For Students Adding a Netbook as a Second Computer

This is a post in our 2009 Back to School series. You can see all of the posts here.

Netbooks are the hottest piece of back-to-school technology this summer and I highly recommend buying one, even if it's a second computer. (My favorite is the Mini 110, pictured below.) If you're interested in starting to take notes in class, it's a great buy. And it's a cheap way of getting you fired up about a new machine without investing in a decked-out one to replace your 5-year-old clunker which can still tolerably handle things that a netbook won't be able to. A netbook can even help you work more efficiently. But it'll take a litte transition -- one I can hopefully help you out with.

The benefits

The HP Mini 110, my pick for the student netbook. Before I get into some of the difficulties of staying organized between two computers, let's enjoy some of the geeky productivity that'll ensue once you get one.

Helping you focus

Netbooks are the ultimate anti-multi-tasking device. Multi-tasking ultimatlely produces poorer results -- especially since the type of juggling a college student does is between a research paper and Facebook. Netbooks have small screens and less power, so it'll be hard to switch between windows and open a lot of different programs. It keeps you working in one program at a time. Creative writers and bloggers will especially love having a netbook since it'll keep you focused on the page.

Staying mobile

If you have a desktop computer or a large laptop, a netbook will free you up to do more on-the-go computing. It'll help you utilize short periods between classes or avoid wasted drives home just to do computer homework.

Speed

Many of netbooks run simpler operating systems and stripped-down programs. Running nothing but a word processor can often be more nimble on a netbook than your other system since it doesn't have the overhead (calendar programs, task management, Quicksilver, etc.). Because of this, the boot-up time can be speedier, too.

Syncing data

When it comes to syncing data between more than one computer, it's easy to get stressed out. But don't sweat. I say, keep it simple, and most of the time, it is.

Separating tasks

One of the easiest ways to keep things "synced" is just to leave your data separated. For a student, it makes a lot of sense to keep your notes and journal entries exclusively on your netbook. As long as you take all of your notes on your netbook, you'll rarely need them anywhere else. It's just like having a separate binder like in the olden days. Make a decided effort to keep whole categories of tasks separate.

Thumb drives

Thumb drives are a great way to keep things synced. These days, a 16 gig thumbdrive is relatively affordable, and it can probably hold all of your school work. Do that, and you'll always know where to look. Keep it in your pocket -- except when you wash your jeans. (In other words, periodically, back it up.)

Software 

HP netbooks like the Mini 110 come with Syncables these days. It's a pain to set up, but if you have the time and the anal-ness, it's worth it. It can sync just about anything you require.

Web apps are going to be your best friend with a netbook (hence, Google's recent jump in to the OS arena). Google Mail, Calendar and Docs will keep your info wherever an internet connection is. (Just don't find yourself in a place without one.) A fancy mobile device that syncs email, calendars and contacts might be all you need.

Indispensable College Packing Lists

Last year, we posted this great video of ridiculous lifehacks. We hope you still enjoy it. The list we're poking fun at is College and Finace's 18 Overlooked Things Everyone Should Bring to College. If you're already moved in, here's our honest assesment of what you'll really need -- and how to fake it through what you've forgotten.

And, of course, we're sure you didn't miss David's list of bookstore rip-offs that you should bring with you now.

11 Bookstore Rip-Offs You Shouldn't Forget

This is a post in our 2009 Back to School series. You can see all of the posts here.

Oh, complexities of the typical packing checklist. It always fails. You're going to remember to bring clothes, sure. But what about hangers? Believe me, I forgot them three years running, and the "I'm wearing wrinkled clothes to be ironic" thing only works for so long.

So you get to school, realize you need all these little things, and where do you go? The bookstore. Where they rip you off, steal your money, and laugh at you while you pay $11 for a clothes hanger.

To save you some money, and stick it to the man that is the bookstore, here are 11 things you should bring with you to college that you might not think about.

Printer Paper - Printer paper is something you'll use constantly, and a big pain to not have available. Hunting for paper ten minutes before an essay is due is not the most fun experience, and the bookstore knows they can rip you off in your moment of need. Make sure you've got more printer paper than you could possibly need when you arrive - it might even make you someone else's savior.

Printer Ink - This one's the big kahuna, the one that's caused me more anxiety in college than anything else. I'll be printing a paper, and all of a sudden it starts coming out lighter and lighter, until the pages are just white. Bookstores, once again trying to take advantage of you, charge a whole lot more than, say, Staples. Or better yet, buy online.

Hangers - Edges of chairs, your headboard, the door - all these are replacements for hangers, and none really work that well. You're going to have times when you need to look presentable, and having clothes ready is key. Bookstores don't always have hangers available, and when they do, they're about $43 each.

Light Bulbs - It never ceases to amaze me how creatively I can destroy light bulbs. I've tripped and broken one, hit one with my shoe, and just flat-out dropped one - it's no fun. Go to Walmart or Target, and buy light bulbs in bulk - you'll need a bunch over the course of the year. Darkness is highly overrated.

