BackToSchool
Latest
Distro Issue 104: Prep for class with Engadget's back to school guide
Unfortunately, it's time to hit the books once more. Don't get completely bummed out by the start of classes because this special issue of our weekly e-magazine has all of the top picks for back to school gear. That's right, from laptops to portable audio, we've narrowed down the best tech selections in over a dozen categories to ease the transition back to academia. Of course, they'll also make stellar pickups for those who have already joined the work force too. We sprinkled in a few Distro regulars as well: Eyes-On, Visualized and Time Machines are all here. There's plenty to consider this time around, so grab a copy for your e-reading gadget of choice via any of the app stores that follow. Distro Issue 104 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro in the Windows Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Engadget's back to school guide 2013: gaming
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! Today we're talking gaming gear. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we'll be giving away a ton of gear, including some of the picks in our guides. You probably shouldn't be playing video games in school, y'all. A certain back to school guide writer had his Game Boy and copy of Pokémon confiscated by a certain English professor in high school and, needless to say, it was a rough year. Thankfully, today your tablets and smartphones are often part of the educational experience -- all we had was Oregon Trail and Karateka. Oh man, Karateka! But back to the goods: head below for our back to school gaming suggestions -- if you convince your parents to pick this stuff up ahead of the first bell, perhaps seek out a career in law?
Engadget's back to school guide 2013: HDTV
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! Today we're talking HDTV. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we'll be giving away a ton of gear, including some of the picks in our guides. This year's incoming class of freshmen is facing more than just lecture halls and 8 AM classes -- there's a brand-new generation of consoles to deal with, not to mention the question of going 4K. Luckily we're here to help, with suggestions for set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, remotes and more to make the dorm feel just like home, no matter what your budget is.
This week on gdgt: NVIDIA's Shield, Samsung's S4 mini, and camping tech
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their most recent picks. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
Engadget's back to school guide 2013: laptops
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! Today, we've got a wide array of laptop recommendations. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we'll be giving away a ton of gear. If you were expecting us to recommend a MacBook Air or a Samsung ATIV Book 9, we'll kindly refer you to our back to school Ultrabook buying guide. But while an ultraportable will suffice for web surfing, Netflixing and the occasional all-nighter, some students will still crave a little more. A little extra storage space, perhaps, or a discrete GPU to pull off smoother gaming. Or maybe y'all just want something cheaper than your standard Ultrabook. No shame in that either. Whatever it is, we've got a handful of choices for each budget.
Back to school: Apple offers $200 college discount for Macs, $50 gift card for iOS devices
A reminder of what we reported when it launched on July 2: Apple is hoping to attract computerless college students towards its wares by offering discounts and extras on computers and mobile devices. There are a number of different programs you can qualify for if you're a student (or parent of a student) purchasing a MacBook, iMac, iPhone or iPad for educational purposes. Depending on the Mac model you have in mind, you can get up to $200 off the regular retail price and also score a $100 App Store gift card, which should help you load your new computer with plenty of scholastic software... and maybe some Angry Birds. iPad and iPhone buyers can get a $50 App Store gift card. To take advantage of these deals, you can shop for your gear at retail locations or on the Apple Store for Education, which has all of the available discounts already in place. When checking out online, you'll be prompted to fill in the name of your school, and for the most part, Apple uses the honor system when it comes to applying the price cuts. However, if you make your purchase at a retail store -- or you're one of the online customers Apple randomly audits to ensure you're not a fibber -- you'll need to provide a school ID or some other form of verification.
Engadget's back to school guide 2013: tablets
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! Today, we're talking tablets. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we'll be giving away a ton of gear. Like reality show contestants who reinvent themselves as America's next top chef / model / crab fisher, tablets are entering a renaissance. In fact, while you probably couldn't complete your high-school essays on an iPad or Nexus 7, a slew of optional keyboards are turning slates into capable productivity devices. And as they increase in processing power, tablets are ever thinner and lighter, making it a breeze to schlep 'em around campus in your book bag. So, where to start? How about below, where we've selected nine devices that'll keep you busy before, during and after class.
