First off we should discuss the types of TV shows that you may want to watch.
There are, I would say, 5 major genres of television show; comedy, drama, reality, game show and news.
Comedy
Comedy is a favorite form of television among most college students. It is my personal favorite and most of the people I know enjoy it as well. The reason is simply that when you are in school and going through all of the daily grind it is nice to have an escape. Another benefit is that because more people tend to like comedies, it is something that you can do with all of your friends. For example, this year the TV show GLEE on Fox was pretty much on once a week for a majority of the year. Every week 8 of my friends and I would gather in someone's room and watch it on their TV.
Drama
Dramas are more about who is doing what to whom. They tend to be a little annoying for my personal taste. My main reason for this is that I would rather laugh than have to try to deal with a person who is cheating on their girlfriend with her best friend. That having been said, it is nice to completely indulge yourself once in a while and immerse yourself into the lives of the dramatic characters on a show. Especially since it makes your problems seem like nothing.
Reality
Reality shows are supposed to be "real life." The major reality shows tend to be things like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. However, in more recent years the Amazing Race and Jon and Kate plus 8 (now Kate plus 8) have made their way into our television sets. These shows are basically for the times when we want to completely envelop ourselves in a character. The reason that these have become so popular is because they are real people, and real situations and real life. This makes it that much easier for us to feel what they are feeling and feel as though we are connected to them when they fail or succeed.
Game Show
Game Shows have been and always will be popular. Shows like Deal or No Deal, Jeopardy and The Price is Right are incredibly popular. The reason for this, I believe, is that we do not ever know what is going to happen. Most shows have at least a little predictability. Depending on the show there is more than likely a happy or sad ending. However, with Game shows there is no predictability. These are fun to watch with people around campus because it is fun to succeed or fail with the people on the shows. Also it is fun to see if you can compete with them.
News
The reason I put this last is that, even though it is more popular among adults, I do not particularly enjoy the news. The reason is that I feel that the truly important things that are happening in the world, I will find out about during class or while talking to someone. The news tends to have too much bad news for me. However, it also is helpful when keeping a person in touch with the world around them and helps for people to know the goings on in life.
In order to enjoy the college Television experience you will want a few things
What you will want
Laptop
Speakers
Headphones (or Earbuds)
TV (or friend with a TV)
Laptop
The reason that this is the first thing on the list is simple. Of my friends there were only three people who had a TV. I personally did not, nor did any of my roommates. Therefore, the majority of my television watching was on my laptop. Websites like Hulu and Blinkx Remote, were hugely helpful in my TV watching experience. Television on a laptop is not quite the same as a television set, however it is a close second in my opinion.
Speakers
I highly recommend some speakers for your laptop. The reason for this is that when you are listening to it with multiple people, they tend to make noise. The problem with this is that most laptops do not have very loud speakers. Speakers is that they do not have to be pricey. There is also a choice between portable and non-portable speakers. I have both portable and not and I did not spend that much money. I got a pair of USB Speakers and a pair of desktop speakers. The USB Speaker that I have is amazing. It plugs right into the USB port on the side of my laptop and I can take it with me anywhere. On the other hand, the desktop speakers I have plug directly into the headphone jack and have incredible sound quality. The only reason that I do not use these ones as much is that they are not portable. I would recommend a set of speakers, whether they be portable or not, for your everyday laptop use as well. Whether you are listening to music, a movie, a television show, or even relistening to a recorded lecture; speakers are a great accessory for your laptop.
Headphones (or Earbuds)
Headphones or Earbuds are essential for a personalized television experience. I personally enjoy the earbuds, or in-ear headphones, because they tend to have at least a little bit of noise cancelling in them. I got mine for like $20 and they are very good noise cancelling Earbuds. For those people who do not enjoy earbuds, around ear headphones are also a great thing to have. The around ear headphones help to make the noise a little bit louder, because it engages the entire ear instead of going right into the ear.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
College Student's Guide to First dates (on a budget)
First off I should say that this is for GUYS. Sorry girls, but being that I am a guy I only have a guys view.
Check out all of the other College Student Guides including; What to have in your car, Music, peoplewatching, cross country road trip and many more.
What you will Want
Car
iPod
FM Transmitter
Speakers
Food
Imagination
Back-Up Ideas
Car
Though it is, obviously, not necessary to have a car, it is always good. If you are on a college campus that is near a big town, or a college town, you will not need a car. But for those of us who go to school in the middle of nowhere, a car makes things a lot easier.
iPod
Having an iPod can make a first date a lot less awkward. For example, if you are driving in the car listening to music, there is not an uncomfortable silence. Also an added benefit is that it can be a great conversation starter. Another great thing about music, in this case coming from your iPod, is that it can set the mood for an evening. If you play music that is soothing, you are both more likely to feel comfortable and relaxed. On the other side, if you play music that is meant to "pump you up" then you are both more likely to want to go out and do something.
FM Transmitter
As great as it is to have an iPod, it is hard to hear it in the car without something to allow it to be heard through the car speakers. This is also a great thing if you are going on a long drive, or driving to a place with a great view, but you want to stay in the car. The FM Transmitter allows you to listen to your iPod and not have to worry about it being too quiet or too loud. Also, it is nice to have music in your car on a normal day. If you do not already have an FM transmitter, or some other iPod adapter for the car, I would highly recommend. I bought one tha was $20-$30 and it works great.
SpeakersThis is where you have to get creative. If you are going to dinner and a movie you will not need speakers. You will also not be winning any creativity awards. Guys, there is something I have learned after many first dates that I want to share with you here today. Girls like it when you are creative. Girls do not want to be bored on the first date, and the more creative the date is, the more likely you are to be able to get a second date. Speakers open up a whole world of possibilities. Well it doesn't necessarily open the world, but it allows the world to be void of awkward silences. I keep a set of solar speakers in my car at all times. They are perfect because I never need to charge the speakers and they have great sound quality. Also, they charge my iPod in the process. They were about $30 and they have been working for me for quite a while now. Since the point of this article is to keep your dates on a budget think about it this way. These speakers can be used for a bunch of things, and they come in handy when you are on a date. I did not even buy them for the purpose of going on dates, but I use them on dates almost as often as I use them for other things.
Food
This is a fairly essential part of most dates. Most guys take the girl out to dinner, probably a movie afterward, and guys tend to be expected to pay the bill. The problem with this is that a lot of college guys DO NOT have the money to take a girl to a nice dinner. A GREAT way to seperate yourself from the pack is to try to find a food rave. Food raves can be your entire date, depending on the girl. It can be anywhere from $15-$30 dollars per person. Most of them are about $15 from my experience. A food rave is basically, as crazy as it may sound, paying to learn how to cook food. However, the great part is that you are both learning together. It can be a really fun date, and the food comes with it. Plus, you can talk and be with the person in a situation where you are not completely alone. This can definitely be a positive on first dates. Another option is making them a picnic, or picking up sandwiches from somewhere. I have done this plenty of times. The reason to do this is that it saves money, and you can use the beach or park or anything that is completely free, which is nice. No matter what, I recommend food enters the equation for your first date.
Imagination
If you plan on keeping your date on a tight budget, but also plan on getting a second date, you HAVE to be creative. Use your imagination. A million and a half guys do the dinner and a movie date. Seperate yourself from the pack. For example, find a drive in movie theater, instead of a regular movie theater. It gives you the chance to have an amazing night and still keep the dinner and a movie idea. The one that I go to is about $35 - $40 by the time I pay for both people and food. However, if you are willing to stray completely from the pack, more power to you. Some of the best dates are practically free. As I said before learning a new thing, like cooking, can be incredibly fun, and not too costly. Another great thing is movie night at your house (or hers). If you, as the guy, can prove that you can cook, it is definitely a major plus, according to most girls I know. Plus, you are in a more comfortable place. Homes tend to reflect a homey feeling and they tend to be the most comfortable places, both physically and emotionally. You can also go completely off book. A couple people I know rave about some very different kinds of dates. For example, a Thrift Shop date. A Thrift Shop date is very simple, fairly cheap, and incredibly fun. First, decide on a price, it can be anything you want, and a place that is highly populated with people. Next go to a local thrift store, or any other place to find incredibly cheap, funky clothing. Then you each get time to find the other person clothes to wear. After you have decided on the clothes, exchange and put on the clothes. Once you are dressed in your new outfits, head to your populated destination. It is fun to see the looks and hear the comments. Especially since you know the truth. There are plenty of date ideas out there, check the internet, rack your brain, do whatever you can to be able to be creative.
Back-up Ideas
Always have a back-up plan, just in case your first one does not work. For example, if you are planning a picnic at the beach, also plan for something possibly inside or somewhere where the weather is not an issue. This way, if on the day of your date, something goes wrong with your first date option, you have a backup plan. Another thing you may want to do is check out the places you are going, before you go on the actual date. It always looks good if you have a little previous knowledge of a place.
Check out all of the other College Student Guides including; What to have in your car, Music, peoplewatching, cross country road trip and many more.
What you will Want
Car
iPod
FM Transmitter
Speakers
Food
Imagination
Back-Up Ideas
Car
Though it is, obviously, not necessary to have a car, it is always good. If you are on a college campus that is near a big town, or a college town, you will not need a car. But for those of us who go to school in the middle of nowhere, a car makes things a lot easier.
iPod
Having an iPod can make a first date a lot less awkward. For example, if you are driving in the car listening to music, there is not an uncomfortable silence. Also an added benefit is that it can be a great conversation starter. Another great thing about music, in this case coming from your iPod, is that it can set the mood for an evening. If you play music that is soothing, you are both more likely to feel comfortable and relaxed. On the other side, if you play music that is meant to "pump you up" then you are both more likely to want to go out and do something.
FM Transmitter
As great as it is to have an iPod, it is hard to hear it in the car without something to allow it to be heard through the car speakers. This is also a great thing if you are going on a long drive, or driving to a place with a great view, but you want to stay in the car. The FM Transmitter allows you to listen to your iPod and not have to worry about it being too quiet or too loud. Also, it is nice to have music in your car on a normal day. If you do not already have an FM transmitter, or some other iPod adapter for the car, I would highly recommend. I bought one tha was $20-$30 and it works great.
SpeakersThis is where you have to get creative. If you are going to dinner and a movie you will not need speakers. You will also not be winning any creativity awards. Guys, there is something I have learned after many first dates that I want to share with you here today. Girls like it when you are creative. Girls do not want to be bored on the first date, and the more creative the date is, the more likely you are to be able to get a second date. Speakers open up a whole world of possibilities. Well it doesn't necessarily open the world, but it allows the world to be void of awkward silences. I keep a set of solar speakers in my car at all times. They are perfect because I never need to charge the speakers and they have great sound quality. Also, they charge my iPod in the process. They were about $30 and they have been working for me for quite a while now. Since the point of this article is to keep your dates on a budget think about it this way. These speakers can be used for a bunch of things, and they come in handy when you are on a date. I did not even buy them for the purpose of going on dates, but I use them on dates almost as often as I use them for other things.
Food
This is a fairly essential part of most dates. Most guys take the girl out to dinner, probably a movie afterward, and guys tend to be expected to pay the bill. The problem with this is that a lot of college guys DO NOT have the money to take a girl to a nice dinner. A GREAT way to seperate yourself from the pack is to try to find a food rave. Food raves can be your entire date, depending on the girl. It can be anywhere from $15-$30 dollars per person. Most of them are about $15 from my experience. A food rave is basically, as crazy as it may sound, paying to learn how to cook food. However, the great part is that you are both learning together. It can be a really fun date, and the food comes with it. Plus, you can talk and be with the person in a situation where you are not completely alone. This can definitely be a positive on first dates. Another option is making them a picnic, or picking up sandwiches from somewhere. I have done this plenty of times. The reason to do this is that it saves money, and you can use the beach or park or anything that is completely free, which is nice. No matter what, I recommend food enters the equation for your first date.