Count 'em! That means seven more after the jump.

Click to read more ...

Studying Online This Fall?

This is a post in our 2009 Back to School series. You can see all of the posts here.

More and more of our college lives are morphing from hardcopies to online forms and notifications. This is true for scheduling and everything else that comes from the university through email. Also we're talking and socializing online more and more everyday. Why not study online as well?

Sites like StudyBlue and CourseHero are taking course notes and studying online. These sites bring students who are taking the same classes together and allowing them to upload notes, notecards and share them in a social networking atmosphere.

CourseHero is one of the most widely known online study networks. This site has a lot of material, mostly because, out of a requirement for membership, students must upload a number of documents to get unlimited access to their library of notes, lectures, etc. If you don't have as many or as motivated to upload as many documents as the site requires you can also pay for as much time as your bank account can handle.

The sites document increments are pretty hefty go as follows: 40 documents for one month, 80 documents for three months, 160 documents for six months, and 400 documents for a year. If you want to forgo uploading your class presentations and such, you'll wind up paying 29.95 for a month, 19.95 a month for three and 6.95 a month for a year. I don't advise anyone to go for an unlimited pass to study for one test. If this is your method of studying, having these documents on hand seem like its really worth it but otherwise it's kind of a waste of time and/or money.

Study Blue takes a personal approach that's a lot more developed. While CourseHero focuses on getting as much material as they can online, StudyBlue works on the act of studying. You don't have to contribute to the site to be granted access to public documents, but there are also less documents total because of that.

iPhone and iPod touch applications are available for students who pay for the premium version of StudyBlue. The premium version also strips the ads, helps you create a study regimen and allows you to print other users documents that are public. The cost of the premium package is 9.95 a month and 59.95 for a year. I feel like this deal has more to offer outside the realm of study material. Also, what it lacks in it's volume of notes it makes up for in its cheaper price and extra features.

Have you every used these sites? Does study online help you more than regular studying would? Comment below to share!

Image Credit: Pacific University Oregon

Who Won Two Laptops Last Night - The Back-to-School Double Notebook Giveaway

Yesterday, while you were packing your belongings into a car, getting settled in the new place or even getting back from your first class of the semester, two students were eating pizza like... normal college students. Only faster.

To update those just joining us: Last week, we announced that we'd be giving away an HP dv6 (a huge notebook), a Mini 110 (an awesome netbook) and a Timbuk2 backpack via Twitter. Those who dilligently read our blog knew that tuning in to our Twitter accounts on Monday evening could win you the computers. And several hints along the way suggeted that it'd be a crazy challenge. We had some really evil ideas, but we ultimately settled on what we thought was a rather mild challenge:

We figured -- pizza is a staple of the college diet and a student who's savvy enough to keep up on Twitter and send us a video of them chowing down quickly embodies at least a few things that we enjoy.

Click through to watch the story unfold.

Click to read more ...

How to Install a Hardwood Floor in a Dorm Room

This is a post in our 2009 Back to School series. You can see all of the posts here.

Every once in a while we get guest post requests from odd sources. My younger brother, Blake, recently installed a hardwood floor in his dorm room at Notre Dame. I thought it was rather excessive, but it really brings the place together. Then my dad wrote up this instructional post on the lessons learned from the project. Enjoy! --Kelly

This idea is not as crazy as it sounds. Hardwood looks better than the default institutional floor. And after a party it will smell much better than a wet carpet.

Some ground rules for this project: It can't be too expensive, it can't be permanent, and the only tools allowed are a knife or scissors, and hacksaw blade.

Materials

• A roll of underlayment. This is a thin layer of foam that cushions the floor.
• A strip of wood for the edge. If most edges will be under furniture, you may only need one strip forthe edge near the entrance to the room.The official way to do this is to buy a “4-N-1” molding kit. These can be expensive. A cheaper way is to buy a “reducer” trim strip.
• A roll of masking tape, some wood glue, and a hacksaw blade. You will use the masking tape to hold down the underlayment, and the glue to attach the reducer trim stip. Unless you have a real saw, you can use hacksaw blade wrapped in tape to cut the trim strip.

 Your dorm room might be a mess for a little while, but the class will pay off.

Steps

1. Check the housing rules. You are probably OK since this won’t be permanent. Also the housing rule writers probably did not anticipate this one.
2. Measure. The snap-together panels you will use are each 48 inches by 8 inches. Figure out some way to best arrange these pieces without making any cuts. Challenge a math or engineering major if needed. Remember throw rugs, beds, and other furniture will hide any gaps.
   
   The 48 inch by 8 inch panels are sold in boxes of 9. Four boxes will cover a space 8 by 12 feet. This works well for most dorm rooms if you don’t put it under the beds. You can adjust one dimension in 8 inch steps. You can measure by counting 12 inch floor tiles if you don't have a tape measure.
   
