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  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: accessories

    by 
    Billy Steele
    Billy Steele
    08.22.2012

    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've got a slew of accessories -- 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! Sure, you may need ultraportables and such to get the bulk of your work done, but you also need a few add-ons to make tasks just a bit easier. In this installment of the back to school guide, we'll offer a collection of accessories that will do just that. From extra batteries to external hard drives and peripherals, what you'll find here should help you get through a day of back-to-back classes, without the need to worry about losing all those term papers if something goes wrong with the SSD. Of course, not all of these are meant to aid in serious, head-down studies. We also tackle a few options for keeping fit and iPad-powered study breaks, too. So head on past the break for the rundown on a gadget stash that'll help you ease back into the flow of things this fall.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: portable audio

    by 
    Joe Pollicino
    Joe Pollicino
    08.20.2012

    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 taking our audio with us -- 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! With all of the studying and on-campus traveling you're about to delve into, sometimes adding a bit of music to your step can spice up those mundane times in your daily routine. That's why we've rounded up a selection of portable speakers and headphones that'll not only help you rock out whenever the mood strikes, but also go a step further by letting you take phone calls without skipping a beat. It may not be audiophile-grade gear in the official sense, but it won't matter when you're enjoying good sound just about anywhere your smartphone-connected life takes you.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: digital cameras

    by 
    Zach Honig
    Zach Honig
    08.17.2012

    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've got our optical viewfinders set firmly on digital cameras -- 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! Your smartphone can take pictures, you say? Well, sure it can, but try snapping away at a frat party -- you're likely to walk away with a blurry mess. Your Facebook friends and future employers deserve an accurate account of those glory days, and you'll need a proper snapper to get the job done. College is as good a time as any to learn responsibility, but don't expect to walk out of the experience with all your gear unscathed. To that end, freshmen should look long and hard at our point-and-shoot picks, which include models that you won't be afraid to toss around, or drop in the jungle juice. After that come the mirrorless ILCs, which should satisfy the more advanced photogs in the bunch, followed by our digital SLR picks, which, sadly, may be out of reach of all but photography majors and deep-pocketed private school types. Finally, you'll have yet another opportunity to enter our fantastic giveaway at the bottom of the page, just after the break.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: HDTV

    by 
    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    08.15.2012

    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 settling down in front of a few of our favorite HDTVs, but 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! Students today can catch high-quality video on a variety of screens -- computers, phones and tablets are probably always within reach -- but nothing can truly replace a TV's role as the center of entertainment. Whether it's a quick Madden or Call of Duty session, inviting a friend over to catch a flick or just zoning out after class, having the proper setup makes all the difference, and there are plenty of options at every price point. Of course, walking into any big-box electronics store to peer down aisles of seemingly identical flat screens could drive anyone mad before they ever step on campus, so we've narrowed down the list for you, and even suggested a few other items to plug into those HDTVs. Expanding feature sets and universal pricing have raised average prices a bit over last year, but we can find something to fit whether your budget ranges from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: gaming

    by 
    Mat Smith
    Mat Smith
    08.13.2012

    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 getting our game on -- 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! It's time to balance out that daily grind at school with some well-deserved leisure. Fortunately, many of our choices walk that fine line between work and play -- if you're willing to stump up some more cash beyond a normal laptop, you could get something capable of handling the latest PC titles. Some of our other choices may be a harder sell in the education stakes, but we all need some stress relief, right? And with bigger consoles nearing the end of their life cycles, there's never been a more wallet-friendly time to get involved. Jump in after the break for our favorite gaming choices. If all your money's been earmarked for learnin', then you should certainly enter our sweepstakes. Leave a comment after the break for a chance to win, and visit our giveaway page for all the details.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops

    by 
    Sarah Silbert
    Sarah Silbert
    08.10.2012

    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 getting down to the very important business of helping you sift through laptops, and you can always 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! Freshman year of college may no longer be the gateway to the magical world of laptop ownership, but even if you already have a notebook, who can resist a new machine in the spirit of starting fresh when September rolls around? Whether you're looking for a Core i5 companion to get you through semesters of paper-writing, Facebooking and WoWing, or a super-sleek centerpiece to your bare-bones dorm, there's a vast playing field of machines to choose from. While sifting through the countless options would surely get you back in the academic research frame of mind, it's a daunting task. We're here to take some of the work off your plate with nine solid mainstream laptops that should satisfy every budget.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: e-readers

