. Motorized Automax Scratch Repair System; Price: $26.39 on Amazon.com

Lap protectors

There's a reason why they call portable computers "notebooks" now instead of "laptops"... they burn the heck out of your thighs when they are being overworked (and they also do something weird to your reproductive organs). I have to always put my ThinkPad on the floor or the couch when I am not working at my desk. This normally results in back discomfort and a blazing hot cushion. The solution may be a comfortable notebook stand such as the Belkin F8N004 CushTop, which comes in several colors. Your lap and unborn children will thank you for it.