Engadget's back to school guide 2013: ultraportables
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! Today we're talking ultraportables. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we'll be giving away a ton of gear, including some of the picks in our guides. Ultrabooks hit the mainstream in 2012; in 2013, they're claiming the high end. Intel's Haswell-based processors are giving thin laptops the extreme resolutions, all-day battery life and touchscreens we wish we'd had in full-size portables a year ago. They might just be the perfect fit for students who want high-end features without the typical high-end bulk. Accordingly, our 2013 back to school guide rounds up the more advanced Ultrabooks alongside more affordable, extra-thin PCs. No matter your budget, these ultraportables are bound to lighten your backpack.
Engadget's back to school guide 2013
Welcome to Engadget's back to school hub for 2013! Whether you're a middle schooler, a college senior or just a tech-head looking for an excuse to refresh your gadget lineup, we're here to help. Throughout the month of August, we'll be posting in-depth guides to accommodate every budget, from cheap picks to high-end options. These guides will help you do your research, but 15 lucky readers will have the shopping done for them; our giveaway includes a flagship smartphone, an Ultrabook, an e-reader and many other toys to see you through work and play. We'll be drawing the names of winners in early September, but in the meantime our guides should keep you plenty busy. Click on the available category pages to start your comparison-shopping, and stay tuned for upcoming guides. Smartphones Ultraportables Tablets E-readers Laptops HDTV Gaming Cameras Accessories Portable audio Docks Bags and cases Printers Fun stuff Note: You can enter our back to school contest by leaving a comment on the giveaway page, or at any of the category pages listed above. Comments left on this page will not be considered.
Engadget's back to school guide 2013: smartphones
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! Today, we've got a killer selection of smartphone recommendations. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we'll be giving away a ton of gear, including one of the picks in this very guide. Apart from the laptop that churns out your term papers, there's no more essential device than your smartphone. From keeping track of your class schedule on the go to helping you make after-hours plans, a handset is your go-to mobile gadget, so you'll definitely want a good one. Luckily, you have plenty of great options across budget categories, operating systems and screen sizes. We can't promise that your next smartphone will help you make the dean's list, but it might make you the envy of everyone on it.
Google Play Books for iOS update includes support for textbook rental
Yesterday, Google issued an update to its free Google Play Books app for iOS, adding not only the usual "stability and performance improvements" to the app, but also providing some important new features that should be helpful for students as the school year quickly approaches. The app provides access to over 4 million books in the Google Play Book Store, with literally millions of those books available for free. New version 1.6.0 provides highlighting and note-taking for those books that are simply scans and not text files. There's a new sepia reading mode that's easier on the eyes. But the most important addition is support for rentals. Google Play recently introduced a digital textbook library, and students can now select and rent books from that library. The Google Play website notes that students can save up to 80 percent off of the cost of purchasing textbooks by renting through its service, an important factor to consider when trying to reduce the exorbitant price of a higher education.
Parenting Tip: Back to School guide for buying a Mac
Summer is waning, and the days of sitting in a classroom are drawing near. If you are looking for a new computer to support your future classroom activities, then read on as we have a handy rundown of the latest Mac models and some tips on getting the best deal. Mac Models 101 Apple sells six basic Mac computers -- the iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro with Retina Display, MacBook Air and Mac Pro. iMac -- The iMac is Apple's all-in-one computer and includes either a 21.5 or 27-inch display, a wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse. Prices start at $1299 and up to $1999 for the current models, with additional memory and storage adding to those prices. Mac mini -- The Mac mini is Apple's budget desktop with prices starting at $599. It's a full Mac computer stuffed inside a small, flat cube. It does not include a monitor, keyboard or mouse. It's a great option for folks who have these accessories kicking around their house. MacBook Pro -- The MacBook Pro is Apple's premier notebook line. It's portable and packs the power of the iMac and Mac mini. Compared to the slim and trim MacBook Air, the beefier MacBook Pro is more suited for at home use than traveling. It's available in 13-inch and 15-inch models with prices that start at $1499. Standard models ship with a hard disk drive, though you can upgrade to an SSD. MacBook Pro with Retina Display -- The MacBook Pro with Retina Display is Apple's newest MacBook Pro model. It includes a high-resolution Retina display, two Thunderbolt ports, and flash storage. Just like its MacBook Pro cousin, the Retina MacBook Pro is portable and packs some powerful performance under the hood. