Elliott
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ElizabethS
In my role as Communications Manager for Future Shop, I get to discover who’s new and exciting in the Consumer Electronics space, and I love it. The most common question I’ve been fielding through work or off-the-clock hours is “what’s hot for back-to-school this year?” Each year the answer changes, so I appreciate the opportunities to share the must-haves.
Two years ago, you might remember netbooks were all the craze. Last year, tablets began to make a mark. This year, hands down they are uber popular, joined by smartphones and laptops, devices aimed to help students be everywhere. These items are the triple crown of back-to-school for several reasons, e.g.:
- Tablets
- They’re the consumption device in a student’s arsenal
- They’re compact, some are even pocket-size (take a look at the Blackberry PlayBook)
- They’ve been making noise since last year and generating tons of hype since CES 2011
- They’re just darn cool and functional: check and send emails, check the schedules or exam scores, take notes, watch the new (or old) 90210, listen to music, share or display photos, control the TV, play Angry Birds, the possibilities are endless with how tablets are used
- Value priced. Tablets start at a few hundred dollars and work their way up based on storage capabilities and connectivity (e.g. 3G)
- Smartphones
- They’re viewed nowadays as mini-computers and connectivity hubs helping students be everywhere, 24/7. Yes, smartphones can talk, text, surf, but they also are a fun way to game, can serve as a remote control for the home theatre system, serve as a personal WiFi hotspot, and much more
- The selection is endless. Future Shop has more than 130 handsets available, many of which are offering best-in-class operating systems from Android and Apple, to BlackBerry, webOS and Windows. It feels like each week a new phone is launching, adding to the choices consumers have today
- They’re affordable. Some are free with carrier plans
- They’re what all the cool kids have. Students love all the bells and whistles of smartphones, especially when it comes to instant messenger devices and social apps
- Laptops
- Hands down, they’re the productivity tool in any backpack. Spreadsheets, essays, Photoshop, storing massive files, etc. – students, parents and educators alike agree a computer is a must-have in today’s information age
- They now come in a smorgasbord of colours and designer accessories – students want to make a statement when it comes to the tech they carry
- They’re faster, thinner, lighter than ever – now in glasses-free 3D thanks to Toshiba. The selection of laptops are endless – Future Shop carries hundreds of skus online and in-store
Other hot products that score high marks on students’ wish-lists this year include:
- Storage devices to save content to the cloud, e.g. iOmega Home Media Network Drive Cloud Edition
- Portable accessories like cameras, sound docks and webcams. My favourite point-and-shoot camera right now is the Casio Tryx. A cool tool for recording lectures is the Livescrbie Echo Pen – it does just that and more
- Small appliances for student rooms. With the Keurig Single Serve Coffee Maker , it’s easy to make coffee and tea with minimal cleanup
- Students can’t study all the time, so making music and gaming are fun and social ways to unwind. DJ equipment like Numark’s Mix Deck Case, and hot gaming releases like Gears of War 3 add excitement outside study hours
To view the items Future Shop believes will be tops among Canadian youth this year, click here. There are even survival tips to help students champion their academic years.
What tech do you think will be hot for back-to-school?
