What About Technology? Back-to-School Gadgets

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Students will be heading back to school in the next few weeks. While they will have most of their school supplies with them, if they are going to be using laptops, they will need a few gadgets you may not have thought about.

College students in particular need a few computer accessories for their apartment or dorm room. I would suggest anyone who works remotely with a laptop as their main computer to take advantage of gadgets that will make their work more comfortable and convenient.

Laptops have become more streamlined than ever before, often sacrificing ports for a sleeker design. This can be a challenge for students who need to connect different devices. These essential gadgets not only make laptops more efficient, but more productive.

● External hub: An external hub is a must for expanding your laptop’s connectivity. It plugs into just one port on your computer to add capacity for more devices. Look for one that offers multiple USB ports, SD and microSD card slots, and an HDMI port for connecting external displays. They’re small enough to throw in your backpack for those times when you need to connect more than one accessory.

● Portable DVD/CD drive: Remember when all computers had a CD/DVD drive? Optical drives became a thing of the past when manufacturers decided to make all their laptops thinner and lighter. They are still useful for watching movies or accessing files on disc. University libraries may offer content that is only available on DVD or CD.

● Memory Stick: A flash drive is ideal for transferring files between computers. Choose a password-protected drive to keep your data safe, and make sure it can be connected to the computer you’re using via a standard USB or USB-C port. Portable hard drives hold more data, and some are slightly larger than a credit card.

● Power strip with surge protection: Dorms and apartments often lack enough outlets. A power strip with a surge protector and built-in USB ports can be a godsend. Look for power strips with built-in USB ports and multiple outlets. Check out the latest power strips in different shapes and sizes. If they will be plugged into a TV or laptop, make sure it is a surge protector if the school allows it.

● Laptop Stand: Raise your laptop to eye level with a laptop stand to prevent neck and back strain during long study sessions. This makes a huge difference during long study and work sessions, as well as during Zoom or Facetime calls, since the camera is at eye level. Most laptop stands are portable enough to carry in a backpack, but I find they work best when you leave them on a desk in your room.

● External keyboard: Pair a laptop stand with a comfortable external keyboard for a more ergonomic setup. Consider a Bluetooth keyboard that can connect to multiple devices. Logitech has a large selection of Bluetooth keyboards at reasonable prices.

● External mouse: If they are going to use a laptop stand and portable keyboard, they will also need an external mouse so they don’t have to type on a raised keyboard. These are very affordable now (some under $20).

These accessories will enhance your laptop experience and make your college life more convenient and productive. They’re great for anyone who has a laptop as their primary computer, and they all cost under $50.