   
3. Go Shopping. You will need a car. All the big box home improvement stores carry this type of flooring at similar prices. The official name for this stuff is laminate flooring with glue-less interlock. Pergo is the best know brand, but there are other less expensive brands. A good price is $1.50 per square foot. A great price is $1 per square foot.

Be prepared for a helpful store employee to offer advice on how to install this flooring. Expect them to recommend the high-end product, and warn that the flooring needs to sit days to “acclimate” before being installed. Thank them and then go for the cheap stuff that you will install today.

4. Move furniture out of the way and sweep the floor.
5. Unroll the underlayment foam. Cut it a little smaller than the floor. Use some tape to hold it in place.
6. Start snapping together and laying down the floor panels. The instructions on the box explain how to snap the panels together. Some tips:

Ignore any instructions to stagger each row Lego block style. Instead use a grid layout.

Lay an entire narrow row at once.These panels snap together easily when there is only one edge to snap.It is hard to snap a panel into two adjoining edges.So add each narrowrow by first snapping 2 panels together along their short edge, then adding that row as one long piece.

7. Add the molding or reducer strip to the edge. You can glue this onto the exposed interlock tab.

Enjoy your better-than-average dorm room.

Have you done tried to install a hardwood floor in your dorm room? Let us know by posting a picture or sharing a story.

The HP Mini 110 - Best All Around Netbook for College Students - Review

We're giving one of these away to one lucky back-to-school student! You should check it out.

The Mini 1000 was the only computer I’ve ever had that got me a phone number. If I set up in a coffee shop, girls would strike up random conversations about it – like I was walking a cute dog through the park. That’s a testament to just how slick that thing was. The Mini 110 is a slightly updated version of the Mini 1000. I don’t believe that HP sells the 1000 anymore but the modifications are mostly for the best and I still highly recommend this computer. In fact, I demand that every student has one – even if that means having a second computer. And at $279, you can definitely afford it.

A netbook is not going to do a lot of extremely heave-lifting for you, but if all you need is email, word processing, spread sheets, internet, AIM – simple tasks – I recommend a netbook, and I recommend the HP Mini 110.

The feel

This is why the Mini 110 kills. It’s small enough to fit in a purse or a big cargo pocket. It’s light enough to pick up in one hand. You’ll never understand the freedom of a small laptop until you experience one this tiny.

In spite of its size, the biggest highlight: the keyboard. This is really a writer’s computer and it has the smartest keyboard layout I’ve ever seen. It takes a little getting used to since it’s off-center with the screen, but the keys feel full-size even though they’re slightly shrunken. The track pad has the buttons moved to either side, a clever space-saver that’s never bothered me.

The screen is small – a given. But as long as you don’t have many toolbars and you’re not multi-tasking, it’s all you need.

The technical stuff

There’s no CD or DVD drive. That might hold you back a bit. But think hard – when was the last time you needed one?

There’s 160GB of space which is plenty for the average student – that’s enough for a ton of music and a little video. If this is your second computer, you might opt for the 8GB solid state drive which is more robust and faster, but doesn’t cost extra.

For $50 more ($329 total) you can opt for the Mini with Windows XP as opposed to HP’s “custom” operating system (“Mi”), which frankly, sucks. It’s tolerable, though, if $50 is a lot to you. HP’s operating system will restrict the new software you can install and it’s littered with frustrating bugs and quirks.

For a quick comparison between the Mini 1000 and the Mini 110, click through.

Click to read more ...

The Timbuk2 H.A.L. Backpack Will House Any Student's Mobile Office

We're giving one of these away to one lucky back-to-school student! You should check it out.

I've never loved a backpack. But this one, I love. Here's the caveat: It costs $120. $50 of that goes towards stiching a yellow spiral (their logo) on to it.

Get ready to port your whole desk anywhere. You'll never believe how much fits in here. I fit a 17" laptop, a netbook and 3 days worth of clothes. I bet it will fit all of your textbooks. But the deceptive design will keep you from looking like a bulky hitchhiker.

If I ever meet this girl, I'm asking for her phone number. The main laptop compartment is nicely padded and will snugly fit a "large" laptop, ridding you of a separate laptop cover/sleeve. Ingeniously, it's located sideways so that you can swing the bag around on one strap and remove your laptop like it's a satchel. (This easy access is what's had me with the satchel-toting hipsters for so long. No more.) However, over time, I can imagine this placement taking some toll on your equipment as the straps tug your flat computer around the arch of your back.

On the other side of the laptop opening theres a longer opening for storing smaller items that you might need at a moment's notice -- just a swing around, like the laptop compartment. There's a large main comparment in the middle with a U-shaped opening for squeezing in awkwardly thick textbooks. The pen/pencil pouch zips completely open so that you can easily keep it organized. And there's a secret compartment!

Overall, it's one of the most well-designed laptop bags I've ever seen.

The one we're giving away has a really neat special feature: HackCollege embroidery!