Imagination
If you plan on keeping your date on a tight budget, but also plan on getting a second date, you HAVE to be creative. Use your imagination. A million and a half guys do the dinner and a movie date. Seperate yourself from the pack. For example, find a drive in movie theater, instead of a regular movie theater. It gives you the chance to have an amazing night and still keep the dinner and a movie idea. The one that I go to is about $35 - $40 by the time I pay for both people and food. However, if you are willing to stray completely from the pack, more power to you. Some of the best dates are practically free. As I said before learning a new thing, like cooking, can be incredibly fun, and not too costly. Another great thing is movie night at your house (or hers). If you, as the guy, can prove that you can cook, it is definitely a major plus, according to most girls I know. Plus, you are in a more comfortable place. Homes tend to reflect a homey feeling and they tend to be the most comfortable places, both physically and emotionally. You can also go completely off book. A couple people I know rave about some very different kinds of dates. For example, a Thrift Shop date. A Thrift Shop date is very simple, fairly cheap, and incredibly fun. First, decide on a price, it can be anything you want, and a place that is highly populated with people. Next go to a local thrift store, or any other place to find incredibly cheap, funky clothing. Then you each get time to find the other person clothes to wear. After you have decided on the clothes, exchange and put on the clothes. Once you are dressed in your new outfits, head to your populated destination. It is fun to see the looks and hear the comments. Especially since you know the truth. There are plenty of date ideas out there, check the internet, rack your brain, do whatever you can to be able to be creative.
Back-up Ideas
Always have a back-up plan, just in case your first one does not work. For example, if you are planning a picnic at the beach, also plan for something possibly inside or somewhere where the weather is not an issue. This way, if on the day of your date, something goes wrong with your first date option, you have a backup plan. Another thing you may want to do is check out the places you are going, before you go on the actual date. It always looks good if you have a little previous knowledge of a place.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
College Student's Guide to Music
Check out our other College Students guides including what to keep in your car, first day, finals and everything else.
What you will need
Internet
iTunes
Speakers
iPod or MP3
Internet
First things first, I am not saying that you should illegally download music. I am personally using the internet to find new music, not to steal it. I would HIGHLY recommend both Pandora and Grooveshark. If you are okay with listening to music that you will most likely like but not necessarily know, Pandora is great. You enter a song, genre, or artist and Pandora will generate similar songs to the one that you chose. This is the Perfect way to learn about new music. It also has a bookmarking tab. This way you can save songs that you liked. GrooveShark, alternatively, is for specific songs. It is kind of like having everyone peron's iTunes in the world. You can search for artists you like and songs that are not even released on iTunes are on there. This is a great thing if you like your certain artists. There is also a Radio feature on GrooveShark. It is not quite as impressive as the Pandora Radio but Grooveshark is still great. You can save your playlists and listen to them at any time.
iTunes
This is essential to legally listen to music. Even though I am not representing a large population, I still buy CD's. I know that everyone now uses iTunes, because you can buy one song off of an album, but sometimes a full CD is better. I do buy a lot of singles on iTunes. iTunes is also great now with the Genius recommendations. Genius looks at what songs you have bought, and gives you other songs that are similar to those songs. Another awesome feature of Genius is that it makes playlists based off of a song. You can have a song selected and Genius will make you an entire playlist of songs like that one. The reason that I tell you all of this is that I have found that music, is the key to having a happy life in college. This may sound funny, but music can truly make any situation better. If you are angry and you listen to calming music, it calms you down. There are even places that have music therapy. But I feel why spend the extra money when you could just as easily find your own music.
SPEAKERS
Speakers are among the most essential parts of music...obviously. However, the type of speaker is quite a personal preference. I personally have a few options. I have laptop speakers that plug into my laptop and I have seperate iPod speakers. The laptop speakers are permanently on my desk, plugged in so that all I have to do is plug in the headphone jack and begin my musical listening experience. The iPod speakers I have, on the other hand, are Solar Powered and portable. This way I am able to listen to and charge my iPod no matter where I go. I would say that every college student needs some form of speaker. The reason is simply that, even if you only use it twice, you will definitely want to be able to listen to music. My roommate usually took care of the music, but when he left for the weekend it was eerily quiet in the dorm. I had to play my music off of my little laptop speakers, and it was just not enough.
iPod or MP3 player
I would say that every college student also needs something, anything, that allows him to listen to music outside of on his or her computer. The reason is that, no matter how small your campus, walking across it alone is no fun. Music tends to make it a little easier. I would also recommend an extra set of headphones. I personally like the in ear ones because I can put in one ear so that I can still hear what is happening around me.
What you will need
Internet
iTunes
Speakers
iPod or MP3
Internet
First things first, I am not saying that you should illegally download music. I am personally using the internet to find new music, not to steal it. I would HIGHLY recommend both Pandora and Grooveshark. If you are okay with listening to music that you will most likely like but not necessarily know, Pandora is great. You enter a song, genre, or artist and Pandora will generate similar songs to the one that you chose. This is the Perfect way to learn about new music. It also has a bookmarking tab. This way you can save songs that you liked. GrooveShark, alternatively, is for specific songs. It is kind of like having everyone peron's iTunes in the world. You can search for artists you like and songs that are not even released on iTunes are on there. This is a great thing if you like your certain artists. There is also a Radio feature on GrooveShark. It is not quite as impressive as the Pandora Radio but Grooveshark is still great. You can save your playlists and listen to them at any time.
iTunes
This is essential to legally listen to music. Even though I am not representing a large population, I still buy CD's. I know that everyone now uses iTunes, because you can buy one song off of an album, but sometimes a full CD is better. I do buy a lot of singles on iTunes. iTunes is also great now with the Genius recommendations. Genius looks at what songs you have bought, and gives you other songs that are similar to those songs. Another awesome feature of Genius is that it makes playlists based off of a song. You can have a song selected and Genius will make you an entire playlist of songs like that one. The reason that I tell you all of this is that I have found that music, is the key to having a happy life in college. This may sound funny, but music can truly make any situation better. If you are angry and you listen to calming music, it calms you down. There are even places that have music therapy. But I feel why spend the extra money when you could just as easily find your own music.
SPEAKERS
Speakers are among the most essential parts of music...obviously. However, the type of speaker is quite a personal preference. I personally have a few options. I have laptop speakers that plug into my laptop and I have seperate iPod speakers. The laptop speakers are permanently on my desk, plugged in so that all I have to do is plug in the headphone jack and begin my musical listening experience. The iPod speakers I have, on the other hand, are Solar Powered and portable. This way I am able to listen to and charge my iPod no matter where I go. I would say that every college student needs some form of speaker. The reason is simply that, even if you only use it twice, you will definitely want to be able to listen to music. My roommate usually took care of the music, but when he left for the weekend it was eerily quiet in the dorm. I had to play my music off of my little laptop speakers, and it was just not enough.
iPod or MP3 player
I would say that every college student also needs something, anything, that allows him to listen to music outside of on his or her computer. The reason is that, no matter how small your campus, walking across it alone is no fun. Music tends to make it a little easier. I would also recommend an extra set of headphones. I personally like the in ear ones because I can put in one ear so that I can still hear what is happening around me.
Monday, June 28, 2010
College Student's Guide to People Watching
College Student's Guide to PeopleWatching
By:Jackson Kaplan
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out some of the other ones; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student's guide to Ipad, College Student's Guide to Move In Day, College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month, College Student's Guide to having a fun Dorm Room, College Student's guide to "camping", College Student's guide to memory keeping, and College Student's Checklist for a Cross Country Road Trip
First:
I should tell you. PeopleWatching is one of my favorite things to do. It is not often that we get a chance to just relax. Everytime I got the chance I would go out to the quad at my school. I would just sit there, listen to music, maybe bring a friend and take some pictures. You never realize quite how amazing people are until you just sit and watch them. I apologize if anyone finds this weird or creepy, but I promise it is just harmless fun.
What you will want
iPod (or iPhone)
Wireless Speakers
Camera
Blanket
Snacks
iPod
I highly recommend an iPod, or some music playing device. The reason is simply that it makes it a more enjoyable experience. I would recommend a relaxing playlist. Something with Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz or anyone else like them. It is quite a great way to relax, especially after finals or another big test.
Wireless Speakers
I recommend these for two simple reasons. First off, you will want to have music when you are doing this. It is very nice and relaxing when you have some soothing music to accompany the sounds of the outdoors. The next reason, you seem a lot less creepy if you have music. If you are just sitting watching people, it seems a little off. However, if you are listening to music, people do not think twice about it. The wireless speakers I had were amazing. They were solar, so I not only didn't need a plug but I also didn't need to worry about my iPod dying.
Camera
This is not a necessity for people watching, but it can make it a little more fun. A lot of times, especially on a college campus, you will see people you know. They can make for some funny pictures if they walk by, or even stop to chat. Another benefit of having a camera is that you never know what crazy thing, or beautiful thing, is going to walk by that you will want to document.
Blanket
Another optional piece to the puzzle, however, quite a valuable one. When you are laying down in the grass, you never know what might be there. But, if you are laying on a blanket, or towel, you are not only more comfortable, but more at ease. Another benefit is that you can put things, like food or drinks, down and not be worried about germs and such.
Snacks
These are something you definitely do not need. However, I like to bring them up because, depending on how long you are outside, you will definitely get hungry. I recommend light things. I say this because if you bring lots of food it has a tendency to attract more people, and more bugs. It also tends to become more about the food than the relaxation.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
By:Jackson Kaplan
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out some of the other ones; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student's guide to Ipad, College Student's Guide to Move In Day, College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month, College Student's Guide to having a fun Dorm Room, College Student's guide to "camping", College Student's guide to memory keeping, and College Student's Checklist for a Cross Country Road Trip
First:
I should tell you. PeopleWatching is one of my favorite things to do. It is not often that we get a chance to just relax. Everytime I got the chance I would go out to the quad at my school. I would just sit there, listen to music, maybe bring a friend and take some pictures. You never realize quite how amazing people are until you just sit and watch them. I apologize if anyone finds this weird or creepy, but I promise it is just harmless fun.
What you will want
iPod (or iPhone)
Wireless Speakers
Camera
Blanket
Snacks
iPod
I highly recommend an iPod, or some music playing device. The reason is simply that it makes it a more enjoyable experience. I would recommend a relaxing playlist. Something with Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz or anyone else like them. It is quite a great way to relax, especially after finals or another big test.
Wireless Speakers
I recommend these for two simple reasons. First off, you will want to have music when you are doing this. It is very nice and relaxing when you have some soothing music to accompany the sounds of the outdoors. The next reason, you seem a lot less creepy if you have music. If you are just sitting watching people, it seems a little off. However, if you are listening to music, people do not think twice about it. The wireless speakers I had were amazing. They were solar, so I not only didn't need a plug but I also didn't need to worry about my iPod dying.
Camera
This is not a necessity for people watching, but it can make it a little more fun. A lot of times, especially on a college campus, you will see people you know. They can make for some funny pictures if they walk by, or even stop to chat. Another benefit of having a camera is that you never know what crazy thing, or beautiful thing, is going to walk by that you will want to document.
Blanket
Another optional piece to the puzzle, however, quite a valuable one. When you are laying down in the grass, you never know what might be there. But, if you are laying on a blanket, or towel, you are not only more comfortable, but more at ease. Another benefit is that you can put things, like food or drinks, down and not be worried about germs and such.
Snacks
These are something you definitely do not need. However, I like to bring them up because, depending on how long you are outside, you will definitely get hungry. I recommend light things. I say this because if you bring lots of food it has a tendency to attract more people, and more bugs. It also tends to become more about the food than the relaxation.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
Friday, June 25, 2010
College Student's Guide: What to Have in Your Car
College Student Guide: What to have in your car
By: Jackson Kaplan
What you will want
Though you will not need all of these things…I would recommend them
FM transmitter
Chargers
GPS
Speakers
Towel,
Sunglasses
Entertainment
Liquids
Jumper Cables
Matches and Candles
Camera
Blanket
Flashlight
Batteries
FM Transmitter
This may seem like something that is not necessary, just a luxury perhaps. While this may be true for some of you, I found that I used my iPod more in my car than I did anywhere else. Of all of my friends I tend to be the one that drives everywhere. I have found that it is nice to have an FM transmitter for your iPod because then if your friends want to listen to theirs, they can, but if they are not there you can still listen to music all the time.