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display starts at $1499 for the base 13-inch model. MacBook Air -- The MacBook Air is Apple's hardware solution for the person always on the go. The latest MacBook Air now rocks Intel's Haswell architecture, delivering solid performance and extended battery life. Even the top of the line MacBook Air weighs in at a svelte 2.96 pounds. The MacBook Air is available in 11- and 13-inch configurations with prices starting at $999. Mac Pro -- The Mac Pro is Apple's most powerful computer. It currently ships in quad-core, 12-core and server configurations, with prices starting at $2499. Apple announced at WWDC 2013 that the Mac Pro is getting a design and hardware overhaul that promises to revolutionize the line. The Mac Pro is designed for high-performance graphics, video-editing, 3D rendering and more. In almost all cases, it's not suitable for students. Which Mac Should I Buy? We've covered buying a Mac in our previous holiday gift guides and will point you there for some sound buying advice. One outstanding primer comes from Steve Sande, who lists his recommended Macs for kids, seniors and everyone in between. I've adapted that list and updated it for 2013. In general, there are two questions you should ask yourself when buying a Mac -- how are you going to use the Mac and how long do you want it to last? The first question will determine whether you should look at the big screen of a desktop or the portability of a laptop. The second query will help set the price point as faster processors and more RAM extend the lifetime of a device, but also raise its price. Pre-schoolers -- Pre-schoolers are hard on anything they touch. They pick the keys off keyboards and steal the balls from trackball mice. Your best bet for this age group is not a Mac, but an iPad. The iOS app store is filled with educational titles that'll teach youngsters their alphabet, numbers, colors and more. Elementary Children -- Elementary children are prime candidates for a used Mac. They don't need the horsepower of the latest Core i7 and are highly likely to damage the device they are using. A bored 6-year-old could be very tempted to draw over your screen with a sharpie, while a curious 11-year-old may start to disassemble your device. Stick with a desktop, unless portability is a must. Take it from someone who knows -- if you hand a laptop to a child, he or she will walk around with it and drop it at some point. You can buy a used or refurbished Mac at any number of outlets, both locally (in most major cities) and online. Your best online options include Small Dog Electronics, OWC, PowerMax, and Apple's Refurbished store. One piece of advice -- try not to buy anything that's too old, too complicated or too easy to drop. The minimum hardware specs for OS X Mountain Lion (the latest shipping version of OS X) are an excellent guideline for parents to consult before buying a used Mac. Check to make sure you are purchasing at least the following: iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) You can expect to pay between $500 and $1800 for your average used Mac, depending on the model and specs. It goes without saying that older models will be less expensive, than newer models, which command a higher price tag. Junior and High School Students -- Junior and High School students are a lot more responsible than younger students so you may want to consider buying new instead of used. New Macs come with a one-year warranty, and you can add on AppleCare to extend that out. They also ship with the latest hardware and software, which means they will not become obsolete anytime soon. You will get several years of usage out of a new machine. It's up to a parent to decide if the child is responsible with their personal belongings and deserves a new machine. If not, you can use our tips for the Elementary group to find a suitable refurbished model. The non-retina MacBook Pro is the first choice for teens, who seek privacy and will appreciate the portability of a notebook so that they can take it away from the prying eyes of siblings and their dreaded parents. It has a middle of the road price tag and is durable. The MacBook Air is another excellent option, but I would recommend ponying up the cash for the 13-inch model, which starts at $1099. Why a MacBook Pro and not a more expensive MacBook Pro with Retina Display? That gets back to the idea of taking care of possessions and the associated replacement cost. The Retina MacBook Pro is a gorgeous machine, but it is more expensive than a similarly configured MacBook Pro. Does your teen really need that high-res display? Kids Sharing A Mac -- The best option for a multi-use device that's available to everyone is the 21.5-inch iMac. The base model starts at $1299, and comes with a 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. It'll last for a while and is perfect for a lot of different use cases: using iTunes or any of the iLife apps, doing homework and running games. Don't forget to check Apple's refurbished store for savings on last year's iMac models. These refurbished units will save you a