    by 
    Brian Heater
    Brian Heater
    08.09.2012

    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 flippin' through the pages on our e-readers -- 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! Most of us are still walking around hunchbacked from years of carrying heavy textbooks in our overstuffed backpacks. Thankfully, an e-reader can significantly lighten the loads for students everywhere. Sure, we've still got a ways to go before electronic devices can replace textbooks altogether, but in the long run, they could significantly impact the postures of backpack wearers all over. Jump past the break for our recommendations, and another opportunity to enter our back to school giveaway. Simply leave a comment at the bottom to be entered to win, and head over to our giveaway page for more details.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: ultraportables

    by 
    Dana Wollman
    Dana Wollman
    08.08.2012

    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 getting down to the very important business of helping you sift through laptops -- 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 August we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- you can hit up the hub page right here! Given their roots -- luxury machines like the original MacBook Air ($1,800) and last year's Samsung Series 9 ($1,649) -- you'd be forgiven if you initially dismissed Ultrabooks as being too extravagant for a college-bound student. Thankfully, though, prices have sunk so low that you can now find a thin, fast, ultraportable laptop for as little as $700. The only problem, perhaps, is a paradox of choice: the selection is already crowded with dozens of contenders, and there are 100-some-odd more models in the pipeline, according to Intel. Fortunately for you, dear readers, we've had the chance to handle or even review many of them, and were able to whittle down the offerings to a handful of promising contenders. Whether you're prepared to spend $750 or $1,400, we have something that'll fit the bill.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: tablets

    by 
    Daniel Cooper
    Daniel Cooper
    08.07.2012

    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 leaning back with our tablets -- 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 August we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- you can hit up the hub page right here! Your back may be straining from the textbooks, laptop, gym gear and lunch in that dangling overstuffed messenger, but you're still gonna want to save room for one more item -- a tablet. After all, while you can surf, tweet, play games and watch video from your other devices, there's nothing like doing it from a simple glass window that sits in the palm of your hand. As the hardware gets more powerful, these devices are rapidly becoming versatile enough to let you justify leaving the laptop at home on less-intensive days, so why not check out our picks of the finest devices you should be using and abusing before, during and after class.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012

    by 
    Zach Honig
    Zach Honig
    08.06.2012

    <div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/backtoschool2012"><img alt="Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/08/eng-bts-logo.jpeg"/> </a></div><p>Welcome to Engadget's back to school hub for 2012! With the payment plan locked in for tuition and fees, you're now free to spend on the fun stuff, and we're here to help! Throughout August, we'll be posting three guides each week, covering all of the categories you see represented below. Whether you're dropping a few grand or pinching pennies when it comes to tech, we've got the gear for you. Each guide includes three sections, organized by price, letting you make the best picks while staying within budget. Then, after after you see the very last guide go live at the end of the month, we'll be drawing the names of 15 lucky readers -- each will head back to campus this fall with a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/06/back-to-school-giveaway/">bag of gadgets</a> stuffed to the brim! For now, click on over to our available category pages, and stay tuned for those to come -- identified by a faded graphic for now.</p><center> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/back-to-school-guide-accessories/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/accessories-1343166374.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/27/back-to-school-guide-bags-and-cases/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/timbuk2-1343159092.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/17/back-to-school-guide-digital-cameras/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/dsc-rx100.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/24/back-to-school-guide-speaker-docks/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/dock.jpg"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/back-to-school-guide-accessories/">Accessories</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/27/back-to-school-guide-bags-and-cases/">Bags and Cases</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/17/back-to-school-guide-digital-cameras/">Cameras</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/24/back-to-school-guide-speaker-docks/">Docks</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/back-to-school-guide-e-readers/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011nook.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/31/back-to-school-guide-fun-stuff/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/flyingalarmclock.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/13/back-to-school-guide-gaming/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011sony-playstation-vita.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/15/back-to-school-guide-hdtv/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011tv.jpg"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/back-to-school-guide-e-readers/">E-readers</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/31/back-to-school-guide-fun-stuff/">Fun Stuff!</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/13/back-to-school-guide-gaming/">Gaming</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/15/back-to-school-guide-hdtv/">HDTV</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/10/back-to-school-guide-laptops/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/hp-envy.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/20/back-to-school-guide-portable-audio/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/aiaiai-capital-concrete-grey.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/29/back-to-school-guide-printers/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011printer.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/06/back-to-school-guide-smartphones/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-1.jpg"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/10/back-to-school-guide-laptops/">Laptops</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/20/back-to-school-guide-portable-audio/">Portable Audio</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/29/back-to-school-guide-printers/">Printers</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/06/back-to-school-guide-smartphones/">Smartphones</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/07/back-to-school-guide-tablets/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011tablet.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/08/back-to-school-guide-ultraportables/"><img alt="DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/acer-aspire-s5-ultrabook-1.jpg"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> </h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/07/back-to-school-guide-tablets/">Tablets</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/08/back-to-school-guide-ultraportables/">Ultraportables</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;"> <h5> </h5> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></center>