Chargers
The reason this is plural is that you never know what you may need to charge. I personally recommend highly the Trans4m. I got it for about $15 and it is amazing. All of my friends know that they can keep a USB plug in my car for any of their phones or iPods or anything. The Trans4m charges two USB devices. The best part about it though is that it can charge two things using the car charger, AA batteries, AC DC plug, or a 9v battery. Therefore if you are stranded and cannot get your car to start, but you also have a dying phone, then you are able to charge your phone. Also, people do not need to fight over who gets the plug. This is something that has helped me be the most popular car to drive.
GPS
This is something that I never thought I was going to need. However, when you are going to a school in a place that you do not know all that well, you will need a way to find your way around. As much fun as the occasional "adventure" is, the real problem of getting lost is something that plagues many college students. I would recommend keeping a cheaper one in your car just in case. I am not saying that you need to spend hundreds of dollars, but find one that suits your car, along with your wallet.
Speakers
Speakers may seem like a stupid thing to have in your car. I am sure you are thinking to yourself, why would i buy speakers to keep in my car when my car has speakers? Here is why. If you are driving back from somewhere, work for example, and you decide to go to the beach or park or something, you will probably want to listen to music. I would recommend the solar powered speaker that I got. It is perfect for me because it runs off of sun energy and charges my iPod. This is the main reason that I say to keep speakers in your iPod. It is also helpful when you are hanging out with your friends somewhere and you have speakers, especially if you are stranded somewhere.
Towels
I say towels, plural, because I keep at least three in my car. There is one that I keep permanently under the front of the driver's seat. The reason for this is that when it rains, my shoes get wet. I do not like to drive with wet shoes, so I have a towel there in case i need to try my shoes off. I also keep a tea towel in my middle compartment. This is so that if I have to check my oil, or wash something, or do anything else I have a towel to clean my hands off with. The third towel that is permanently in my car is in my trunk. This is because I am somewhat of a beach bum, spending most of my time off at the beach relaxing. This third towel is a massive beach towel. It is big enough for me to lay on and keep my books on so that I can study or read while I am at the beach. I would recommend highly having at least two towels.
Sunglasses
I, personally, have at least one pair of sunglasses in my car at all times. I do this so that on those days when I bring my sunglasses inside and forget that, I am not trying to drive half blinded by the sun. Another reason is that, guys, if a girl is in your car and can't see, you look really cool having a spare set of sunglasses that she can wear. Also it helps for any other person who is blinded by the light. You do not need two pairs of million dollar sunglasses at all. I got my three pairs for a total of $22.00. Just gotta shop around.
Liquids
I would recommend having at least a water bottle or two in your car at all times. This way, in an emergency, you can have something to keep from getting dehydrated. At least if you are able to drink something you will not have another problem toppled onto your situation. I would also reccomend keeping some snacks in the car, but I would not say that they are a necessity.
Jumper Cables
This one is something that everyone, no matter what, should have in their car. If you have jumper cables, you can at least attempt to be prepared. I have used my jumper cables at least ten times in just my first year of college. The reason for this is that no one thinks to bring them. If you only decide to listen to one thing I say during this article. KEEP JUMPER CABLES IN YOUR CAR.
Camera
I would say that behind jumper cables, a camera is the most important thing to have in your car. Yes, part of this may be because I am a photographer, however, you never know when you will need a camera. If you get in an accident then you will want to have a camera to take pictures of the accident site, for insurance and such. Those of you that only plan on using your car camera for these purposes are fine. However, last week I was driving home for lunch and I was incredibly happy that I keep an extra camera in my car. There, on the side of the road, was a group of construction workers taking their lunch. It was probably one of my favorite pictures of "America" that I have taken. It was just a group of guys hanging out eating their lunches. I guess that what I am saying is, you never know when the moment is going to strike when you feel like you wish, or are happy to have, a camera with you.
Blanket
The blanket is something that I believe is incredibly important. Let's say that for some reason (flat tire, crash, stall, dead battery) you are stranded on the side of the road waiting for help to come. Well if this happens during the winter you will be very glad that you kept a blanket in your car. On the other side of the spectrum, let's imagine you and your friends decide to go to the beach or to the park or to a baseball/football/lacrosse or any other kind of sporting event; wouldn't it be nice to have something to sit on?
Flashlight
I personally have a flashlight in the front and back of my car. On in the actual cabin of the car, and one in my trunk (just in case). I have two fairly small, but super powerful LED flashlights. I recommend keeping these in the car for many reasons. However, the main one is that you never know when your battery is going to die, and if and when it does having a flashlight is a definite plus. Another reasons is if you are going somewhere with your friends it is always good to have a portable flashlight. I use it when we go exploring the various parts of the city. Better safe than sorry right?
Batteries
Batteries charge everything in our worlds. Whether we realize it or not. In the trunk of my car I have a little box marked extras. In it there is a spare camera battery, AA/AAA batteries, cell phone battery, and cell phone battery charger that runs off of AA batteries. This is a good idea for anyone who drives a lot. Especially if you plan on taking road trips, because you do not know when you are going to be stopping next, so if you have an extra battery of every kind, you can't go wrong.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
By: Jackson Kaplan
What you will want
Though you will not need all of these things…I would recommend them
FM transmitter
Chargers
GPS
Speakers
Towel,
Sunglasses
Entertainment
Liquids
Jumper Cables
Matches and Candles
Camera
Blanket
Flashlight
Batteries
FM Transmitter
This may seem like something that is not necessary, just a luxury perhaps. While this may be true for some of you, I found that I used my iPod more in my car than I did anywhere else. Of all of my friends I tend to be the one that drives everywhere. I have found that it is nice to have an FM transmitter for your iPod because then if your friends want to listen to theirs, they can, but if they are not there you can still listen to music all the time.
Chargers
The reason this is plural is that you never know what you may need to charge. I personally recommend highly the Trans4m. I got it for about $15 and it is amazing. All of my friends know that they can keep a USB plug in my car for any of their phones or iPods or anything. The Trans4m charges two USB devices. The best part about it though is that it can charge two things using the car charger, AA batteries, AC DC plug, or a 9v battery. Therefore if you are stranded and cannot get your car to start, but you also have a dying phone, then you are able to charge your phone. Also, people do not need to fight over who gets the plug. This is something that has helped me be the most popular car to drive.
GPS
This is something that I never thought I was going to need. However, when you are going to a school in a place that you do not know all that well, you will need a way to find your way around. As much fun as the occasional "adventure" is, the real problem of getting lost is something that plagues many college students. I would recommend keeping a cheaper one in your car just in case. I am not saying that you need to spend hundreds of dollars, but find one that suits your car, along with your wallet.
Speakers
Speakers may seem like a stupid thing to have in your car. I am sure you are thinking to yourself, why would i buy speakers to keep in my car when my car has speakers? Here is why. If you are driving back from somewhere, work for example, and you decide to go to the beach or park or something, you will probably want to listen to music. I would recommend the solar powered speaker that I got. It is perfect for me because it runs off of sun energy and charges my iPod. This is the main reason that I say to keep speakers in your iPod. It is also helpful when you are hanging out with your friends somewhere and you have speakers, especially if you are stranded somewhere.
Towels
I say towels, plural, because I keep at least three in my car. There is one that I keep permanently under the front of the driver's seat. The reason for this is that when it rains, my shoes get wet. I do not like to drive with wet shoes, so I have a towel there in case i need to try my shoes off. I also keep a tea towel in my middle compartment. This is so that if I have to check my oil, or wash something, or do anything else I have a towel to clean my hands off with. The third towel that is permanently in my car is in my trunk. This is because I am somewhat of a beach bum, spending most of my time off at the beach relaxing. This third towel is a massive beach towel. It is big enough for me to lay on and keep my books on so that I can study or read while I am at the beach. I would recommend highly having at least two towels.
Sunglasses
I, personally, have at least one pair of sunglasses in my car at all times. I do this so that on those days when I bring my sunglasses inside and forget that, I am not trying to drive half blinded by the sun. Another reason is that, guys, if a girl is in your car and can't see, you look really cool having a spare set of sunglasses that she can wear. Also it helps for any other person who is blinded by the light. You do not need two pairs of million dollar sunglasses at all. I got my three pairs for a total of $22.00. Just gotta shop around.
Liquids
I would recommend having at least a water bottle or two in your car at all times. This way, in an emergency, you can have something to keep from getting dehydrated. At least if you are able to drink something you will not have another problem toppled onto your situation. I would also reccomend keeping some snacks in the car, but I would not say that they are a necessity.
Jumper Cables
This one is something that everyone, no matter what, should have in their car. If you have jumper cables, you can at least attempt to be prepared. I have used my jumper cables at least ten times in just my first year of college. The reason for this is that no one thinks to bring them. If you only decide to listen to one thing I say during this article. KEEP JUMPER CABLES IN YOUR CAR.
Camera
I would say that behind jumper cables, a camera is the most important thing to have in your car. Yes, part of this may be because I am a photographer, however, you never know when you will need a camera. If you get in an accident then you will want to have a camera to take pictures of the accident site, for insurance and such. Those of you that only plan on using your car camera for these purposes are fine. However, last week I was driving home for lunch and I was incredibly happy that I keep an extra camera in my car. There, on the side of the road, was a group of construction workers taking their lunch. It was probably one of my favorite pictures of "America" that I have taken. It was just a group of guys hanging out eating their lunches. I guess that what I am saying is, you never know when the moment is going to strike when you feel like you wish, or are happy to have, a camera with you.
Blanket
The blanket is something that I believe is incredibly important. Let's say that for some reason (flat tire, crash, stall, dead battery) you are stranded on the side of the road waiting for help to come. Well if this happens during the winter you will be very glad that you kept a blanket in your car. On the other side of the spectrum, let's imagine you and your friends decide to go to the beach or to the park or to a baseball/football/lacrosse or any other kind of sporting event; wouldn't it be nice to have something to sit on?
Flashlight
I personally have a flashlight in the front and back of my car. On in the actual cabin of the car, and one in my trunk (just in case). I have two fairly small, but super powerful LED flashlights. I recommend keeping these in the car for many reasons. However, the main one is that you never know when your battery is going to die, and if and when it does having a flashlight is a definite plus. Another reasons is if you are going somewhere with your friends it is always good to have a portable flashlight. I use it when we go exploring the various parts of the city. Better safe than sorry right?
Batteries
Batteries charge everything in our worlds. Whether we realize it or not. In the trunk of my car I have a little box marked extras. In it there is a spare camera battery, AA/AAA batteries, cell phone battery, and cell phone battery charger that runs off of AA batteries. This is a good idea for anyone who drives a lot. Especially if you plan on taking road trips, because you do not know when you are going to be stopping next, so if you have an extra battery of every kind, you can't go wrong.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
College Student's Guide to a Cross Country Road Trip
College Student's Checklist for a Cross Country Road Trip
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out some of the other ones; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student's guide to Ipad, College Student's Guide to Move In Day, College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month, College Student's Guide to having a fun Dorm Room, College Student's guide to "camping" and College Student's guide to memory keeping,
What you will want
Camera and Camera accessories
Batteries for everything
Chargers of all kinds and for everything
Music
GPS
Optional
Radar detector
Laptop and charger
This list does not include things that I feel are obvious. These things include a car, a driver's license, cell phone, gas money, food and of course someone to keep you company.