few hundred bucks and will serve you well for years. College Students -- It depends on what the student is studying in college, and whether or not they'll have a need to run Windows apps in a virtual machine on occasion. For most of the liberal arts students out there, a MacBook Air should fit the bill. For engineering or scientific students, look at a loaded MacBook Pro to give them the power to run CPU-intensive virtual machines or number-crunching apps. Regardless of the type of studies the student will be engaged in, portability is a necessity. How to get the best price on a new Mac Apple is known for the tight price control on its products. Apple sets a price on a unit and their resellers like Best Buy and Amazon sell it at the same or slightly lower price. Shopping around may be helpful, but you won't find a huge savings as most retailers only cut a few hundred dollars off the price of a Mac. You can buy your Mac directly from Apple's online store or by visiting an Apple Store. You will pay top dollar, but you can configure the device to meet your needs. If you are handy, you should choose the base model in most cases and add in your own RAM and SSD. Apple charges you a premium for these options and you will save $$$ by buying an SSD from OWC and memory from a company like Crucial. Before you decide to go the DIY route, check to make sure your computer is upgradeable. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina Display have limited upgrade options. Keep your eyes peeled for sales as Apple, Best Buy, MacMall, Newegg and other retailers will have Back To School sales this time of the year. The discounts won't be huge, but a hundred dollars here and another fifty dollars there will add up. DealMac.com also has a running list of sales and will send you alerts when a new deal is posted. Apple also has its own clearance store, but the inventory fluctuates. You have to buy what is being offered or keep checking back until the model you want becomes available. Unless otherwise noted, computers bought from the clearance store will include Apple's standard one-year warranty. Last but not least, if you are a student, homeschooler or a teacher, you may be eligible for an educational discount. Check out Apple's Educational store for the details.
Apple promotes tax-free shopping days
Apple on Monday began reminding folks that a number of states are holding sales tax holidays beginning on August 2nd. As the name implies, sales tax holidays enable consumers to purchase certain types of items and forgo having to pay sales tax. Come early August, 10 different states will hold sales tax holidays for varying lengths of time wherein certain Apple products will qualify.. The states where deals can be had include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Note that every state has its tax holiday begin on a different date, so make sure to check out Apple's website for more details. Further, keep in mind not every item under the sun qualifies for the holiday sales tax exemption. You see, the intent of the sales tax holiday is to help subsidize back to school shopping, which is why computers in some states are included. So unfortunately, that big screen TV you've been eyeing at Best Buy doesn't qualify, which is a shame because there really is a lot of educational programming out there these days. Kidding aside, it's worth noting that the sales tax exemption can be applied on top of Apple's current back to school promotion. Also note, per Apple's informational page, that when you purchase a qualified item from Apple's online retail store, the normally applicable sales tax will show up in your shopping cart. The "correct no-tax amount", however, will be evident upon receipt of your email purchase confirmation.
Apple launches its annual Back to School promotion
Apple has just launched its annual Back to School promotion. The promotion sees students and other qualifying customers receiving a US$100 iTunes gift card with the purchase of any Mac. Though the gift card is marketed towards education materials, like textbooks and apps useful for school, it can be used for any product sold in the iTunes Store, the App Store, the Mac App Store or the iBookstore. Qualifying individuals who buy an iPad or iPhone will receive a $50 iTunes gift card. The promotion runs from July 2, 2013, through September 6, 2013. To take advantage of it, you must purchase your Mac or iPad at an Apple retail store, an Apple Authorized Campus Store or the Apple Store online. In order to get the $50 gift card with an iPhone purchase, the iPhone must be purchased at an Apple store.
Apple launches back-to-school promo in Australia, New Zealand
Apple is back again with its annual "Back to School" promotion to kick off the school year in Australia and New Zealand. The promotion offers gift cards for a Mac or iPad purchase and is similar to the one offered last year in the US and Europe. The promotion is open to any student, faculty or staff member from any grade level. It'll give each educational customer a AU$100 or NZ$125 (US$100) gift card for a Mac purchase and a AU$50 or NZ$65 (US$50) gift card for an iPad with Retina display purchase. An app and accessory buying guide will help students get all that they need for the upcoming school year. [Via MacStories]
Engadget's $50,000 back to school sweepstakes: just 24 hours to go!
