Must-Have Tech Essentials for First-Year College Students

TechsPlace | While many people are busy celebrating the end of the school year, for those who are transitioning to their first year of college in the fall it can be bittersweet. It is the end of an era and a start of a new chapter. College is filled with unique experiences, new friendships, self-discovery and a chance to dig into the topics and the career path that you’re passionate about. But before you jump in, there are some must-have tech essentials that will help ensure your first year as a college student is a success.

The Perfect Laptop for a Student

Long gone are the days that students show up to class with a pencil and a pad of paper to make notes and work on assignments. Today’s colleges are digital in every sense, even with classes themselves taking place online. This means you need the perfect laptop for a college student. School laptops require speed, decent storage space, and a large enough screen to work on. They need to be lightweight and portable and have excellent battery power.

Depending on your needs and budget, you may even want to look at something like the Lenovo ThinkPad that doubles as a laptop and tablet. The keyboard can be removed entirely from the screen making it versatile for students.

Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Will Help with Studying

For students who plan on living in a dorm or spending time on campus to study and do their work, distractions are something you won’t have much time and patience for. To help block the outside noise, allowing you to stay focused, a wireless noise-cancelling headset is a must.

The main thing to watch for with a headset is comfort. The headset should be adjustable so it fits perfectly, has padded ears, and be comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time.

A Portable Printer Will be Useful with Assignments

Because you won’t always be working in your dorm or at home, it’s also handy to have a portable printer that you can take with you on the go. Be sure to look for a Wi-Fi model so that it’s wireless. This will give you the freedom you’re after. Today’s printers allow you to print from most of your wireless devices such as your laptop, tablet and even your smartphone.

External Speakers to Give You the Gift of Sound

Some people find it easier to work with a little background noise in the form of music. If this sounds like you then a wireless speaker is also a must-have essential. Most of these are quite small and compact so you can easily throw them in your backpack or bag and take them with you.

Say Goodbye to the Wired Mouse

The final essential is a wireless mouse because let’s face it – who uses wired anything these days? A wireless mouse is perfect for a desktop or laptop and you can even find them in fun pops of colour. Putting each of these tech essentials on your must-buy list means you’ll be well-prepared for your first year of college.