Camera
You will definitely want a camera. The reason that I put this first is that when taking a cross country road trip you do not want to miss a single moment. There are going to be some really boring places that you pass, however, there are also some amazing sites to be seen. Some of the students will have the already have cameras. Most probably have the little point and shoot cameras, with the occasional SLR cameras. This is not necessarily something that is completely necessary. However, in my opinion it is something that you will really want to have. Remember, if you are bringing a camera there are things you will want to have. These things include extra batteries, memory cards, and a case. On top of these things you can get creative, for example, having a tripod and wireless remote makes being in your pictures much easier. No more having to find and then ask a complete stranger to handle your camera and take a picture. You now have the option to completely do it on your own. This lovely luxury is one that mostly is represented for SLR users.
Batteries
Everything has extra batteries that you can buy. Anything from cell phones, cameras to even laptops has extra batteries that can be purchased for a reasonable price. Though it is more difficult to charge the laptop and cell phone batteries, unless they are in the device, it is still possible. However, extra batteries are immensely important, especially those that you will be using a lot.
Chargers
There are millions of different types of chargers for every battery or battery powered device on the market. First and foremost, since it is a road trip, you should try to get as many car chargers as possible. There are also car chargers that can convert the energy into an AC/DC outlet. This means that if you already have a wall charger for something you do not have to buy another plug for the same thing, you can just plug this in. Another thing that I would recommend is a 4 form USB charger. Cameras, iPods, cell phones and many other things have a USB capable charger. If you buy the four form chargers you can plug them into the car, a wall outlet, or you can charge with AA batteries or even a 9 volt. These are perfect for a road trip because you can literally charge these things anywhere.
Music
I cannot recommend enough bringing every form of music possible. For those of you that have iPods, get an FM transmitter or something along those lines to help you make it through the long drives. However, for those of you lucky enough to have an iPhone, I would highly recommend a two in one FM transmitter. They are making them now so that you can listen to your music, and then if you get a call the sound of the call goes through your car speakers. This is incredibly helpful, because you can be hands free, which is a legal necessity in some states now. Now, for those of you that plan to stay in hotels or hostels or anywhere where you will not be in the car I would recommend highly a portable speaker. These are very useful, especially when it comes to alarms. Most people do not think about it, but if you set your iPod alarm and you have it connected to a speaker, it is almost guaranteed to wake you up. If you have the extra money there are now solar powered speakers that charge your iPod while you listen to it. These are helpful for when you are sitting in the sun, relaxing from a long day of driving.
GPS
Being a person who has a great sense of direction, I never had a GPS. However, after my first road trip with my sister, who thankfully does have one, I realized how important they are. If you are going across the country you will be changing freeways and staying on freeways, which can get very confusing. If you have a GPS, you are always safer. You can accidentally take the wrong exit, and it will reroute you back to where you should be. This is especially for those college students who do not know how to read a map (and yes I know that there are some of you out there). Along with being a helpful tool, these GPS are also easy to carry. I would recommend, being that you do not know where you are staying, a carrying case for the GPS. Better safe than sorry right?
Optional Things
Radar detectors, if you have the money, are a great addition to the road trip experience. When on long roads it is very easy to get going faster than we realize. If you have a radar detector we can be told when law enforcement is near, which is helpful to alert the driver that they should check their speed. This is not to say that I condone speeding or that I myself speed, but I feel that it is a helpful tool.
Another optional tool would be a laptop. This is helpful if you do not have email access on your phone, or if you would like to actually have a real computer to check every once in a while. This also allows you to listen to movies and other things like that while in the car. They even have USB speakers now, to blast the movies as loud as is necessary while the car is moving. This is a great thing for the passengers in the car, falling asleep to a movie is quite enjoyable on a long car ride.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out some of the other ones; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student's guide to Ipad, College Student's Guide to Move In Day, College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month, College Student's Guide to having a fun Dorm Room, College Student's guide to "camping" and College Student's guide to memory keeping,
What you will want
Camera and Camera accessories
Batteries for everything
Chargers of all kinds and for everything
Music
GPS
Optional
Radar detector
Laptop and charger
This list does not include things that I feel are obvious. These things include a car, a driver's license, cell phone, gas money, food and of course someone to keep you company.
Camera
You will definitely want a camera. The reason that I put this first is that when taking a cross country road trip you do not want to miss a single moment. There are going to be some really boring places that you pass, however, there are also some amazing sites to be seen. Some of the students will have the already have cameras. Most probably have the little point and shoot cameras, with the occasional SLR cameras. This is not necessarily something that is completely necessary. However, in my opinion it is something that you will really want to have. Remember, if you are bringing a camera there are things you will want to have. These things include extra batteries, memory cards, and a case. On top of these things you can get creative, for example, having a tripod and wireless remote makes being in your pictures much easier. No more having to find and then ask a complete stranger to handle your camera and take a picture. You now have the option to completely do it on your own. This lovely luxury is one that mostly is represented for SLR users.
Batteries
Everything has extra batteries that you can buy. Anything from cell phones, cameras to even laptops has extra batteries that can be purchased for a reasonable price. Though it is more difficult to charge the laptop and cell phone batteries, unless they are in the device, it is still possible. However, extra batteries are immensely important, especially those that you will be using a lot.
Chargers
There are millions of different types of chargers for every battery or battery powered device on the market. First and foremost, since it is a road trip, you should try to get as many car chargers as possible. There are also car chargers that can convert the energy into an AC/DC outlet. This means that if you already have a wall charger for something you do not have to buy another plug for the same thing, you can just plug this in. Another thing that I would recommend is a 4 form USB charger. Cameras, iPods, cell phones and many other things have a USB capable charger. If you buy the four form chargers you can plug them into the car, a wall outlet, or you can charge with AA batteries or even a 9 volt. These are perfect for a road trip because you can literally charge these things anywhere.
Music
I cannot recommend enough bringing every form of music possible. For those of you that have iPods, get an FM transmitter or something along those lines to help you make it through the long drives. However, for those of you lucky enough to have an iPhone, I would highly recommend a two in one FM transmitter. They are making them now so that you can listen to your music, and then if you get a call the sound of the call goes through your car speakers. This is incredibly helpful, because you can be hands free, which is a legal necessity in some states now. Now, for those of you that plan to stay in hotels or hostels or anywhere where you will not be in the car I would recommend highly a portable speaker. These are very useful, especially when it comes to alarms. Most people do not think about it, but if you set your iPod alarm and you have it connected to a speaker, it is almost guaranteed to wake you up. If you have the extra money there are now solar powered speakers that charge your iPod while you listen to it. These are helpful for when you are sitting in the sun, relaxing from a long day of driving.
GPS
Being a person who has a great sense of direction, I never had a GPS. However, after my first road trip with my sister, who thankfully does have one, I realized how important they are. If you are going across the country you will be changing freeways and staying on freeways, which can get very confusing. If you have a GPS, you are always safer. You can accidentally take the wrong exit, and it will reroute you back to where you should be. This is especially for those college students who do not know how to read a map (and yes I know that there are some of you out there). Along with being a helpful tool, these GPS are also easy to carry. I would recommend, being that you do not know where you are staying, a carrying case for the GPS. Better safe than sorry right?
Optional Things
Radar detectors, if you have the money, are a great addition to the road trip experience. When on long roads it is very easy to get going faster than we realize. If you have a radar detector we can be told when law enforcement is near, which is helpful to alert the driver that they should check their speed. This is not to say that I condone speeding or that I myself speed, but I feel that it is a helpful tool.
Another optional tool would be a laptop. This is helpful if you do not have email access on your phone, or if you would like to actually have a real computer to check every once in a while. This also allows you to listen to movies and other things like that while in the car. They even have USB speakers now, to blast the movies as loud as is necessary while the car is moving. This is a great thing for the passengers in the car, falling asleep to a movie is quite enjoyable on a long car ride.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
Monday, June 21, 2010
College Student's Guide to Memory Keeping
College Students guide to memory keeping
AKA how to keep your camera safe and working in college
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first “college experience”.
Check out some of the other ones; College Student’s Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student’s guide to Ipad, College Student’s Guide to Move In Day, College Student’s Guide to a Successful First Month, College Student’s Guide to having a fun Dorm Room and College Student’s guide to “camping”
The camera itself
First off make sure that you get a camera that fits your lifestyle. You don’t need a major SLR that costs thousands of dollars if all you want to do is shoot pictures with your friends. Once you pick your camera make sure that you test it before you really commit to anything.
Extra Supplies
If you are the kind of person that wants to take thousands of pictures there are a few things you will really want. First and foremost, buy a bag or carrying case to protect your camera.
If you keep your camera in your pocket or a purse it can easily get scratched and no one wants that. You do not need to spend too much on a carrying case . Anything over $50 for a point and shoot is too much. For SLRs anything under $100 is good. Once you have your camera bag you are going to want to buy some batteries.
There are plenty of sites that have a good price for extra camera batteries. My rule has always been that I had at least one battery for every battery that I use. Meaning if the camera uses one I have at least one extra battery. This way I always have an extra fully charged battery. So if I realize that my current battery is dead I can put it in the charger and grab my extra. The last thing you will want is multiple memory cards. This is especially important if you have an SLR. The reason is that if you go a week or two without uploading your pictures, there is nothing worse than having a full memory card and wanting to take more pictures.
Total cost:
I would say that, after the purchase of the camera itself, the total should not be too much. If you have a point and shoot your accessories should be no more than $100 dollars. That is with the extra battery, your memory card, and your bag.
This is all stuff that you do not necessarily need, but it is definitely better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Similarly, if you have an SLR you should not be spending much more than $150, after the purchase of the camera.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
AKA how to keep your camera safe and working in college
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first “college experience”.
Check out some of the other ones; College Student’s Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student’s guide to Ipad, College Student’s Guide to Move In Day, College Student’s Guide to a Successful First Month, College Student’s Guide to having a fun Dorm Room and College Student’s guide to “camping”
The camera itself
First off make sure that you get a camera that fits your lifestyle. You don’t need a major SLR that costs thousands of dollars if all you want to do is shoot pictures with your friends. Once you pick your camera make sure that you test it before you really commit to anything.
Extra Supplies
If you are the kind of person that wants to take thousands of pictures there are a few things you will really want. First and foremost, buy a bag or carrying case to protect your camera.
If you keep your camera in your pocket or a purse it can easily get scratched and no one wants that. You do not need to spend too much on a carrying case . Anything over $50 for a point and shoot is too much. For SLRs anything under $100 is good. Once you have your camera bag you are going to want to buy some batteries.
There are plenty of sites that have a good price for extra camera batteries. My rule has always been that I had at least one battery for every battery that I use. Meaning if the camera uses one I have at least one extra battery. This way I always have an extra fully charged battery. So if I realize that my current battery is dead I can put it in the charger and grab my extra. The last thing you will want is multiple memory cards. This is especially important if you have an SLR. The reason is that if you go a week or two without uploading your pictures, there is nothing worse than having a full memory card and wanting to take more pictures.
Total cost:
I would say that, after the purchase of the camera itself, the total should not be too much. If you have a point and shoot your accessories should be no more than $100 dollars. That is with the extra battery, your memory card, and your bag.
This is all stuff that you do not necessarily need, but it is definitely better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Similarly, if you have an SLR you should not be spending much more than $150, after the purchase of the camera.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
Friday, June 18, 2010
College Student's Guide to "Camping"
College Students guide to "camping"
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first “college experience”.
Check out some of the other ones; College Student’s Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student’s guide to Ipad, College Student’s Guide to Move In Day, College Student’s Guide to a Successful First Month, College Student’s Guide to having a fun Dorm Room
What is it?
The reason that I put camping in quotations is very simple. I went "camping" with a few friends a couple months ago, and I expected to be out in the wilderness, just us and the woods. However, I was mistaken. Everyone had their cell phones, and iPods and iPhones; it was like we were home, minus the other people and the roof. So if you want to actually go camping as a college student I would not recommend this article. However, if you want to go on a modified camping trip this is an article you would enjoy.
What you will need:
iPod
Speakers
Cell Phone
Camera
GPS
Chargers
iPod
An iPod is necessary for any "camping" trip. You will need it to be able to listen to your favorite music and watch all the movies you haven't had time to in your busy life. They also make for quite a helpful tool when trying to fall asleep. Personally I would rather listen to music than the unknown sounds of the forest or beach.
