By Amanda Moses
The first few weeks of school can be daunting, especially for high schoolers and college students who are entering a new arena of education. While textbooks are half the battle, especially college editions that can run upward of $100, having the right technology and programs are crucial. (Also consider renting your textbooks instead of purchasing them, check out Chegg.com for more information).
Hard Drives, Flash Drives and Cloud Saves
We have all had that nightmarish experience when we lose a Microsoft Word (or Pages if you are using a Mac) document—that gut wrenching pain when hours of hard work disappears. This is why backup storage becomes the key to success and your sanity. Essays and research papers are continuously edited throughout the semester, so it would be incumbent upon the student to invest in a hard drive, flash drive, or cloud saves (or all of the above).
Flash drives are temperamental tools, since they are used so often and removed and used from computer to computer they have an increased chance of becoming corrupted (especially if you do not properly EJECT the drive). It’s best to purchase a flash drive that is under 64GB but, also have the file backed up on your computer or hard drive. This is useful if you have to use the school computer to print your paper for class.
Hard drives, particularly portable ones, are also a great tool. However, be warned these tools need to be treated like glass since one drop could mean the end of saving files. While some stores may advertise a “rugged” hard drive, take this description with a grain of salt because this does not mean it is drop proof. Hard drives are great if you are working on a big research project with photos and videos since too many of these files on your desktop/laptop can cause a lag in your system. When you use a hard drive, make sure to create an organized filing system so that you can quickly retrieve your project (nothing is worse than being on a tight deadline only to spend an hour trying to find a document).
Cloud systems like Drobox, iCloud, and even One Drive are great ways to access your documents seamlessly through any computer. This allows you to spend less time worrying about someone mugging you on the train for your laptop, and concentrating on just getting to school without dealing with life’s lemons. For under or approximately $10 and up a month (depending on how much storage you need) you can have a subscription to cloud saves.
Tablet or Laptop
Personally, I think a laptop may be a better investment for school because you have access to hardwire ports on your system for flash drives, SD card readers, and more. However, if you want to keep your backpack light you can find a relatively affordable tablet and even purchase a cover with a keyboard—giving you some of the comfort of a laptop experience. The iPad can cost about $300-$500 (unless you want an iPad Pro for $1,200 but, why pay that much when you can buy a MacBook Air for the same price?) The Microsoft Surface GO or the Microsoft 2-in-1 are also great options, but can cost upwards of $500. Also remember with a tablet you should always get a screen protector, and for a laptop a hard cover shell protector (as well as insurance!) If you’re going to spend big money on equipment, make sure to also purchase protection for your equipment.
