With back-to-school shopping colliding with the tax-free weekend today, I've assembled a group of tech products that should give college students a good buy:
--Nexus 7 -- Time for a tablet? If you're already plunking down $1,000-plus on a computer, skip the pricey iPad and go for the reasonably priced Nexus 7. At $199 in the Google Play store, it's got the cleanest interface of any Android tablet, a great touchscreen keyboard, zero video lag and buttery-smooth graphics. It's smaller than the iPad and will transport easily to class without taking up much space on a desk.
--HP PhotoSmart 7510 -- At $125.99 on Amazon.com, this printer should last you all four years. It's got its own wireless network and features AirPrint so you can print from your iPhone or iPad. You don't even need a computer to print coupons, movie tickets and recipes. Besides photo-quality prints, it has the bonus of EnergyStar status.
--?Square -- No more fretting over how to split up spending. Go to Squareup.com and register for a free credit card reader so you can easily divvy up the cost of movie tickets, meals and anything else with your friends. The tiny square plugs into the headphone jack of a smartphone.
--Dyson Digital Slim -- The cleanliness of college students ranks anywhere from piggish to level-five hoarder. So splurge on this $399.99 compact vacuum (available Sept. 3) that slides easily under couches with its new "animal attachment" and conquer frat party remnants without losing suction. It just might save your security deposit.
--Laptops -- The key is to buy one with a solid-state drive, which unfortunately is not included in the best budget-friendly laptop, the Sony VAIO E series ($450 and up). So if you can afford it, opt for a MacBook Air. A bare-bones version starts at $999.
--Office for Mac: If you do get a Mac, it probably won't come with Microsoft's productivity suite. Get the 2011 university edition for only $80 as long as you have an email address that ends in ".edu," and edit docs anywhere using Skydrive.
j.vansack@bostonherald.com
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