From handy personal assistants to laptops with double the speed of a year ago, the hottest new digital tools can take the sting out of going back to school.
If you're a college student looking for a laptop: Remember Haswell. It's the code name for Intel's latest line of processors, the fourth generation Intel Core series. This processor not only makes the computer ultra-fast, but also extends the battery life with no tradeoff in performance.
Waiting a few weeks will give you more choices, because these machines are just starting to come out. But if you need something now, try the Acer Aspire S7 touchscreen, which comes with Office 365 University edition. The $1,259 price at the Microsoft Store is discounted for students.
Apple fans, have no fear, because the 2013 MacBook Air also includes Haswell. Ranging from just south of $1,000 for the 11-inch version to $1,249 for the 13-inch, the MacBook Air comes with a $100 App Store credit for students.
This is the first year since Apple's trailblazing tablet exploded onto the scene in 2010 that I can't recommend it as a note-taking and textbook-reading companion. Any iPad you buy now will take a quick nosedive in value, with a new generation due to be announced this fall. Also, the experience — and the price — of attaching a keyboard accessory to the iPad is simply not worth it.
If bringing a laptop to class is a hassle, invest in a Microsoft Surface with a keyboard cover. In fact, if you aren't a gamer or graphic designer, consider the Surface RT as a budget-friendly replacement for a laptop and tablet. At 1.5 pounds, buy the Surface RT with the so-called Type Cover for a total of $479.
The iPad is a fine textbook reader, but here's a secret: The Kindle Paperwhite, for a fraction of the price at $139, is the best pure e-reader on the market and will give your eyes a rest with its front-lit, glare-free screen — and with a whopping 8 weeks of battery life.
Now that you're ready for class, the only hurdle is getting there. For that, I direct iPhone users to the new iOS personal assistant app, Donna. Though geared toward busy professionals, it works as well for those pesky 8 a.m. classes. Simply input your schedule to the calendar, and good ol' Donna will tell you when to leave and how to get there — depending on whether you bike, walk or drive.
Smartphone shoppers should look no further than the Nokia Lumia 1020 from AT&T, now at $199 with a two-year contract. Take professional-quality photos of all those exciting new experiences. And please, send them to your parents. They did, after all, drop a ton of cash on your spoiled, digitally decked-out self.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
A look at smartest back-to-school gadgets
Dengan url
http://kapalnelayanto.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-look-at-smartest-back-to-school.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
A look at smartest back-to-school gadgets
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
A look at smartest back-to-school gadgets
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar