Suggested Electricals

This article continues from What to Take to University: Electrical.


Calculator

A calculator will be very useful for everyone, though obviously if you are a mathematician you are probably going to need a better one than an artist. However, you should have at least a pocket calculator such as the Sharp EL-240SAB Electronic Pocket Calculator to perform simple calculations and help with the finances.

For scientists in some exams you will be able to use scientific calculators, and I recommend the Casio FX 991 ES Calculator for this task. Lastly, anyone studying mathematics or a heavily mathematics reliant degree should consider investing in either a Texas Instruments TI 83 Plus or TI 89 graphical calculator. These calculator power houses can perform an incredible number of functions as well as do tasks such as graphing and statistical analysis. Although the TI 89 is the more advanced model, either would likely suit your needs.

Computer Mouse and Keyboard

Using the built in laptop mouse and keyboard can get uncomfortable after a while, and is harder and hence slower to use than your conventional desktop version. For that reason I suggest investing in a wireless mouse and keyboard that can be connected to your laptop.

I use the Logitech Cordless Rechargeable Desktop. Easy to install and with a mouse recharger included, this keyboard and mouse combination make typing an email or browsing the internet easy and comfortable. Although this is good value for money, for a cheaper option you could consider the Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 110, which does the same thing but without the ability to recharge your mouse's batteries.

NOTE: if you have a Windows Vista laptop make sure that the keyboard and mouse you are buying is compatible.

Docking Station

Although not an electronic item in itself, a notebook dock is a very useful laptop accessory. It allows you to effectively convert your laptop into a desktop computer, and makes reconnecting wires and cables to your computer easy after you have taken it out with you. I own a Kensington Notebook Expansion Dock With Adjustable Base and find it to work perfectly. It raises the screen to eye level and also enables your computer to release heat much better than standing on a desk. If you don't think you need the adjustable base you can just go with a Kensington Notebook Expansion Dock, but I think the stand is worth the extra 15 pounds.

Multiplug Adaptors

If you are purchasing a lot of electronic goods then you are going to need a lot of plug sockets to connect them all too. Seeing as you may have a lot of expensive equipment, it is definitely worth buying one with a built in surge protector to shield your electronic goods. You should decide how many of these you want, I own two which allowed me to put electronics in different areas of my room. Further, you should consider the length of cable that you need.

Belkin are the best brand of surge protector, and you can buy the Belkin SurgeMaster 4-Way in either a 1 metre of 2 metre version. If you think you might need even more plug sockets you can go for the Belkin SurgeMaster 6-Way or 8-Way for a little more money.

Printer

Although every university will have their own printing facilities, owning your own printer is certainly something to consider. Over three or more years the costs of printing at the university can quickly add up, and it may well be more economical in the long run to have your own printer. More importantly, when you are running close to a deadline it's much easier to print your work out and run it down to turn in than have to stop off at the library and find all the computers are being used. Lots of people I know at university decided to buy printers, and I'm sure all would agree they were good investments.

In terms of printers you have three main choices: photo printers, printers with scanners or your basic printer. Photo printers can obviously also print normal documents as well as any other printer, but also have the added benefit of being able to generate high quality photos so you can get your pictures without having to get them developed. A good, cheap but highly praised printer in this category is the Canon Pixma iP4300 Photo Printer. If you want to have the capacity to scan documents then you should consider the HP Photosmart C3180 All-in-One Printer. This is the printer that I use and it is highly recommended, printing fast and providing high quality scans as well as being very easy to set up and use. Consider the Canon Pixma MP500 Photo All-in-One with LCD Viewer if you are looking for a photo printer with a scanner included (though remember you pay a premium for this). Lastly, for a basic printer at a lower price you can not go far wrong with the Epson Stylus D68 Photo Edition Colour Inkjet Printer.

Finally, if your printer does not come with one included, you will need a USB cable to connect your printer to your laptop. You will find that many printers do not come with one. Either the 1.8 metre or 3 metre Belkin cable will do the job perfectly (try to imagine how far your printer is likely to be from your computer when picking the length - remember its always best to buy one too long than short!)

NOTE: if you have a Windows Vista laptop make sure that the printer you are buying is compatible.

Rechargeable Batteries

If you are like me then you are going to get through a lot of batteries. To save money in the long run you can invest in rechargeable batteries. The Energizer 1 Hour Charger for AA + AAA Batteries should work well (and comes with 4 AA batteries included). If you think you will be using more than 4 batteries at once you might want to consider an extra pack of AA batteries.

USB Pen (Flash) Drive

Lots of students own these and for good reason. To transfer files from your own computer to the library computers or back up important documents a USB pen drive is a must have. For the amount of information they hold these things are ridiculously cheap and so easy to use.

There are many different brands to choose from and each makes them in a number of different storage sizes. Most people won't need anything more than the ByteStor 1GB USB 2.0 flash drive, but you can also buy a 2GB version, or for something even bigger the SanDisk 4GB Cruzer has more space than you should ever need.

Webcam

If your laptop does not come with a built in webcam then it is worth considering buying one. It allows you to keep in contact with friends and family and makes any conversation feel much more personal. They are easy to set up and connect simply to programs such as MSN Messenger and Skype.

I recommend buying a Logitech webcam, simply because I have used them and find them to work very well and be good value for money. I have chosen three possible webcams in different price ranges. For a very cheap option you should consider the QuickCam Express Webcam OEM. I would suggest spending a little more to buy the Logitech Quickcam Messenger, as you can connect this to the top of your laptop while the cheaper version must rest on something. Better yet you might want to buy the Logitech Quickcam for Notebooks with built in microphone. This is especially designed to attach to the top of a laptop and reportedly produces high quality picture and audio.

NOTE: if you have a Windows Vista laptop make sure that the webcam you are buying is compatible.


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