Speakers
Any "camping" trip, that has an iPod or any other music device, needs some speakers. I would recommend the solar powered speakers that we brought. Not only was the sound quality great, but the speakers charged the iPod at the same time. So we never had to worry about a dying iPod battery.
Cell Phone
Whether your cell phone is an iPhone or just a regular old phone, a "camping" trip would not be complete without it. If you have an iPhone or other internet capable phone, you would obviously be able to update your Facebook and Twitter, which is apparently quite a huge deal. Along with that, you can remain in contact with everyone and their mother, so as not to miss a single drop of juicy gossip.
Camera
Even though we all have camera phones now, it is nice to have an actual camera to capture those amazing moment; whether the moments be funny faces, bears, or just a beautiful scene. Be sure that if you bring a camera you have a couple of extra batteries. This is beneficial so that if you have to charge your cell phone and you iPod, you have some extra batteries in case something fun happens that you want to capture on film.
GPS
Whether or not you get lost often, a GPS can't hurt. We had one that actually helped us find a couple of very interesting spots near where we were sleeping. This was also helpful in getting us back home once we got back in the car and had lost our printed directions. I would HIGHLY recommend a carrying case, because we did not have one and now there is a massive scratch in the screen of my friend's GPS; which makes the touch screen freak out quite a lot.
Chargers
Make sure that, with all of your electronic devices, you are equipped with some convertible chargers. What I mean by this is that there are chargers that can convert from a car charger, to a wall outlet charger, to a battery charger and even to a 9 volt battery charger. The one that we had was a 4-in-1 that charged any 2 USB capable devices at the same time. This meant that since we all had our USB phone chargers handy, I was able to charge my battery while my friend could charge his. This is very helpful for continuous communication with the real world.
Frequently asked questions
Why continue to use all of your electronics to communicate with the world you are escaping?
I too asked this question, but with the instant gratification and instant communication of everyone in the world, it is difficult to be away from people for too long. Remember, we want to be away from work and real life, we don't want to be away from the other people (there just wasn't room in the car to fit all our friends).
Is it really fun "camping"?
I personally had a blast. When I went I was a little skeptical, but once I saw the real enjoyment in it and immersed myself it was really fun. I equate it with hanging out with friends, except that there is no work to be done or annoying things to ruin your day. It is you and the wilderness. And another major point I want to add is that you control when and who you talk to. If you are at home, everyone can contact you when they want to, but not when you are out in the wilderness.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first “college experience”.
Check out some of the other ones; College Student’s Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student’s guide to Ipad, College Student’s Guide to Move In Day, College Student’s Guide to a Successful First Month, College Student’s Guide to having a fun Dorm Room
What is it?
The reason that I put camping in quotations is very simple. I went "camping" with a few friends a couple months ago, and I expected to be out in the wilderness, just us and the woods. However, I was mistaken. Everyone had their cell phones, and iPods and iPhones; it was like we were home, minus the other people and the roof. So if you want to actually go camping as a college student I would not recommend this article. However, if you want to go on a modified camping trip this is an article you would enjoy.
What you will need:
iPod
Speakers
Cell Phone
Camera
GPS
Chargers
iPod
An iPod is necessary for any "camping" trip. You will need it to be able to listen to your favorite music and watch all the movies you haven't had time to in your busy life. They also make for quite a helpful tool when trying to fall asleep. Personally I would rather listen to music than the unknown sounds of the forest or beach.
Speakers
Any "camping" trip, that has an iPod or any other music device, needs some speakers. I would recommend the solar powered speakers that we brought. Not only was the sound quality great, but the speakers charged the iPod at the same time. So we never had to worry about a dying iPod battery.
Cell Phone
Whether your cell phone is an iPhone or just a regular old phone, a "camping" trip would not be complete without it. If you have an iPhone or other internet capable phone, you would obviously be able to update your Facebook and Twitter, which is apparently quite a huge deal. Along with that, you can remain in contact with everyone and their mother, so as not to miss a single drop of juicy gossip.
Camera
Even though we all have camera phones now, it is nice to have an actual camera to capture those amazing moment; whether the moments be funny faces, bears, or just a beautiful scene. Be sure that if you bring a camera you have a couple of extra batteries. This is beneficial so that if you have to charge your cell phone and you iPod, you have some extra batteries in case something fun happens that you want to capture on film.
GPS
Whether or not you get lost often, a GPS can't hurt. We had one that actually helped us find a couple of very interesting spots near where we were sleeping. This was also helpful in getting us back home once we got back in the car and had lost our printed directions. I would HIGHLY recommend a carrying case, because we did not have one and now there is a massive scratch in the screen of my friend's GPS; which makes the touch screen freak out quite a lot.
Chargers
Make sure that, with all of your electronic devices, you are equipped with some convertible chargers. What I mean by this is that there are chargers that can convert from a car charger, to a wall outlet charger, to a battery charger and even to a 9 volt battery charger. The one that we had was a 4-in-1 that charged any 2 USB capable devices at the same time. This meant that since we all had our USB phone chargers handy, I was able to charge my battery while my friend could charge his. This is very helpful for continuous communication with the real world.
Frequently asked questions
Why continue to use all of your electronics to communicate with the world you are escaping?
I too asked this question, but with the instant gratification and instant communication of everyone in the world, it is difficult to be away from people for too long. Remember, we want to be away from work and real life, we don't want to be away from the other people (there just wasn't room in the car to fit all our friends).
Is it really fun "camping"?
I personally had a blast. When I went I was a little skeptical, but once I saw the real enjoyment in it and immersed myself it was really fun. I equate it with hanging out with friends, except that there is no work to be done or annoying things to ruin your day. It is you and the wilderness. And another major point I want to add is that you control when and who you talk to. If you are at home, everyone can contact you when they want to, but not when you are out in the wilderness.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
College Student's Guide to a Fun Dorm Room
College Student's Guide to having a fun Dorm Room
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out some of the other ones; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student's guide to Ipad, College Student's Guide to Move In Day, and College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month
What you will need:
Laptop
Music
Open Door Policy
Camera
Video Camera
Laptop
If at all possible, have someone in your dorm room in possession of a laptop. There are so many things that can be done with a laptop to kill hours of time. For example, Youtube and Facebook are things that every person has something special on, whether it is a new hilarious video, or a new game on Facebook. You do not realize how much a laptop can allow you to connect with people who you would otherwise have little, or nothing to say to. BE SURE to have a plug close by though, cause you can drain your battery fairly quickly.
Music
I have found that if you have music constantly playing at a background level, it is very enjoyable. In my dorm room there is never true silence, which I personally like. I have a set of speakers for my iPod that I got for pretty cheap, and they work amazingly. Another added bonus is that my roommate has a set of computer speakers. They plug directly into any computer, with two speakers and a subwoofer. We also have a USB speaker, so that if we want to be on the laptop on the bed, we can still blast our music if we want to.
Open door policy
In my room about 90% of the time our door is propped open; the only times when its not are when we are sleeping or not in the room. I have found that a lot of people, who are passing by that know us, will occasionally just stop in our room to talk. They also, sometimes, hear the music and it reminds them that we are in there so they come in and say hi. This is a great way to meet people also. If you have music playing and an open door people are more likely to say hello, even if they don't know you yet.
Camera
Though this may not seem like a big deal to have, but when people are constantly coming in and out of your room, you never know when there is going to be a moment that you feel you must capture. For example, I was sitting in my room yesterday and my friend walked in with a sheet of paper, attempting to look like a ghost, and stood in the corner of my room waiting for my roommate. Had I not had a camera, no one would believe that story. Keep your camera close at all times, because you will want to remember the moments that you have while sitting in your room.
Video Camera
I know that a lot of cameras can shoot video, but it is always good to have someone in your room in possession of a video camera. You never know what people will do when they realize they are being recorded. It is a great way to capture the essence of your room, and find out hidden talents that your friends have. On top of that, if you are all just hanging out you never know what conversations might arise that you will be glad you recorded. This was a realization we made after the first month of school. We found ourselves saying "Wow I wish we had a recording of this" way too often to not get a video camera.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out some of the other ones; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student's guide to Ipad, College Student's Guide to Move In Day, and College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month
What you will need:
Laptop
Music
Open Door Policy
Camera
Video Camera
Laptop
If at all possible, have someone in your dorm room in possession of a laptop. There are so many things that can be done with a laptop to kill hours of time. For example, Youtube and Facebook are things that every person has something special on, whether it is a new hilarious video, or a new game on Facebook. You do not realize how much a laptop can allow you to connect with people who you would otherwise have little, or nothing to say to. BE SURE to have a plug close by though, cause you can drain your battery fairly quickly.
Music
I have found that if you have music constantly playing at a background level, it is very enjoyable. In my dorm room there is never true silence, which I personally like. I have a set of speakers for my iPod that I got for pretty cheap, and they work amazingly. Another added bonus is that my roommate has a set of computer speakers. They plug directly into any computer, with two speakers and a subwoofer. We also have a USB speaker, so that if we want to be on the laptop on the bed, we can still blast our music if we want to.
Open door policy
In my room about 90% of the time our door is propped open; the only times when its not are when we are sleeping or not in the room. I have found that a lot of people, who are passing by that know us, will occasionally just stop in our room to talk. They also, sometimes, hear the music and it reminds them that we are in there so they come in and say hi. This is a great way to meet people also. If you have music playing and an open door people are more likely to say hello, even if they don't know you yet.
Camera
Though this may not seem like a big deal to have, but when people are constantly coming in and out of your room, you never know when there is going to be a moment that you feel you must capture. For example, I was sitting in my room yesterday and my friend walked in with a sheet of paper, attempting to look like a ghost, and stood in the corner of my room waiting for my roommate. Had I not had a camera, no one would believe that story. Keep your camera close at all times, because you will want to remember the moments that you have while sitting in your room.
Video Camera
I know that a lot of cameras can shoot video, but it is always good to have someone in your room in possession of a video camera. You never know what people will do when they realize they are being recorded. It is a great way to capture the essence of your room, and find out hidden talents that your friends have. On top of that, if you are all just hanging out you never know what conversations might arise that you will be glad you recorded. This was a realization we made after the first month of school. We found ourselves saying "Wow I wish we had a recording of this" way too often to not get a video camera.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
Monday, June 14, 2010
College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month
College Students Guide to a Successful First Month
(Electronics Specific)
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out some of the other ones; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student's guide to Ipad, College Student's Guide to Move In Day and College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month
What you will want
Camera
Camera Case
Laptop
Laptop Case
Extra Batteries
CHARGERS
iPod (or other MP3 device)
Speakers
Camera
Don't get me wrong; I do not under any circumstances think you NEED to buy an SLR camera, but trust me that you will want a camera. And you will not just want to have it during move in day, thought it is one of the better days to have it. My first day at school I took about 400 pictures; and that was before I even unpacked. It is something that you will definitely want to remember. Move in day is really the time when it hits you that you are in college. Plus, everyone is new to you, and you will want to remember every second of it. Therefore, a camera is ESSENTIAL.
Camera Case
When you have a camera, a case for it is very necessary. In the later days of your first couple of months you will want to be able to keep your camera safe. A lot of the camera cases that you can get have a neck strap and are fairly cheap. If you get a camera, which as I said I do recommend, you will need a camera case, it is that simple. Plus, it is a great storage space for other camera items; memory card, filter, cleaning cloth etc.
Laptop
In today's technological college education, a laptop is almost essential. I am not going to tell you that you MUST get one, but you will definitely need a computer. A lot of schools now have everything on the internet. My teachers, for example, post homework, class notes and even tell us when class is cancelled, ALL ONLINE. The reason that I recommend a laptop over a regular computer is simple; they are portable. This may not seem like as much of a necessity, however, when you have a portable computer you can take it to class, you can disappear to the library and do work on YOUR computer. The benefit of this is that all of your notes, work, homework, essays and projects are all in one place. You do not have to shuffle them around. Along with this, there are going to be a lot of times when you want nothing more than to lay in bed and watch a movie, or talk to your friends online, or even study (what a crazy thought), and having a laptop makes that very easy. The final benefit of a laptop is that you can take it easily home with you, and back to school. The portability factor of a laptop is really something that you will end up wanting in college.
