STACK #232 February 2024

TECH FEATURE

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Extra Essentials

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Alongside your big tech buys, there are some further essential accessories you’ll want to add to your tool kit to ensure that you hit the road to university life with your feet running. Words Bec Summer

Keyboard and mouse These go together like Mulder and Scully. We’d recommend going wireless for a keyboard for ease of use and portability. Just make sure to keep it charged. A wireless mouse also offers the same portable benefits, but look for one that is comfortable to use over lengthy study sessions. Gamers might want to consider buying a keyboard and mouse that can double for those long sessions of Diablo .

Power banks A power bank will be your best mate when vanishing battery life threatens your flow. These are measured in milliamps per hour (mAh), and a 20,000 mAh power bank will charge multiple

GaN charger Want fast juice? GaN chargers are not just fast (expect a phone to charge in a third of the time it usually takes), they’re energy-efficient too, helping keep the power bills low.

devices simultaneously. As a rule of thumb, buy the biggest that your budget will allow.

Headphones or earbuds Choosing headphones or earbuds comes down to personal preference, but there are some key features you want to look out for. Firstly, whether you’re studying on campus, traveling to it, or trying to work in a share house, active noise canceling (ANC) is an absolute must for

Device protection

Storage While cloud storage is a necessity, there’s nothing quite like having a

It stands to reason if you’re splashing the big bucks on new or updated tech, you’ll want to protect them. Look for quality screen, case, and sleeve protection, and keep your treasures safe.

blocking out unwanted noise. Long battery life, as is water

physical drive at your fingertips that you can quickly share with friends. A handy flash drive will provide a storage solution from 32GB up to 512GB. However, an SSD (solid state drive) ups the ante with storage space holding terabytes of data for projects or even some gaming during downtime.

protection from the elements, is a non-negotiable. And, finally, don’t

compromise on sound quality. If you love your music, you’ll want the best sound quality representation that your budget will stretch to.

Network Good connectivity is a must wherever you reside, so investing in a mesh network for ultimate coverage is a wise move. Plus, you can share expenses with your flatmates! Eero offer an affordable entry point here with Wi-Fi 6 single or triple set packing a heap of bandwidth for study, streaming, and gaming.

For the record Nothing displays your love of music more than records. Having a collection opens the door to conversation, social interaction, and sonic discovery. For a cost-effective solution that doesn’t sacrifice sound quality, look for a combo like the Marley One Love turntable paired with a Marley Get Together two portable Bluetooth speaker. Built with sustainable materials in mind, the portability of a Bluetooth speaker makes it an ideal choice for living areas where space is at a premium.

22 FEBRUARY 2024

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