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2012: smartphones

    by 
    Jon Fingas
    Jon Fingas
    08.06.2012

    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 tapping away on our brand-new smartphones -- 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 August we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- you can hit up the hub page right here! It's a good time to be a student. Last year, there were some solid picks, but it was still very clear that those willing to scrimp and save a little longer had a much better experience. This year, it's a people's revolution. Thanks to cutthroat competition, there are some exceptional phones out there, even for those of you hoping to avoid eating ramen noodles for a month. Software has taken a leap forward too, with many phones now offering a vital way to remember when that term paper is due... or to procrastinate at the pub. We have nine choices of phones in our shortlist, spread out across three categories to serve everyone from the I-just-need-a-phone freshman to the overloaded doctoral candidate. While you're eying the selection, don't forget to enter our giveaway and potentially ease the burden -- who knows, you may get a phone you want rather than the one dictated by your student loan.

  • Engadget's back to school 2012 sweepstakes: win one of 15 gadget-filled bags!

    by 
    Zach Honig
    Zach Honig
    08.06.2012

    Ready to pack away the swim trunks and sunscreen and head back to school? If you're a lucky winner of our annual back to school sweepstakes, you'll surely be itching to make the return to campus. With last year's contest deemed an incredible success, we're stepping up the offering for 2012, adding higher-end devices in almost every category. There's an Ultrabook from HP, Sony's new mirrorless camera and a Samsung Galaxy S III, just to name a few. If your name is drawn, we'll be shipping you an overstuffed Engadget-branded Timbuk2 messenger bag, filled with prizes worth more than $3,000 in all. And to increase your chances of winning, we'll be giving away a total of 15 identical bags! That means 15 laptops, 15 cameras, 15 smartphones and 15 very happy Engadget readers. So what are you waiting for? Jump past the break to see the prizes, and be sure to enter in the comments below, and another 14 times on each of our back to school category pages, launching throughout the month.

  • Portable LTE network in a box demoed, ready to deliver 4G to war zone near you

    by 
    Terrence O'Brien
    Terrence O'Brien
    10.21.2011

    What's four pounds, rugged and essential for the smartphone toting soldiers of the future? Why it's a portable LTE network in a box, of course. BTS and Radisys recently demoed their CoreTx and Trillium products, which may one day bring 4G connectivity to dangerous spots like disaster areas and battlefields. BTS already delivers 3G to areas of Afghanistan and is now working on this upgraded system with support for both LTE and HSPA+. You'll find a few more details in the PR after the break.

  • Engadget's massive back to school 2011 sweepstakes ends tomorrow... find out how to win!

    by 
    Zach Honig
    Zach Honig
    09.08.2011

    We really, really love gadgets, but nothing brings us greater joy than to see our readers unbox a new toy, especially when it can help improve your experience at school. So this year we're giving away bags -- 15 of them, in fact -- each filled with 20 amazing prizes. Each winner will score a laptop, tablet, a killer camera, and even a new dual-core cell phone, along with plenty of other awesome items. We'll be choosing one commenter from each of our back to school category pages, and one from our main contest announcement, so if you meet the qualifications listed on each post, simply leave a comment to be eligible to win. You won't be penalized for commenting more than once on each post, but it won't help your chances, either. And since we'll be randomly selecting one commenter from each post, enter at each of the 14 pages linked to here, along with this page to boost your odds. We'll wrap things up at 12PM ET tomorrow, so better get clickin'! Note: Comments added below will not be eligible, nor will those left on the main back to school page -- if you see a long list of terms and conditions above the comments section, then you've made it to the right place.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2011: bags and cases

    by 
    Zach Honig
    Zach Honig
    08.24.2011

    Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we're walking around with new bags in tow -- 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! Cutting a bag free from an oversized cardboard container isn't nearly as exciting as unboxing the latest, well, anything else -- but you're probably gonna need one, unless you don't mind biking around campus with a laptop under your arm. We've rounded up some of our perennial favorites that are sure to keep your gadgets safe on any budget. And see that messenger bag up above? It's stuffed full of some of this season's hottest gadgets -- and we're giving one away to 15 of you. Simply leave a comment below and at each of our other back to school guides to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2011: fun stuff!