Laptop Case
First off, this is obviously only for those of you that choose to get a laptop. There are also a few very different types of cases. There are the clip-on ones and then there are just plain bags. The bags are good for people who are very careful with their laptops. For example, if you aren't going to be going anywhere "dangerous" with them, then a bag would be fine. They are mostly used for people who are not hard on their laptops and who are just in need of a case for transportation; car, train, bus etc. However, if you plan on taking it to the beach, and to lunch and to most places outside, I would recommend getting a clip on case. Most of them you can get for fairly cheap and they just snap right on to your computer. There are also sleeves, for a specific purpose. If you have a briefcase, or backpack, and you want to keep your laptop protected, it is perfect. This way you can get a cheaper thing to protect your laptop while carrying it in something with all of your other stuff.
Extra Batteries
This may not seem like a huge deal, with all of the things that we have running off of DC outlets. However, it is important to remember, when you are out taking pictures, or you are using one of the rare things that needs AA or AAA batteries (like a flashlight) you will want to know that you are fully charged. The camera batteries are especially important, because if you have extras you can always have one fully charged one, whether you are charging the other, or it dies while you are shooting.
Chargers
THESE ARE A NECESSITY. Everyone now has a cell phone, iPod, laptop, and a million other things that need to be charged on a regular basis. You should have a separate charger for home and school. I know this seems like a waste of money, but speaking from experience it is much much easier. You do not want to leave your house, drive 6 hours or 1 hour or even twenty minutes, just to remember that you forgot your phone charger. I would recommend at the very least a phone charger for home and school. However, if you are able I would recommend a laptop charger for both as well. You never know when you are going to forget it, and be unable to get back in that day.
iPod (or other MP3 device)
iPods, and other MP3 devices, are almost essential for a relaxing and successful college career. Though it may not seem like a necessity, there are hundreds of times when it is helpful. Whether you are walking across campus alone, or getting in the car for a long bus ride, or taking a road trip with your friends, iPods can be used all of the time. I use my iPod in my room all of the time, and I continue to listen to it every time I am in the car.
Speakers
As great as it is to have an iPod, I personally like to be able to hear it throughout my room. I play my iPod through my speakers, which luckily also plug into my computer. This is also a thing that can make a great dorm room atmosphere. If you are playing relaxing music people are more likely to stop by and say hello, they are drawn to your music. Make sure that you get speakers that you can turn down though. The reason being as simple as when it is one or two o'clock in the morning your Resident Assistant will not necessarily like to be hearing your music.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
(Electronics Specific)
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out some of the other ones; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro, College Student's guide to Ipad, College Student's Guide to Move In Day and College Student's Guide to a Successful First Month
What you will want
Camera
Camera Case
Laptop
Laptop Case
Extra Batteries
CHARGERS
iPod (or other MP3 device)
Speakers
Camera
Don't get me wrong; I do not under any circumstances think you NEED to buy an SLR camera, but trust me that you will want a camera. And you will not just want to have it during move in day, thought it is one of the better days to have it. My first day at school I took about 400 pictures; and that was before I even unpacked. It is something that you will definitely want to remember. Move in day is really the time when it hits you that you are in college. Plus, everyone is new to you, and you will want to remember every second of it. Therefore, a camera is ESSENTIAL.
Camera Case
When you have a camera, a case for it is very necessary. In the later days of your first couple of months you will want to be able to keep your camera safe. A lot of the camera cases that you can get have a neck strap and are fairly cheap. If you get a camera, which as I said I do recommend, you will need a camera case, it is that simple. Plus, it is a great storage space for other camera items; memory card, filter, cleaning cloth etc.
Laptop
In today's technological college education, a laptop is almost essential. I am not going to tell you that you MUST get one, but you will definitely need a computer. A lot of schools now have everything on the internet. My teachers, for example, post homework, class notes and even tell us when class is cancelled, ALL ONLINE. The reason that I recommend a laptop over a regular computer is simple; they are portable. This may not seem like as much of a necessity, however, when you have a portable computer you can take it to class, you can disappear to the library and do work on YOUR computer. The benefit of this is that all of your notes, work, homework, essays and projects are all in one place. You do not have to shuffle them around. Along with this, there are going to be a lot of times when you want nothing more than to lay in bed and watch a movie, or talk to your friends online, or even study (what a crazy thought), and having a laptop makes that very easy. The final benefit of a laptop is that you can take it easily home with you, and back to school. The portability factor of a laptop is really something that you will end up wanting in college.
Laptop Case
First off, this is obviously only for those of you that choose to get a laptop. There are also a few very different types of cases. There are the clip-on ones and then there are just plain bags. The bags are good for people who are very careful with their laptops. For example, if you aren't going to be going anywhere "dangerous" with them, then a bag would be fine. They are mostly used for people who are not hard on their laptops and who are just in need of a case for transportation; car, train, bus etc. However, if you plan on taking it to the beach, and to lunch and to most places outside, I would recommend getting a clip on case. Most of them you can get for fairly cheap and they just snap right on to your computer. There are also sleeves, for a specific purpose. If you have a briefcase, or backpack, and you want to keep your laptop protected, it is perfect. This way you can get a cheaper thing to protect your laptop while carrying it in something with all of your other stuff.
Extra Batteries
This may not seem like a huge deal, with all of the things that we have running off of DC outlets. However, it is important to remember, when you are out taking pictures, or you are using one of the rare things that needs AA or AAA batteries (like a flashlight) you will want to know that you are fully charged. The camera batteries are especially important, because if you have extras you can always have one fully charged one, whether you are charging the other, or it dies while you are shooting.
Chargers
THESE ARE A NECESSITY. Everyone now has a cell phone, iPod, laptop, and a million other things that need to be charged on a regular basis. You should have a separate charger for home and school. I know this seems like a waste of money, but speaking from experience it is much much easier. You do not want to leave your house, drive 6 hours or 1 hour or even twenty minutes, just to remember that you forgot your phone charger. I would recommend at the very least a phone charger for home and school. However, if you are able I would recommend a laptop charger for both as well. You never know when you are going to forget it, and be unable to get back in that day.
iPod (or other MP3 device)
iPods, and other MP3 devices, are almost essential for a relaxing and successful college career. Though it may not seem like a necessity, there are hundreds of times when it is helpful. Whether you are walking across campus alone, or getting in the car for a long bus ride, or taking a road trip with your friends, iPods can be used all of the time. I use my iPod in my room all of the time, and I continue to listen to it every time I am in the car.
Speakers
As great as it is to have an iPod, I personally like to be able to hear it throughout my room. I play my iPod through my speakers, which luckily also plug into my computer. This is also a thing that can make a great dorm room atmosphere. If you are playing relaxing music people are more likely to stop by and say hello, they are drawn to your music. Make sure that you get speakers that you can turn down though. The reason being as simple as when it is one or two o'clock in the morning your Resident Assistant will not necessarily like to be hearing your music.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
Friday, June 11, 2010
College Student's Guide to Move In Day
College Students Guide to Move In Day
What you will want
Camera
iPod
Speakers
Other
Camera
Don't get me wrong; I do not under any circumstances think you NEED to buy an SLR camera, but trust me that you will want a camera. And you will not just want to have it during move in day, thought it is one of the better days to have it. My first day at school I took about 400 pictures; and that was before I even unpacked. It is something that you will definitely want to remember. Move in day is really the time when it hits you that you are in college. Plus, everyone is new to you, and you will want to remember every second of it. Therefore, a camera is ESSENTIAL. You will also probably want to get an extra camera battery, just for those times when you forgot to charge it. An extra memory card probably wouldn't hurt either.
iPod (or other MP3 device)
iPods, and other MP3 devices, are almost essential for a relaxing and successful college career. Though it may not seem like a necessity, there are hundreds of times when it is helpful. Whether you are walking across campus alone, or getting in the car for a long bus ride, or taking a road trip with your friends, iPods can be used all of the time. I use my iPod in my room all of the time, and I continue to listen to it every time I am in the car.
Speakers
As great as it is to have an iPod, when you are moving in you are going to want to be able to actually listen to it. What better way than to have it playing throughout the room? Another added bonus of the speakers is that people are more likely to introduce themselves to a person who is playing music for them to hear at move in time. I had so many people find my room just to see where the music was coming from. Yet another positive is that when your family leaves and you are finally alone in the room, it helps to have some sound. My roommate and I first bonded over music, which was playing through my iPod speakers.
Other
When you move in there are a few things that you will want to have but will not think about. First and foremost, remember to bring some snacks. You will be able to get food but snacks are always good to have in the room. Remember chargers for everything; laptop, cell phone, camera etc. Also, remember that it is everyone else's first day as well, so be friendly to everyone. Other things that you are definitely going to want to remember are soap, deodorant, toothbrush/toothpaste, liquids and a shower kit. Shower kits usually consist of a bag, shampoo, conditioner, body wash/soap, and a towel; for those of you that have community bathrooms these are essential. Also for those of you that have community bathrooms I would recommend a pair of "bathroom flip-flops" cause you never know what you are stepping in.
SMILE
Remember that no matter how freaked out you are, there is most likely someone more worried about leaving their parents than you are. So try to smile as much as possible. You never know when smiling at someone is going to make their day. Also the happier you seem the more likely people are to talk to you. We all have this burning desire to make friends in college, but no one really knows where to start.
So my helpful tips are three simple steps.
1. Smile and don't be scared to get out there.
2. Introduce yourself to people who look like they are worried, see if you can help them
3. Keep an open door and an open mind
The first step is simply to appear, and be, more friendly. There have been countless studies that when you smile, other people smile back, and therefore you are more likely to be happier. Also a smile makes you seem approachable. The second step is to help you remember that everyone is there on their first day. No one is coming in knowing everyone, so they are more likely to want to meet new people at the beginning of the year. The third step is simply because if you have an open door, you can see everything that is happening; if you can see everything you can see everyone; if you can see everyone you are more likely to be open to meeting them. And an open mind can go a long way.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
What you will want
Camera
iPod
Speakers
Other
Camera
Don't get me wrong; I do not under any circumstances think you NEED to buy an SLR camera, but trust me that you will want a camera. And you will not just want to have it during move in day, thought it is one of the better days to have it. My first day at school I took about 400 pictures; and that was before I even unpacked. It is something that you will definitely want to remember. Move in day is really the time when it hits you that you are in college. Plus, everyone is new to you, and you will want to remember every second of it. Therefore, a camera is ESSENTIAL. You will also probably want to get an extra camera battery, just for those times when you forgot to charge it. An extra memory card probably wouldn't hurt either.
iPod (or other MP3 device)
iPods, and other MP3 devices, are almost essential for a relaxing and successful college career. Though it may not seem like a necessity, there are hundreds of times when it is helpful. Whether you are walking across campus alone, or getting in the car for a long bus ride, or taking a road trip with your friends, iPods can be used all of the time. I use my iPod in my room all of the time, and I continue to listen to it every time I am in the car.
Speakers
As great as it is to have an iPod, when you are moving in you are going to want to be able to actually listen to it. What better way than to have it playing throughout the room? Another added bonus of the speakers is that people are more likely to introduce themselves to a person who is playing music for them to hear at move in time. I had so many people find my room just to see where the music was coming from. Yet another positive is that when your family leaves and you are finally alone in the room, it helps to have some sound. My roommate and I first bonded over music, which was playing through my iPod speakers.
Other
When you move in there are a few things that you will want to have but will not think about. First and foremost, remember to bring some snacks. You will be able to get food but snacks are always good to have in the room. Remember chargers for everything; laptop, cell phone, camera etc. Also, remember that it is everyone else's first day as well, so be friendly to everyone. Other things that you are definitely going to want to remember are soap, deodorant, toothbrush/toothpaste, liquids and a shower kit. Shower kits usually consist of a bag, shampoo, conditioner, body wash/soap, and a towel; for those of you that have community bathrooms these are essential. Also for those of you that have community bathrooms I would recommend a pair of "bathroom flip-flops" cause you never know what you are stepping in.