Have you entered our back to school giveaway yet? If you've already commented on each of 15 eligible posts, you're all set -- you can only vote once on each article (15 times in all), so hang in there and wait for us to randomly select the winners. The rest of you, however, need to get a move on! There's only 24 hours remaining in the contest period, so be sure to get all 15 entries in before the clock strikes noon tomorrow. Good luck! Engadget's back to school 2012 sweepstakes: win one of 15 gadget-filled bags! Engadget's back to school guide 2012: smartphones Engadget's back to school guide 2012: tablets Engadget's back to school guide 2012: ultraportables Engadget's back to school guide 2012: e-readers Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops Engadget's back to school guide 2012: gaming Engadget's back to school guide 2012: HDTV Engadget's back to school guide 2012: digital cameras Engadget's back to school guide 2012: portable audio Engadget's back to school guide 2012: accessories Engadget's back to school guide 2012: docks and clocks Engadget's back to school guide 2012: bags and cases Engadget's back to school guide 2012: printers Engadget's back to school guide 2012: fun stuff!
There are just four days left to enter our back to school sweepstakes with nearly $50,000 in prizes!
During the month of August, we published 14 back to school guides, covering product categories ranging from cameras and printers, to smartphones and ultraportables. With each post, we offered a selection of gadget must-haves, but we also gave you an opportunity to enter our massive back to school giveaway, including 15 identical bags stuffed to the brim (and far beyond) with some of the hottest devices of the season. You want these gadgets, and we want to help! The contest runs through noon (ET) on Friday, September 7th, so there's still plenty of time to enter -- simply leave a comment at each of our category pages, along with the giveaway post, to secure 15 chances to win. And to make things even easier, we're including links to all of our posts just below. Good luck, and have a fantastic semester! Engadget's back to school 2012 sweepstakes: win one of 15 gadget-filled bags! Engadget's back to school guide 2012: smartphones Engadget's back to school guide 2012: tablets Engadget's back to school guide 2012: ultraportables Engadget's back to school guide 2012: e-readers Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops Engadget's back to school guide 2012: gaming Engadget's back to school guide 2012: HDTV Engadget's back to school guide 2012: digital cameras Engadget's back to school guide 2012: portable audio Engadget's back to school guide 2012: accessories Engadget's back to school guide 2012: docks and clocks Engadget's back to school guide 2012: bags and cases Engadget's back to school guide 2012: printers Engadget's back to school guide 2012: fun stuff!
Engadget's back to school guide 2012: fun stuff!
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. The good news? We're on to the fun stuff, the gear that isn't always practical but will definitely help you let off some steam after a tough mid-term. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Laptops, phones and e-readers might be slick pieces of tech, but they'll all be used for business while you're buried in term papers during the semester. We're rounding up a set of gadgets meant purely to lift your spirits -- whether it's zapping fellow froshmates in a game of Lazer Tag or an electric motorbike to blast through the countryside on a long weekend. We've even got a few borderline sensible gadgets, such as a robot that will clean up after a wild party at the dorm. Jump past the break for our full collection of antidotes to the end-of-summer blues.
Engadget's back to school guide 2012: printers
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we have printers on our minds and on our desks -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the series we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! It's safe to say that, at some point, you'll need to print out a collection of assignments this fall. We're looking to save the environment just as much as the next set of folks, but physical outputs are still required for a number of things -- especially in the realm of academics. Now that WiFi has become a standard option on most ink-to-paper peripherals, the ability to print from mobile devices has become a hot commodity. A number of our selections offer just that, allowing you to get the job started without needing to be in front of a computer. Enough chatter, though... head on past the break to peruse our picks for the back to school season this year.
Engadget's back to school guide 2012: bags and cases
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we're helping you keep all your gear organized -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Trying to pack a load of gadgets, peripherals and a laptop into your average book bag usually isn't the most ideal setup -- especially when it's time to grab what you need throughout the day. To solve that dilemma, we've selected more than a handful of sacks and cases that'll keep your gear at hand and organized so that you'll spend less time rummaging for your gizmos and more time exploring your campus. Best of all, you can rest assured knowing many of the selections past the break are goods that we here at Engadget even rely on to get our gear in and out of the various events we attend -- jump past the break to see our picks.
