Back-to-School Tech: What Every College Student Should Have

With the Satellite, students can easily manage schoolwork, watch videos, surf the Web, send emails and more. Other features including a 14″ LED-backlit display with 720p HD resolution, built-in DVD player and webcam, tons of memory and storage, and unique software like Bulletin, an easy-to-use organizational and productivity app, make this Amazon-exclusive notebook a great moderately priced all-purpose option.

$519 (originally $679)  at amazon.com

Buy a MacBook from Apple before September 7, 2010, and get a free printer and 8GB iPod touch after mail-in rebate. Upgrade to the Epson Artisan 810 Wireless Color InkJet All-in-One Printer for $150 for superior print quality and easy Wi-Fi printing.

$949 and up at apple.com

Don’t balk at the idea of an HDTV as a dorm room essential – this 32” 720p HD flat screen works overtime as a TV, computer monitor and speakers, and a DVD player, saving space and reducing cord clutter. Also includes a USB port to for transferring photos and music files easily.

And not that they should have much time for video games but gaming features like “Gaming Mode”, which eliminates the lag time between pressing a button on game controller and the action onscreen, makes the 32CV100 a must-have for the 73% of college males who plan to bring a game console to school this year.

$485 at qvc.com

This all-in-one printer, scanner and copier wirelessly connects to Wi-Fi enabled smartphones or iPod Touch to receive pictures and documents for hassle-free printing, which is especially great for sharing with a roommate or study groups. For added ease, the 7250 also includes slots for USB drives or memory cards and a wireless designs means no wires to plug in or trip over.

$199 at kodak.com

Theft if one of the harsh realities of dorm life. Anything that isn’t tied down or locked up should be considered at risk. This keyed lock means no combinations to remember and the wire’s galvanized steel core should secure any laptop, desktop computer or monitor.

$32 at amazon.com

This online backup service syncs with a computer to automatically save data —  it just runs in the background, requiring minimal maintenance. Files can be easily accessed from any computer or mobile device connected to the Internet and can even be mailed on a DVD or USB drive.

$5 a month for unlimited storage at backblaze.com

The ultra-small Echo ZE ‘lives’ in a computer’s USB drive port to perform ongoing backup, protecting files and works-in-progress against loss. Built-in software securely encrypts files and easily restores previously saved versions of a file, preventing any accidental overwrite or deletion of files. For both PC and Mac.

$50 and up at lexar.com

As the world’s largest resource for college information created by the students themselves, Unigo.com offers insights from your school’s current students on everything from the typical week of an undergrad, how to score freebies on campus, the low-down on internships and more.

A must-have for study sessions or phone calls! Unlike pricey noise-canceling earphones that only work for background white noise, these create a snug, secure seal to block out outside music or talking (up to 16 dB) and are compatible with mp3 players, smartphones, gaming consoles and other audio devices.

To protect against inevitable abuse, a flip-top pocket-sized hard case safely stores earphones and a thicker, durable cord won’t tangle as easily.

$42 at amazon.com

This 14 MP camera also captures HD quality video that can easily connected to any HDTV for viewing or emailed to friends and family. Sharing pictures and videos has never been easier — files can be instantly uploaded directly from the camera to YouTube, Facebook, Flickr or email.

$180 (originally $200) at kodak.com

This ingenious gadget records everything a student hears and writes, linking notes to audio (up to 800 hours) that can be replayed on the pen’s built-in speakers with just a quick tap. Notes are transferred to a computer via USB for easy integration into a report or presentation and can be shared as a PDF, audio file, or a ‘pencast.’

Students can also download an array of helpful apps including a dictionary, thesaurus and calculator. The Echo smartpen works only with Livescribe Dot Paper which can be purchased or printed at home using a certified laser-jet printer.

$170 for 4GB, $199 for 8GB at amazon.com

Now available on campuses nationwide, Hertz’s new car sharing service offers college students 24/7 access to a car without the costs of owning one. Rental fees are only $10-$12 an hour and include free gas, 24/7 roadside assistance, insurance and GPS. Cars can be booked for as little as an hour or as long as a week, perfect for grocery store runs and weekend trips back home.

$10-$12 an hour after one-time $50 fee at connectbyhertz.com

How many college students would have died of starvation if it wasn’t for ramen noodles? But even with its simple preparation, all it takes is for an easily distracted student to wander away for a few minutes to turn a cup of noodles into inedible mush.

With this silly geeky gadget, just pour in the boiling water, set the timer for 3 minutes and voilà — noodle-y perfection.

$12 at gizfever.com