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Engadget's back to school guide 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>
Engadget's back to school guide 2011: digital cameras
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! Welcome to Digital Cameras 101. This single-lecture class will feature a handful of top cams for every budget, and since you're just getting back from a summer of wild shooting, we'll try to keep things brief this time around, giving you one last chance to enjoy that crisp natural light. There won't be a pop quiz, but if you're feeling lucky and don't mind following our simple instructions, we may just be able to send you home with your very own Sony NEX-C3. Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details. So wipe off the glasses, grab your clicker, and get ready to jump past the break for a top-level overview of this year's picks for back to school.
Uncle Walt says "Apple's built-in software still has the edge"
Walt Mossberg, the curmudgeonly, smooth-pated personal technology blogger at The Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital, has released his fall computer-buying guide. And when Walt talks, people listen. Mossberg is usually very kind to Apple products, which probably explains why he gets the latest and greatest equipment sent to him by the guys in Cupertino prior to release, and we don't. In his latest guide, he says some surprisingly nice things about Windows PCs. That's mostly due to the progress in usability and friendliness brought about by the recent release of Windows 7. But he also goes on to say some very interesting things in his lead-in post, titled "Operating Systems Provide New Choices in PC Shopping." While Walt points out the obvious -- that Windows PCs are usually less expensive than Macs and that Windows 7 has closed the gap between the operating systems in terms of user-friendliness -- he also goes on to say some very nice things about Macs: But Apple's hardware is stylish and sturdy, and, in my tests, Macs usually boot faster than Windows machines. Plus, Apple's chain of retail stores offers a better buying experience and strong post-purchase support. Also, in my view, Apple's built-in software still has the edge. Snow Leopard is fast and reliable. And it comes with a full suite of excellent built-in programs, including email, photo and video software. Microsoft has stripped Windows 7 of such programs. Some PC makers have restored some or all of these in certain models, although I consider Apple's counterparts better. Another huge plus: The Mac isn't susceptible to the vast majority of viruses and spyware. That's high praise again from the Prince of Personal Tech, and a list of good arguments for us "Apple Fanboys" to bring up when we're faced with Windows-lovers.
Engadget's back to school guide
It's that time of year again -- back to school has arrived. Plenty of you will be shoving off to college for the very first time, and Engadget's here to help you out. In the emotionally uproarious time that is now, you've probably realized there's truly an upside to higher education: it's a great excuse to get some new gear. And that's where we come in. No matter what your budget, we've got you covered, with recommendations and options galore. Whether you're going to be a new student in the brilliant world that is academia, or you're the proud parent / guardian of one, we've done some leg work to make the transition a little bit easier. We decided that choosing gadgets in three "budget" ranges would be most helpful to you, the reader, and we've chosen a kit of gear we think any student would do well to grab up for each -- covering laptops, netbooks, mobile phones, e-readers, laptop bags, and so on. Knowing that our readers re not one-size-fits-all, however, we've also chosen some alternate options in the categories where choice makes sense -- choice is, after all, part of what we love about gadgets -- without providing an overwhelming list. Of course, our choices aren't meant to be all-encompassing, but we think they'll provide a pretty good place to start your shopping! Read on for our recommendations -- we promise, they're very very, helpful. Oh -- did we mention we're going to be giving away a bunch of this gear, too? Keep your eyes on the site in the coming days for more on that, and hit the links below for our guide. Back to school guide: on the cheap Back to school guide: mid-range Back to school guide: money's no object
Speaker buying guide points out the top seven in each class
We can't say we've personally listened to each set of speakers recommended by Sound & Vision in its mammoth speaker buyer's guide, but the well traveled author makes a good case for believing in him. If you've been toying with the idea of picking up a new multi-channel and / or stereo setup, this is a fantastic way to get straight to the short list. You'll find the top seven speakers / systems in four major categories -- 5.1, compact, subwoofer and two-channel -- covering different price points to fit your budget. No spoilers here -- dig into the read link and have a listen, er, look.
Vizio / Olevia pitted against one another in LCD shootout
If you've been considering buying yourself a budget LCD HDTV, chances are Vizio and Olevia are still on your radar. Thankfully, LCD TV Buying Guide has taken the time to pit the two against one another in order to give you the information you need to choose the best of the pair. In the test, the 46-inch Vizio VW46L and 42-inch Olevia 242T FHD were used, and all of the important issues -- you know, image quality, shadow detail, color accuracy, motion lag, etc. -- were all covered. We don't plan on ruining it for you, so you'll have to exert a bit of effort and check out the read link below if you're interested in finding out which set came out on top.
5 tips for HDTV shopping
The launch of another Tickle-Me Elmo marks the start of the holiday shopping season, and let us guess that a new HDTV is on the top of your list. While our own annual HDTV shopping guide is still a few weeks off, Alan Lofft compiled five useful HDTV shopping tips that should get you by till we release our comprehensive guide. These five tips are great guidelines to understand before starting the overwhelming experience of shopping for new technology. We have heard it said, and totally believe it, that people spend more time shopping for a new HDTV then they do a car. There is simply so many options out there that Alan sums it up at the end of this article by making you repeat: "There is no best, there is no best." Keep that, along with these five tips, in mind when shopping for your new HDTV.
Sound and Vision Mag: optimal HDTV screen size
Americans love big TVs. It's just in our nature and now that the HDTV is here, we have a great excuse to put that 60-inch set in our living rooms. Sound and Vision has a couple of charts that allow you to plot what size HDTV will be just right for you space. Just like we mentioned in our buying guides a few months back, it all has to do with what you watch. You can buy a huge HDTV, but if you put SD on it, you'll need to sit farther back to see the detail. Likewise, if there is a 1080i picture on your screen, you'll want to sit closer to it then if it was just 720p. There is a point where you just can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080i and they even have a chart showing that too.[via digg]