    by 
    Zach Honig
    Zach Honig
    08.19.2011

    Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Since the weekend is finally upon us, we figured now's as good a time as any to sit back, relax, and have some fun. Play along with our fun stuff picks -- 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! It's Friday, and that can only mean one thing: two days of parties, sleeping in, and seeing your campus transform from a vehicle of intense education to a spring break-like haven of drunken delight. We've rounded up a few toys to help you relax before you head back to class -- a memory card reader that doubles as a pocket mirror, an Arduino-powered car that can stream video from the dorm hall, and an electric-powered sports car that can drive you and a friend far from campus for a pricey weekend getaway -- so kick off the shoes and prepare to embrace these 48 hours of freedom. And when it's time to get back to the books, we have the gear for that too -- and we're giving it away! Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2011: printers

    by 
    Terrence O'Brien
    Terrence O'Brien
    08.05.2011

    Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. 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. Sadly, most of your professors probably still expect assignments to be turned in on dried-up wood pulp. And, while that doesn't mean you'll have to remaster the fine art of writing in cursive, you will need a printer to put your (carefully proofread and thoroughly researched, of course) prose on paper. Jump past the break for our recommendations, and another opportunity to enter our back to school giveaway. Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and head over to our giveaway page for more details.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2011: e-readers

    by 
    Brian Heater
    Brian Heater
    08.03.2011

    Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we've got our optical viewfinders set firmly on digital cameras -- 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! Most of us are still walking around hunchbacked from years of carrying heavy textbooks in our overstuffed backpacks. Thankfully, an e-reader can significantly lighten the loads for students everywhere. Sure, we've still got a ways to go before electronic devices can replace textbooks altogether, but in the long run, it's a purpose that could significantly impact the postures of backpack wearers all over. Jump past the break for our recommendations, and another opportunity to enter our back to school giveaway. Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and head over to our giveaway page for more details.

  • Engadget's back to school 2011 sweepstakes: we're giving away $3,000 worth of gear... 15 times!

    by 
    Zach Honig
    Zach Honig
    08.02.2011

    Back when many of us were gearing up to go back to school, the shopping list was filled with notebooks (the kind without a battery), pens (read: not a stylus), and a few dozen pencils (old-school #2s that required manual sharpening). Maybe, just maybe, we would have a new graphing calculator to look forward to, but if we ever saw 'smart' and 'phone' in the same sentence, it was probably in a handwritten note from mom begging us to stop making long-distance calls on the landline. Now, back to school means picking up extra shifts at work to pay for new computers, cameras, smartphones, e-readers, and tablets -- not to mention those still-sky-high prices publishers are commanding for textbooks at the college store. We want to relieve some of that burden -- for a few of you, at least. This year, we've partnered with top manufacturers in nearly every category to bring you one epic giveaway, complete with all of the products we mentioned above, plus a whole lot more! Lucky winners will receive an Engadget-branded messenger bag, overflowing with the latest tech gear. Jump past the break for the full rundown of prizes, along with instructions for entering our back to school giveaway.

  • Engadget's back to school guide 2011

    by 
    Zach Honig
    Zach Honig
    08.01.2011

    <div style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/backtoschool2011/"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/engadget-bts2011-1.jpeg" style="margin:4px 0px;"/></a></div> Welcome to Engadget's Back to School hub! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. You've stumbled upon our main hub page, and we're glad you're here. Each week in August we'll be adding three new product guides to our home page, and we'll collect them all here as well. And after the final guide hits the web on September 2nd, we'll be drawing names for Engadget's <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/engadgets-back-to-school-2011-sweepstakes-were-giving-away-3/">biggest giveaway to date</a>. You'll hear more about that very soon, but for now, click on over to our available category pages, and stay tuned for those to come -- identified by a faded graphic for now.<br /> <br /> <center> <table border="0" style="width:630px;height:281px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-accessories/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/2011btscanonmouse2.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-bags-and-cases/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011-timbuk2.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-desktops/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011-hp-touchsmart-610.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/01/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-digital-cameras/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011-nexc3-land.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-accessories/">Accessories</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-bags-and-cases/">Bags and Cases</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-desktops/">Desktops</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/01/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-digital-cameras/">Cameras</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-speaker-docks/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011-octiv-650.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-e-readers/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011nook.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-fun-stuff"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011funstuff-1311893940.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-gaming/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011sony-playstation-vita.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-speaker-docks/">Docks</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-e-readers/">E-readers</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-fun-stuff">Fun Stuff!</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-gaming/">Gaming</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-headphones/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011headphones-1311894413.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011laptop.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-printers/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011printer.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/22/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-smartphones"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011phone.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-headphones/">Headphones</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops">Laptops</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-printers/">Printers</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/22/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-smartphones">Smartphones</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-tablets/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011tablet.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-televisions/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/bts2011tv.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:0px 4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> </h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-tablets/">Tablets</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-televisions/">TVs / Displays</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> </h5> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center>