SMILE
Remember that no matter how freaked out you are, there is most likely someone more worried about leaving their parents than you are. So try to smile as much as possible. You never know when smiling at someone is going to make their day. Also the happier you seem the more likely people are to talk to you. We all have this burning desire to make friends in college, but no one really knows where to start.
So my helpful tips are three simple steps.
1. Smile and don't be scared to get out there.
2. Introduce yourself to people who look like they are worried, see if you can help them
3. Keep an open door and an open mind
The first step is simply to appear, and be, more friendly. There have been countless studies that when you smile, other people smile back, and therefore you are more likely to be happier. Also a smile makes you seem approachable. The second step is to help you remember that everyone is there on their first day. No one is coming in knowing everyone, so they are more likely to want to meet new people at the beginning of the year. The third step is simply because if you have an open door, you can see everything that is happening; if you can see everything you can see everyone; if you can see everyone you are more likely to be open to meeting them. And an open mind can go a long way.
P.S. Have an idea for a new Guide? Have Questions for me? Email me at jacksondkaplan@gmail.com
Monday, June 7, 2010
College Student's Guide to the iPad
College Student guide to Ipad
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out the other one; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro
What is it?
I will go into more depth throughout this article, but as an overview; the iPad has more helpful business applications than most people realize. First and foremost, the effectiveness of the Email, Calendar and Contacts applications on the iPad is endless. For any college student it is a great accessory to have. The word document applications are also, after a short learning period, quite easy to use.
Why buy it?
For those of us who cannot afford the $1000 Macbook or the $1400 Macbook Pro, the iPad is the next best thing. Althought, some of the newest users, including Fox News' Clayton Morris, would say that the iPad is almost better than the laptop. According to a lot of iPad users, the iPad has replaced their laptop. For the rare college student who is using a lot of photo editing or other major memory eaters, it is not necessarily a great replacement. However, for the average college student it is perfect.
The 1.5 pound body, .5 inch thickness and 9.7 inch screen are the frame for any college student's dream device. The touchscreen is easy to use and incredibly effective. If taking the iPad to class, you can attach any of a number of various devices. You can attach a keyboard and dock, so that you have a real keyboard. You can even attach a microphone to the dock connector and record the lectures.
The biggest complaint among users thus far is the lack of a 3G network. Though there is a 3G iPad, it is almost $150 dollars extra. That being said, most college campuses have a wireless network. Being that the iPad does have wireless internet, it would be easy for a college student.
Other Benefits
Even though not many of us will admit it, most college students strive to have the latest and greatest in technology. Whether it was the iPhone or now the iPad, we want it. So the fact that it is incredibly affordable for a portable computer, which is basically what it is, is just an added bonus.
Another great thing is that the application possibilities are endless. There is everything from word processing to Scrabble to video games to infinity and beyond. These are helpful in many ways; one of which is the Epicurious application. This application is a cookbook for the iPad. I bring up this specific application because most college students, living on campus, get fairly sick of the dorm food fairly quickly. Epicurious helps students to make food with ingredients that they have, or ingredients that they can buy. Once a recipe is found a shopping list is created, so even a college student is able to make sure they have all the ingredients.
Another helpful app is the "Things" app. This is basically a to-do list for everything in life. You can add many things to your to do list. You can even add events or projects that have to-do lists inside of them. It is like an endless to do list application.
There are also apps geared directly to college students including iStudiez Pro and Evernote. iStudiez Pro is another interactive planner, except this one is geared specifically to students. It keeps track of lecture hours, due dates and exam times. It also allows you to imput holidays, specific classes that have been cancelled and even where the class is and who teaches it. Evernote, on the other hand, is for the in class aspect. Evernote is the best selling note taking application for the iPad. It stores as many things as you would like, by month, as thumbnails, making them incredibly accessible.
Helpful accessories
Being that a number of college students do live in dorms there are a few things that I would call essential to the well-being of a college student's iPad. First, and probably most important, buy a case for the iPad. You need a case to carry it to class or around campus, or even just for storage. This is necessary because it is an expensive thing that is very light and easy to lose.
Furthermore, a dock/keyboard attachment would probably be nice. Even though you probably do not need a laptop or desktop if you have an iPad, you may want to have the feel of a real computer. This is a perfect attachment for a college student, especially for those long essays; because no matter how much we may love the touch screen keyboard, it is nice to have an external one.
For those of us that enjoy use of our laptop/phone/iTouch and now iPad at all times, a Ziplock bag might come in handy. On various sites they suggest a one gallon Ziplock bag as an alternate iPad cover for a wet situation. Though it muffles the sound a little bit it creates a waterproof package for the iPad. Amazingly enough, according to multiple accounts, the iPad touchscren still works. This also makes buying a real case for other times much less difficult because there is an extra covering, just in case.
In all of the College Student Articles I will tell you what you want to have, why and I will give some extra tips. I am trying to supply the college students of today with a little bit of help for their first "college experience".
Check out the other one; College Student's Guide to the Macbook Pro
What is it?
I will go into more depth throughout this article, but as an overview; the iPad has more helpful business applications than most people realize. First and foremost, the effectiveness of the Email, Calendar and Contacts applications on the iPad is endless. For any college student it is a great accessory to have. The word document applications are also, after a short learning period, quite easy to use.
Why buy it?
For those of us who cannot afford the $1000 Macbook or the $1400 Macbook Pro, the iPad is the next best thing. Althought, some of the newest users, including Fox News' Clayton Morris, would say that the iPad is almost better than the laptop. According to a lot of iPad users, the iPad has replaced their laptop. For the rare college student who is using a lot of photo editing or other major memory eaters, it is not necessarily a great replacement. However, for the average college student it is perfect.
The 1.5 pound body, .5 inch thickness and 9.7 inch screen are the frame for any college student's dream device. The touchscreen is easy to use and incredibly effective. If taking the iPad to class, you can attach any of a number of various devices. You can attach a keyboard and dock, so that you have a real keyboard. You can even attach a microphone to the dock connector and record the lectures.
The biggest complaint among users thus far is the lack of a 3G network. Though there is a 3G iPad, it is almost $150 dollars extra. That being said, most college campuses have a wireless network. Being that the iPad does have wireless internet, it would be easy for a college student.
Other Benefits
Even though not many of us will admit it, most college students strive to have the latest and greatest in technology. Whether it was the iPhone or now the iPad, we want it. So the fact that it is incredibly affordable for a portable computer, which is basically what it is, is just an added bonus.
Another great thing is that the application possibilities are endless. There is everything from word processing to Scrabble to video games to infinity and beyond. These are helpful in many ways; one of which is the Epicurious application. This application is a cookbook for the iPad. I bring up this specific application because most college students, living on campus, get fairly sick of the dorm food fairly quickly. Epicurious helps students to make food with ingredients that they have, or ingredients that they can buy. Once a recipe is found a shopping list is created, so even a college student is able to make sure they have all the ingredients.
Another helpful app is the "Things" app. This is basically a to-do list for everything in life. You can add many things to your to do list. You can even add events or projects that have to-do lists inside of them. It is like an endless to do list application.
There are also apps geared directly to college students including iStudiez Pro and Evernote. iStudiez Pro is another interactive planner, except this one is geared specifically to students. It keeps track of lecture hours, due dates and exam times. It also allows you to imput holidays, specific classes that have been cancelled and even where the class is and who teaches it. Evernote, on the other hand, is for the in class aspect. Evernote is the best selling note taking application for the iPad. It stores as many things as you would like, by month, as thumbnails, making them incredibly accessible.
Helpful accessories
Being that a number of college students do live in dorms there are a few things that I would call essential to the well-being of a college student's iPad. First, and probably most important, buy a case for the iPad. You need a case to carry it to class or around campus, or even just for storage. This is necessary because it is an expensive thing that is very light and easy to lose.
Furthermore, a dock/keyboard attachment would probably be nice. Even though you probably do not need a laptop or desktop if you have an iPad, you may want to have the feel of a real computer. This is a perfect attachment for a college student, especially for those long essays; because no matter how much we may love the touch screen keyboard, it is nice to have an external one.
For those of us that enjoy use of our laptop/phone/iTouch and now iPad at all times, a Ziplock bag might come in handy. On various sites they suggest a one gallon Ziplock bag as an alternate iPad cover for a wet situation. Though it muffles the sound a little bit it creates a waterproof package for the iPad. Amazingly enough, according to multiple accounts, the iPad touchscren still works. This also makes buying a real case for other times much less difficult because there is an extra covering, just in case.
Friday, June 4, 2010
College Student's Guide to Bags and Cases
By: Jackson Kaplan
First off, there are a few things I should say. This is my opinion. I believe that everything of value should be protected. These are also just suggestions. I would recommend getting as many of these cases or bags as your budget will allow. Also remember that you do not necessarily have to buy the top of the line bag or case. There are plenty of bags and cases that do not hurt the wallet as much.
The first type of bag/case I will discuss is for a laptop. I feel that most every college student now has a laptop computer. If not, feel free to skip ahead. I would recommend for laptop users on a budget, get a laptop case that hugs the laptop. These are usually neoprene "sleeves" and they should not be too pricey. If you have the money I also recommend an actual bag or carrying case of some kind. this way you can pout your laptop in the neoprene sleeve and then have a place to put it so that you can carry it around. Personally I did not have the money to buy a nice bag for it so I used an old backpack with the neoprene sleeve. This is a perfect solution for those of you who are "on a budget." Remember that you need to protect the laptop. Therefore if you cannot afford to get a sleeve, get just a bag of some kind. My roommate had a waterproof bag for his laptop that was pretty cheap. But again my First recommendation is a sleeve and a carrying case of any kind.
Price Range for Laptop cases/bags: $30 - $100
(These price ranges are from the minimum of what I said to the maximum.)
The second type of case I would recommend is one for your Camera. Camera bags and cases can get fairly pricey if you are not careful. First off I should discuss the types of camera bags. There are, of course, many types of camera bags. The first thing to make sure of is that you get a case or bag for the correct type of camera that you have.
First I will discuss point and shoot cameras. If you have a point and shoot camera, you will be getting a much different type of bag or case than if you have an SLR camera. If you have a point-and-shoot camera, i would recommend a simple camera carrying case. They should not be too expensive and they should keep your camera fairly protected. However, if you feel you need something a little more heavy duty, there are solid cases out there that have a hard shell. However, with the hard shell cases they can get a little more expensive.
Price Range for Point and Shoot Cameras: $20 - $45
Now for the SLR cameras. There are many different ways you can go with an SLR case/bag. If you are a person that has one lens and one camera body, I would highly recommend a simple case and a Protection System. The protection system I used to have was a simple rubbery case that went completely over the camera. You were still able to see the screen, and had complete control of all of the buttons. This is perfect for any camera, and for any level photographer. I would recommend this because of the occasional spill, or drop, or someone or something knocking into it. The next step would be if you are a person with multiple lenses. You first have to decide how much money you want to spend. Next decide what type of feel you like the best. If you are a person that enjoys the messenger style bag, they have plenty. The things you are going to want to make sure that you have are extra pockets, and a couple different compartments. The reason for this is that the more lenses you accumulate, you are more likely to start accumulating other things as well, like lens caps, memory cards, remotes, and other things. Another thing you want to make sure is that you are not overpaying. A lot of people pay more (even too much more) just for the brand name. You do not necessarily need a case that is coherent with your camera brand. For example, just because you have a Canon camera does not mean you need a Canon bag. However, with all of that being said, I would highly recommend a backpack type bag. Being a semi-pro photographer I have gone through every kind of bag from single camera bags, to fanny pack bags to belts to vests, and for regular shoots, I recommend backpacks over everything else. They tend to have the most pockets and they support the weight evenly.
