5 Essential Tech Items For College

After figuring out how to pay for tuition, books and a place to live, many parents are wondering what tech gadgets their kids may need to survive college. Here are the top five, according to tech expert Andrea Eldridge.

1. Laptop
It's probably a given, but a laptop is going to be your most important tool when you're heading off to school. Reliably and mobility (size and weight) are the biggest things to consider when purchasing a computer. You don't want to go much bigger than 15 inches if your student is taking the laptop to class. Look for one with a maximum weight of around pounds.

2. Dual-Purpose Laptop Case
If you buy a laptop, look for a backpack case that has good padding for the laptop.

3. Tablet Stylus
If a tablet is more to your liking than a laptop, the Jot Touch stylus is great for taking notes on your tablet. It will take a tablet that your child may already have and make it useful for school. Some software allows you to convert handwriting into type.

4. Smart Phone/Upgraded Plan
It may be worth looking into a smart phone – or if they have a phone, a beefier plan that allows them to tether or broadcast WiFi. This is particularly useful in classes that don't have WiFi, allowing your kids to connect to the web and share that connection with others.

5. Battery Backup
With all your kids' gadgets, at some point, they'll run out of power. JUMP Cable made by Native Union is a cool charging cable that holds a power boost. It charges while you charge your phone or laptop. This way, you won't have a dead battery backup.

Andrea Eldridge is the CEO an co-founder of Nerds on Call, which is located at 4315 Marconi Avenue in Sacramento. You can reach them at 1-800-919-NERD (6373) or on the web at callnerds.com.