The Top 10 Gadgets For Back To School

So you're heading back to school soon?

Maybe that means some seven-hour days at Madison High School, or maybe you'll be spending a few months away from home, studying hard and enjoying the college life.

Either way, you have to make sure that you're best prepared for the long nights of cramming for exams, hours of researching for papers, and most importantly–you have to have something to do with all of that "down time."

That's why we've found the top 10 must-have gadgets for every student (and even some fun and easy-to-use gadgets for you parents out there). Here, you will get an in-depth look at the technology, an idea of how much money you can expect to spend, where you can find the gadgets, and in some cases, if the gadget is out of your price range, a cheaper alternative.

MacBook Pro – Price: $1,199

Recently, the Apple MacBook Pro has emerged as a trendy, yet supremely effective laptop. The sleek look and user-friendly compatibility, 13-inch screen (larger screens available on other models), combined with an array of attractive programs the likes of iTunes and iMovie (a program that allows users to make their own videos and stream them with their own audio), makes this laptop one of the most versatile on the market today.

And for the parents out there, don't worry, your kids will still be able to use their MacBook Pro to type their term papers and create presentations… when they have some spare time, of course.  

The MacBook Pro, which is Windows and Microsoft Office compatible, boasts a speedy 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of RAM and a roomy 160-GB hard drive.

In layman's terms, that means you can fit A TON of pictures, songs, HD movies, and even some of those pesky term papers on it. Couple that with a battery that lasts upwards of 5 ½ hours and this laptop is clearly one of the best on the market.

More affordable alternative: Samsung Q430-11 – Price $849 (Available at Madison Radio Shack, 300 Main Street, Madison.)

Logitech Webcam C905 – Price $79.99

No longer does being away at college mean that you have to wait until Thanksgiving break to shock your parents with that new tattoo that you just got, or show off that random grouping of hair on your upper lip that you call a mustache.

The people at Logitech know that it's a lot easier on you to shock your parents over the Internet, rather than face to face, so they have created the C905 webcam to make sure that you have a nice comfortable buffer zone when delivering some "questionable" information back home.

But in all seriousness, Logitech is showing off its video conferencing chops, offering you a two-megapixel camera that uses RedLight 2 technology, auto focus and a built in microphone to produce a crisp, brightly lit video, with clear, uninterrupted sound—no matter what your surroundings might be.

Have some fun by changing up your background with video effects, to spice up what's sure to be an already enjoyable conversation, from the comfort of your own office or dorm room.

More affordable alternative: Logitech Quickcam – Price $29.99 (Available at Madison Radio Shack)

Monster Blackout Digital PowerCenter – Price $109.95 (Available at Madison Radio Shack)

A lot of people aren't aware that household appliances like garage door openers and air conditioners not only take some of the juice away from your flat screen TV or entertainment center, but also pollute your house's electricity, leaving you with a less-than-perfect viewing experience.

And with all that cash you dropped on your living room home theater, why let something as simple as a surge protector rob you of clarity and sound, or even worse, actually damage your electronics?

Monster Cable Company, Inc., agrees, so they have created the Blackout Digital PowerCenter to help insure that no power surge, spike or dip will affect your home theater system.

The Monster Blackout comes equipped with a six-foot-long power cord and flat profile plug, which fits behind any piece of furniture and is angled to not block any adjacent outlets, six illuminated color coded AC outlets, with matching labels for power cords, so you don't have to spend time retracing that mess of wires behind your TV just to unplug your Xbox 360.

The Dual Mode Plus feature gives you advanced protection against powerful surges, as it automatically disconnects your AV equipment before any damage can occur. It will also sound an alarm to tell you that it has done so, allowing you to keep track of every time your ultra intelligent surge protector saves you some serious cash. Something everyone can appreciate.

HP Officejet Pro 4500 Wireless All-in-One Printer – Price $129.99

So you've got your shiny new laptop computer, your webcam, and the most advanced surge protector on the market. Now, all you need is a printer, a scanner, and maybe even a fax machine and copier. But who wants to go out and spend money on all of those things? And really, who has the space to keep all of that stuff anyway?

HP has kept your organizational and economical concerns at the forefront of its product line, creating an extremely reasonably priced all-in-one home office that will even help out your electric bills by using ENERGY STAR technology.

The HP Officejet Pro 4500 connects to your computer wirelessly, allows you to make up to 90 copies with the push of one button and has the ability to reduce or enlarge those copies 25 to 400 percent.

Just 17-inches wide, eight-inches tall, and weighing in at a whopping 13 pounds, the all-in-one printer is just as compact as it is useful and affordable.

Livescribe Pulse smartpen – Price $199

Tired of taking notes in class and missing something important because you can't keep up? Well the makers of the Livescribe Pulse smartpen thought you might be, so they came up with a solution.

The Livescribe resembles something out of "The Bourne Ultimatum" movies, with a built-in voice recorder that holds up to 2GB of memory and the ability to digitally sync your notes to your computer and even share them online. But not even THAT is the coolest part.

Let's say you want to come back to a certain part of a lecture because your notes aren't completely coherent–you probably shouldn't be flirting with the cute girl in the seat next to you instead of taking notes–but anyway, using tiny dots as reference points on the special Livescribe notebook paper ($13-$25), the Pulse's infrared sensor bring you back to the exact part of the lecture that you're looking for.

No longer will you miss vital information about an upcoming exam because your professor or teacher is a speedy talker. Amazing.

Amazon Kindle DX – Price $379 (Available at Amazon.com)

Don't want to spend a ton of cash on textbooks this year? Maybe you're just an avid reader, who spends around $30-$60 every time you visit a bookstore.

