Electronic Gifts for University Students

Send College Kids Back to School With Productive Electronic Toys

Aug 31, 2009

College kids might be all grown up, but a gift from mom and dad can still comfort them when starting college. The next gifts can keep them focused throughout the years.

College kids are always on the go, whether they are reading, writing, studying, thinking, or sleeping. Facilitate their lives by giving them a cool electronic gift that will make life a little easier on the activities they love to do, and do the most.

Pro: With this electronic reader, students don't have to weigh their options on what books to take to campus or home for the holidays. The Kindle holds up to 2,500 books, and won't weigh down a backpack. The Kindle comes in two sizes, a 6 inch screen and a 9.7 inch screen .

Con: The price is definitely high for the Kindle and many older books have yet to be added to the store. Though as the e-book and e-reader market catches on, so are publishers which are adding more titles for the Kindle everyday.

Pro: No more typing up notes with this little gem of a pen. The Pulse Smartpen is a genius little fountain pen that records everything a person writes down on a special notepad that looks like a regular notebook. A 2 GB pen can record about an entire semester of notes. Simply tap the record icon on the special dot paper, write down lecture notes, research information, or a grocery list, and when finished, tap the stop icon. Upload notes to either a PC or a Mac, print off, and save hours of typing up notes. The Smartpen also records all audio that a person's own ear can hear, which is a great complement to written notes.

Con: The initial software was found to be buggy. This has been improved in the latest version and even made Apple.com's best product list. The pen may be too big for some people with small hands to write with comfortably, so it might be a good idea to keep receipts or have the person test it out before buying.

Pro: Netbooks are ultra portable and so small they can fit in a standard hand bag. They come in many different colors, and have skins available for extra personalization. If bought from a wireless carrier like Verizon or AT&T, they come wired to use the internet wherever a person is, without having to look for a hotspot.

Con: They might be too small for some people. Tunnel vision and typing issues can ensue, though most people who aren't NFL linebackers can use these netbooks comfortably. The other downside is the need for a wireless plan. It is great for a college student that is out and about all the time, but not so practical for a homebody or avid library goer.

Pro: This iPod is tiny and clips right onto any exerciser's clothes. It is easy to upload music onto, and shuffles through the uploaded playlists to motivate any college runner. The latest version allows owners to upload more than one playlist, which makes it easier to pick from a high intensity playlist for hard core workouts, to a slower one for nice jogs.

Con: The playlist isn't visible, but with voice over technology, anyone can choose a desired playlist.

Parenting does not stop when college begins. Providing a child with tools to make them more efficient like the Smartpen and Netbook shows students their parents care about their success. Giving gifts to supplement health and well being and that facilitate motivation for exercise, like the iPod Shuffle, and pleasure reading, like the Kindle, will show students that their parents still care about how they spend their leisure time. Though no gift is a substitution for real love and affection, gifts for college are a subtle way of reminding kids that mom and dad will always be there.

The copyright of the article Electronic Gifts for University Students in Campus Life is owned by Carmen Sofia Grant. Permission to republish Electronic Gifts for University Students in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.