Price Range for SLR cameras: $30 - $150
The next important feature is another optional piece of equipment: a GPS. Though a GPS is not an essential piece to the college puzzle, it does help. It is nice to have a GPS when you are in a new place, expected to be able to get around. If you are one of the many college students with a GPS then you should definitely get something to protect it. I would advise a hard shell case, especially in a college setting. When you are at home, not school, you are always more likely to be careful with your stuff. But, once you get to college and are living on your own, you are more likely to be rushing. This is the reason i suggest a hard shell case. You should be able to find one for fairly cheap, and it is a great idea.
Price Range: $15 - $50
Another few random cases/ bags you should probably look into are external hard drives and pocket video cameras. I recommend HIGHLY that every college student has an external hard drive. Whether you have a laptop, desktop, or no computer; I believe that an external hard drive is essential. The day before my 10 page research paper was due in my Sociology class, my computer crashed. Luckily I backed up my hard drive onto my external hard drive that day. Therefore, I did not lose anything. However, the next day, my friend came to my room and was trying to move some things around, and he stepped on my external drive. This crushed it and rendered it unusable. Luckily I had already reinstalled my hard drive onto my laptop. For this reason, along with many others, it is essential to get a case once you get an external hard drive. Most of the cases are smaller in size and can store easily. DO not make the same mistakes I made.
Next comes the pocket video camera cases/bags. The reason that this comes last is that not many people have them. I do believe, however, that if you DO have one, it is essential to get a case. Most of the pocket video cameras are fairly small and fairly easy to break. If you get a case or bag make sure that it can protect your camera.
First off, there are a few things I should say. This is my opinion. I believe that everything of value should be protected. These are also just suggestions. I would recommend getting as many of these cases or bags as your budget will allow. Also remember that you do not necessarily have to buy the top of the line bag or case. There are plenty of bags and cases that do not hurt the wallet as much.
The first type of bag/case I will discuss is for a laptop. I feel that most every college student now has a laptop computer. If not, feel free to skip ahead. I would recommend for laptop users on a budget, get a laptop case that hugs the laptop. These are usually neoprene "sleeves" and they should not be too pricey. If you have the money I also recommend an actual bag or carrying case of some kind. this way you can pout your laptop in the neoprene sleeve and then have a place to put it so that you can carry it around. Personally I did not have the money to buy a nice bag for it so I used an old backpack with the neoprene sleeve. This is a perfect solution for those of you who are "on a budget." Remember that you need to protect the laptop. Therefore if you cannot afford to get a sleeve, get just a bag of some kind. My roommate had a waterproof bag for his laptop that was pretty cheap. But again my First recommendation is a sleeve and a carrying case of any kind.
Price Range for Laptop cases/bags: $30 - $100
(These price ranges are from the minimum of what I said to the maximum.)
The second type of case I would recommend is one for your Camera. Camera bags and cases can get fairly pricey if you are not careful. First off I should discuss the types of camera bags. There are, of course, many types of camera bags. The first thing to make sure of is that you get a case or bag for the correct type of camera that you have.
First I will discuss point and shoot cameras. If you have a point and shoot camera, you will be getting a much different type of bag or case than if you have an SLR camera. If you have a point-and-shoot camera, i would recommend a simple camera carrying case. They should not be too expensive and they should keep your camera fairly protected. However, if you feel you need something a little more heavy duty, there are solid cases out there that have a hard shell. However, with the hard shell cases they can get a little more expensive.
Price Range for Point and Shoot Cameras: $20 - $45
Now for the SLR cameras. There are many different ways you can go with an SLR case/bag. If you are a person that has one lens and one camera body, I would highly recommend a simple case and a Protection System. The protection system I used to have was a simple rubbery case that went completely over the camera. You were still able to see the screen, and had complete control of all of the buttons. This is perfect for any camera, and for any level photographer. I would recommend this because of the occasional spill, or drop, or someone or something knocking into it. The next step would be if you are a person with multiple lenses. You first have to decide how much money you want to spend. Next decide what type of feel you like the best. If you are a person that enjoys the messenger style bag, they have plenty. The things you are going to want to make sure that you have are extra pockets, and a couple different compartments. The reason for this is that the more lenses you accumulate, you are more likely to start accumulating other things as well, like lens caps, memory cards, remotes, and other things. Another thing you want to make sure is that you are not overpaying. A lot of people pay more (even too much more) just for the brand name. You do not necessarily need a case that is coherent with your camera brand. For example, just because you have a Canon camera does not mean you need a Canon bag. However, with all of that being said, I would highly recommend a backpack type bag. Being a semi-pro photographer I have gone through every kind of bag from single camera bags, to fanny pack bags to belts to vests, and for regular shoots, I recommend backpacks over everything else. They tend to have the most pockets and they support the weight evenly.
Price Range for SLR cameras: $30 - $150
The next important feature is another optional piece of equipment: a GPS. Though a GPS is not an essential piece to the college puzzle, it does help. It is nice to have a GPS when you are in a new place, expected to be able to get around. If you are one of the many college students with a GPS then you should definitely get something to protect it. I would advise a hard shell case, especially in a college setting. When you are at home, not school, you are always more likely to be careful with your stuff. But, once you get to college and are living on your own, you are more likely to be rushing. This is the reason i suggest a hard shell case. You should be able to find one for fairly cheap, and it is a great idea.
Price Range: $15 - $50
Another few random cases/ bags you should probably look into are external hard drives and pocket video cameras. I recommend HIGHLY that every college student has an external hard drive. Whether you have a laptop, desktop, or no computer; I believe that an external hard drive is essential. The day before my 10 page research paper was due in my Sociology class, my computer crashed. Luckily I backed up my hard drive onto my external hard drive that day. Therefore, I did not lose anything. However, the next day, my friend came to my room and was trying to move some things around, and he stepped on my external drive. This crushed it and rendered it unusable. Luckily I had already reinstalled my hard drive onto my laptop. For this reason, along with many others, it is essential to get a case once you get an external hard drive. Most of the cases are smaller in size and can store easily. DO not make the same mistakes I made.
Next comes the pocket video camera cases/bags. The reason that this comes last is that not many people have them. I do believe, however, that if you DO have one, it is essential to get a case. Most of the pocket video cameras are fairly small and fairly easy to break. If you get a case or bag make sure that it can protect your camera.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
College Student's Guide to MacBook Pro
College Students Guide to the Macbook Pro
What are they?
Macs, which are Macintosh computers produced by Apple, are one of the front runners of the Laptop and Desktop computer world. They run the OS X operating system, the newest of which is Snow Leopard (10.6). Macs have two different types of laptop; the Macbook and the MacBook Pro. This article is going to dive into the specifications and benefits of the Macbook Pro.
Specs
The Macbook Pros are all equipped with a MagSafe power port, Gigabit Ethernet port, mini DisplayPort, two USB 2.0 ports, Audio in/out, and a Kensington lock slot. As you move up the ladder from the 13 inch to the 15 inch and even to the 17 inch, there are more and more opportunities. The MacBook Pro 13 inch screen also has a FireWire 800 port, and an SD card slot, the 15 inch has a separate audio line in and audio line out, and the 17 inch has an extra USB port and an Express Card/34 slot instead of an SD card. They it also comes complete with a Trackpad. The Trackpad is the mouse and left click and right click, all rolled into one. It is a touch pad that is able to do everything a normal mouse would, and more. With the touch of two fingers you are able to scroll 360 degrees; three fingers and you can navigate through pictures and internet pages, and four fingers allows you to navigate through all open applications on the computer.
Another incredible feature is the backlit keyboard. If the sensor that is on the camera of the computer senses that it is dark, then the keyboard will light up, so that it is easier to see the keys.
The Macbook Pro specifically is unbelievable. The battery power, which is complete with up to 10 hours of use and over 1000 recharges, is incredible. I have a Macbook Pro, and I thought that there was no way it would stay alive for that long. But, it definitely proved me wrong, and still now, a year after getting it; the battery is just as strong. The other amazing things about the MacBook Pro in contrast to the Macbook are the aluminum unibody, and the speed. The 4 GB of RAM and 2.4 GHz allow the Macbook Pro to fly through tasks, and continue to look good while doing it. The original 250 GB can be upgraded to 320 GB or even 500 GB and the extra cost is not that much.
Price
A lot of people when buying a laptop discuss the price of Macs compared to PCs. It is true that when compared side by side, with no interest in actually comparing the system, Macs seem to be more expensive. However, once a Dell or an HP is beefed up to equal the specifications of the Mac, the Dell and HP are more expensive. So if you are looking for a cheaper computer, you can buy a PC. However, keep in mind that you are getting less technical specifications, and less impressive features, than on a Mac.
Performance and uses
For the average college student, Mac is perfect. The basic packages contain internet, word processing, email, music and most other things that you would need. But there are also many college students that are looking for more. Most Macbook Pros now, if you do not get the lowest basic package, have Power Point, Word, Excel and many more fun things. These are all great to have for any student.
Macs have, also, always been equated with artists. The easy to use artistic applications, like iPhoto and many more, come standard and make the Macbook Pro something every artist wants. With the ultra high resolution LCD screen that comes on the Macbook Pro, all the colors on all the artistic applications really pop.
What are they?
Macs, which are Macintosh computers produced by Apple, are one of the front runners of the Laptop and Desktop computer world. They run the OS X operating system, the newest of which is Snow Leopard (10.6). Macs have two different types of laptop; the Macbook and the MacBook Pro. This article is going to dive into the specifications and benefits of the Macbook Pro.
Specs
The Macbook Pros are all equipped with a MagSafe power port, Gigabit Ethernet port, mini DisplayPort, two USB 2.0 ports, Audio in/out, and a Kensington lock slot. As you move up the ladder from the 13 inch to the 15 inch and even to the 17 inch, there are more and more opportunities. The MacBook Pro 13 inch screen also has a FireWire 800 port, and an SD card slot, the 15 inch has a separate audio line in and audio line out, and the 17 inch has an extra USB port and an Express Card/34 slot instead of an SD card. They it also comes complete with a Trackpad. The Trackpad is the mouse and left click and right click, all rolled into one. It is a touch pad that is able to do everything a normal mouse would, and more. With the touch of two fingers you are able to scroll 360 degrees; three fingers and you can navigate through pictures and internet pages, and four fingers allows you to navigate through all open applications on the computer.
Another incredible feature is the backlit keyboard. If the sensor that is on the camera of the computer senses that it is dark, then the keyboard will light up, so that it is easier to see the keys.
The Macbook Pro specifically is unbelievable. The battery power, which is complete with up to 10 hours of use and over 1000 recharges, is incredible. I have a Macbook Pro, and I thought that there was no way it would stay alive for that long. But, it definitely proved me wrong, and still now, a year after getting it; the battery is just as strong. The other amazing things about the MacBook Pro in contrast to the Macbook are the aluminum unibody, and the speed. The 4 GB of RAM and 2.4 GHz allow the Macbook Pro to fly through tasks, and continue to look good while doing it. The original 250 GB can be upgraded to 320 GB or even 500 GB and the extra cost is not that much.
Price
A lot of people when buying a laptop discuss the price of Macs compared to PCs. It is true that when compared side by side, with no interest in actually comparing the system, Macs seem to be more expensive. However, once a Dell or an HP is beefed up to equal the specifications of the Mac, the Dell and HP are more expensive. So if you are looking for a cheaper computer, you can buy a PC. However, keep in mind that you are getting less technical specifications, and less impressive features, than on a Mac.
Performance and uses
For the average college student, Mac is perfect. The basic packages contain internet, word processing, email, music and most other things that you would need. But there are also many college students that are looking for more. Most Macbook Pros now, if you do not get the lowest basic package, have Power Point, Word, Excel and many more fun things. These are all great to have for any student.
Macs have, also, always been equated with artists. The easy to use artistic applications, like iPhoto and many more, come standard and make the Macbook Pro something every artist wants. With the ultra high resolution LCD screen that comes on the Macbook Pro, all the colors on all the artistic applications really pop.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