Well now there's a cheaper and more compact solution with the Amazon Kindle DX.

The Kindle, just 1/3 of an inch thick, is a handheld device that holds up to 3,500 books (new releases and best sellers starting at $9.99) and arms users with a free, 3G wireless network, allowing you to purchase books anywhere, anytime in less than 60 seconds.

Not sure if you want a certain book? Not a problem. Amazon allows you to download and read first chapters of books before purchasing.

With tests, papers, work and extracurricular activities already consuming most of your day, the last thing a student wants to hear from their professor is that they have to read the next 150 pages in their books by tomorrow.

Don't fret. Now, students can enjoy relaxing on their couch as the Kindle uses its "Read to Me" function to read books, magazines, newspapers and blogs out loud to them.

The Kindle DX has just made that five-chapter homework assignment much less of a chore.

More affordable alternative: Amazon Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi –Price $189.00

Duracell myGrid WIRELESS CHARGING PAD – Price $79.99 (Available at Madison Radio Shack)

If you're like me, then you're tired of forgetting your phone charger everywhere you go and you wish there was an easier way for you and your roommates to charge your phones or iPods without using all of the electrical outlets in your apartment.

Well you're in luck. The Duracell myGrid cellular phone and MP3 charger gives you a quick and easy way to charge up to four mobile devices at the same time.

Just plug in the nine-inch-wide charging mat anywhere in your dorm room, apartment or house, and you're all set to just drop your cell and go. No more worrying about broken chargers, or annoying connections on your phone and the myGrid works with any Apple, BlackBerry, Motorola and Nokia phone as well as many handheld MP3 players.

iPod Touch–Price $199-$399 (Available at Madison Radio Shack)

What's to say about the Apple iPod Touch other than it's basically a mini entertainment center that fits right in your front pocket.

With a 3.5-inch touchscreen display that allows users to watch movies or TV shows and a battery life with an impressive 30 hours of audio playback (six hours of video), students will look forward to their bus ride to school or their downtime between classes.

The $199 8GB iPod Touch holds up to 1,750 songs, 10,000 pictures or up to ten hours of video, while its 'big brother', the 32GB iPod touch ($299), holds up to 7,000 songs, 40,000 photos and up to 40 hours of video.

And for those of you who have more music than anyone that I know, Apple gives you the $399 64GB version. This bad boy has twice as much storage as the 32GB version, allowing you to have every song you've ever heard at the tip of your fingers. And if you get tired of your playlist, just visit the iTunes shop and purchase a few songs in only seconds.

As if the most superior MP3 player on the market isn't a good enough selling point, the iPod Touch's Wi-Fi web browser allows you to hop online, just as if you were sitting at your own computer in your room.

Another fun feature is the iPod voice control. Voice control lets you communicate with your iPod, telling it what song you want it to play. It also lets you record voice notes, to make sure you remember to get that paper done tonight before you go out.

(Note: Apple has recently announced that they will be releasing a new version of the iPod Touch with a video camera built in.)

Cellular Options

Don't want to carry an iPod, a cell phone, and everything else you take with you when you leave the house? Well, the Apple iPhone is a clear-cut solution. Not only is it armed with all of the same features of the iPod Touch, but the iPhone also allows you to make and receive phone calls and texts. The only downside to the iPhone is for Verizon users, because the iPhone is only available for AT&T.

Don't worry, we have another solution, this one in the form of the Verizon Droid (available at The Wireless Zone, 11 Park Ave. in Madison). The Droid is Verizon's answer to the iPhone, giving you all of the same features, plus a ton of free apps.

Garmin nuvi 255W GPS Receiver – Price $119.99 (Available at the Madison Radio Shack)

Getting lost is never fun. When time is of the essence, stopping for directions at a gas station can be excruciating. And because we aren't all lucky enough to drive cars equipped with navigation built in, an alternative method must be found.

Lately, it seems like every car you see has a GPS attached to their windshields by one of those annoying suction cups that always seem to give out at the most inopportune times. Unfortunately, I can't do too much about the suction cup technology, but I can help you get to your destination by the fastest route and without ever having to stop for directions.

The Garmin nuvi 255W is a 4.3-inch wide screen GPS receiver that gives you turn-by-turn directions and both 2D and 3D maps.

Missed a turn? Don't worry. The Garmin has fluid map updates, redirecting you to your next move in a matter of seconds. Its extensive database can also help you find restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and many more destinations.

You'll never get lost again, with the help of your Garmin nuvi 255W.

More affordable alternative: TomTom One 130 GPS Receiver (refurbished) – Price  $59.40 (Available at RadioShack.com)

Nikon S3000 Digital Camera- Price $139.99

With all of the memories that you and your friends create every single day, and with the popularity of sharing those memories on Facebook and MySpace, it's only natural students want to capture as many moments as they can.

The Nikon S3000 digital camera makes that about as simple as any camera on the market as it sports a beautifully clear 2.7-inch LCD display, wide-angle 4X optical zoom and about 47MB of storage space.

Not only is the Nikon S3000 perfect because it takes up about as much space in your pocket as a cell phone (it's less than an inch thick), but it would appear that this camera comes equipped with its very own brain.

What's that mean?

Well, the Nikon S3000 uses a four-way VR Image Stabilization System. Which is basically just a fancy way of saying that camera shake, moving subjects and low light situations will no longer ruin your attempt at taking great pictures.

Couple that with Nikon's original Best Shot Selector (BSS), a feature that automatically takes up to ten shots when the shutter is pressed, keeping the sharpest picture, and purchasing the Nikon S3000 is a no-brainer.