The gadget guide

Most students own the essentials in gadgetry-the iPod, cell phone and computer. To save money and fill that urge for the latest technology, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications grad turned-adjunct professor Eric Hansen suggests add-on components to items students already own.

"A personal recording device was essential to me," Hansen said. "I even bought an add-on recorder for my iPod called an iMic, just in case."

To promote ergonomic safety, he recommends purchasing an external monitor "because with a super portable laptop and a nice DVI (digital visual interface) digital connector, you can have this really nice desktop environment."

Online sellers have started to monopolize on the tech craze by creating Web sites like ThinkGeek.com, a site that offers exclusive and hard-to-find products before they hit the shelves at local stores.

As manager of New Business Development and Marketing for ThinkGeek.com, Jennifer Kuropkat has noticed college students buy USB-powered devices, T-shirts and caffeinated products the most from the site due to their limited budget.

"We're always working to be the first to market- once a product has reached its peak, we don't carry it anymore," Kuropkat said.

Checking out ThinkGeek's selection, a few standout products include a Bluetooth laser virtual keyboard for $150, which allows you to send e-mail via Blackberry or iPhone, iPod video goggles, a USB-powered missile launcher and even a device called "hitch" that allows you to transfer songs from iPod to iPod without a PC.

For all the snooze button addicts on campus, manufacturers have created alarm clocks beyond the standard options of radio and buzzer.

Today's market offers a variety of high-tech clocks designed to get sleepy college students out of bed, into the snow and to class.

Clearly constructed with the college student in mind, Neverlate features seven independent alarms that can be set based on a class schedule that differs from day to day.

"If your butt doesn't have to get up till noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you don't have to reset it," Kuropkat said.

For the aggressive morning bunch, there's "Clocky," a rolling clock developed by MIT alum Gauri Nanda for a class project.

If the snooze button is pressed, Clocky will roll off a surface and continue to beep, chirp and light up until captured. Clocky has been featured in Make Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Lucky, Inc., Parents and The New York Times Magazine.

The gadget's designer Nanda said Clocky "has a lot of personality. It's for people who have a sense of humor. Maybe it's not for someone who is going to throw it out the window."

After graduating from MIT, Nanda started up her own product design company, Nanda Home, as an outlet to share her solutions.

"I find that I just put my problems into products," she said.

ThinkGeek's Kuropkat said "Clocky is one of our best sellers, but if I had to go catch Clocky every day, I would hurt someone. But if you can't get up it's totally for you."

With publicity from tech blogs like Engadget, Nanda Home's product line is getting exposure.

In addition to Clocky, Nanda has also designed a unique laptop bag in which the padded laptop sleeve is located on the outside.

"Lapsac" is available on NandaHome.com for $62, and a new line is to appear in the spring.

"It's so useful," Nanda said. "I can take it anywhere, I travel with it too. The design makes it so easy to go through airport security…since your laptop is in a totally different part of your bag."

For the student on a tight budget, Kuropkat recommended ThinkGeek's T-shirts, some of which have integrated gadget capabilities, since "you can impress your professors and score some brownie points."

The Wi-Fi detector T-shirt, which displays in real-time wireless network signal strength, may be of interest for those concerned with the signal of SU's wireless network, AirOrange. It's one of the site's best sellers.