Human Schooling

Human Handlings
1. Laptop
This one hardly needs an explanation. A laptop is a must - even if you have a phone with Wi-Fi, a watch that allows you to browse mail (yeah they actually make those these days) or whatever. You do not want to be sitting with your phone to type out your thesis or to complete an assignment. Besides, everything is electronic these days. Gone are the days when students would carry notebooks and stationery to college. It's an e-world; and an e-world begins with computers and laptops.

2. Portable Hard Drive
Even if you have a laptop, not everything you want or need is going to fit in the limited storage space that a laptop offers. Portable hard drives are what you need in such cases. You can have different hard drives to store different kinds of data - music on one, movies on another, etc. Even if you do not have so much data to store, it is always a good idea to backup whatever data you have on the laptop, and a hard drive is a much simpler option to back it up rather than CDs, DVDs and all that.

3. Smart Pen
This one makes classes just so easy! A smart pen is one that was designed by a really innovative person I am sure. It acts as a recording device, with a built-in microphone and speaker (so you can record lectures and classes). It can also be connected to a PC via the USB connector. It also has a jack for standard earphones and headphones to be connected to it. Finally, it writes like a regular pen. Could anything be more multipurpose?

4. Phone
I am seriously NOT going to explain this one. You need a phone, means you need a phone; and that's that. Go get a phone!

5. iPad
College is not and should never be about 'all work and no play'. An iPad will take care of the 'work' as well as the 'play' part for you. You can browse your email, surf the Internet, watch videos, movies. You can make presentations, give presentations, even take notes on an iPad. The latest iPads even have Wi-Fi, so you can quickly transfer stuff from the iPad to your laptop or PC. An iPad is much more compact to carry around and hence makes it to this list, and the iPad apps just make it irresistible! An emphatic suggestion.

6. iPod
Yes an iPad is a grown up version of an iPod and has a lot of features that are missing in an iPod. But you do not carry an iPad to a gym! You cannot hit the track for a nice long morning walk or jog with an iPad in your pocket. And you definitely cannot exercise without music! Your favorite music on the go - that is what an iPod is all about. An iPod is compact and less cumbersome to carry around, and it leaves your hands free to write, eat, drink, whatever. You can even load your photos on an iPod - in case you get really nostalgic or something.

7. Portable Audio System
So I am sure you are going to have at least one party or get-together or sleepover every month; and a party isn't a party if there is no music. Also sometimes you want to get rid of all those wires clinging to your body and just set yourself free so you can pump up the bass and jump up and down on your bed, right? A portable audio system lets you hook an iPod to it so that everyone can enjoy your music collection. A must-have for the party animals, as well as for those who do not like to listen to music on the headphone 24/7.

8. Camera
What is college life without a few good laughs, a few good friends and a few good memories? The surest way to create memories is to spend time with your friends doing things you all really enjoy. The best way to store these memories however, is to click lots of pictures when you are all together, and having the time of your life. A good collection of pictures can keep you really busy on an unoccupied afternoon, and can give you company in an unknown city. A good camera is hence a must for every college student.

9. Coffee Maker
This one also does not need an explanation. All those long hours of studying that you are going to have to do eventually, as you prepare for exams, are going to be a lot more bearable if they are accompanied by coffee. A mug of coffee can keep sleep away and let you focus on your studies without you dozing off to glory with your face right across your books! A coffee machine will also give you the perfect excuse to invite that girl up to your room. Trust me, that one small cup of coffee, totally made by you, is going to earn you brownie points!

10. Xbox 360
Yeah, I can see all you gaming fanatics nod for this one! A PlayStation is going to make those parties and get-togethers a lot more fun and interesting than they would perhaps be without a PlayStation. So why the new Xbox 360? Well - it has a super fast processor, built-in Wi-Fi, is slimmer, sleeker, neater and also a lot more energy-efficient than the previous ones. Energy-efficient means added hours of gaming! This one is sure to bust your stress and help you relax after a long assignment or a long day in general.

So that is my list of top 10 gadgets for college students. They are going to make college life really exciting and fun for you. But you might need some big time convincing as far as your progenitor-cum-financiers (read: parents) are concerned... Wish you luck with that!