Gadget Guru: Some top choices for back to school
Not too long ago, back-to-school shopping lists consisted of little more than pens, pencils and notebook paper. These days that list is a lot more modern and tech related.
With school just underway or soon to start, here are a few items that would make great additions to any back-to-school shopping list.
Mechanical keyboard
The USB Logitech K840 mechanical keyboard ($79.99) very well could be the last keyboard you’ll need – it was tested to last for more than 70 million keystrokes. According to Logitech, its silent Romer-G mechanical switches are durable, allowing users to type away in comfort.
The full-sized keyboard features a Windows lock key, media shortcuts, programable keys, a 70-inch strain relief USB cable and an aluminum build.
More: logitech.com
Power strip
The iClever BoostStrip IC-BS03 power strip ($24.99) will charge or power just about anything, including smartphones, tablets and computers – even a hair dryer.
It’s built with SmartID technology to recognize devices for a safe charge while maximizing charging efficiency. All six standard AC outlets and six USB ports can be used simultaneously. Each AC port is surge protected; the USB ports provide high-speed charging and have SmartID to recognize the maximum charging speed for each plugged-in device.
A 5-foot power cord is attached and a wall-mounting bracket is included, along with an 18-month warranty.
More: iClever.com
Portable charger
The Adventure Ultra ($129.99) from myCharge has a 13400 mAh battery, enabling users to charge anything on the go, including a 42-inch television for up to three hours.
Sure, most people won’t be transporting a TV, but you probably have a laptop, smartphone or tablet. Just about anything can run or charge with the Adventure Ultra, as long as it doesn’t need more than 45 watts of power.
It has two standard USB ports and a single USB-C port for charging. The battery alone can charge a smartphone up to eight times or power a lamp with an LED bulb for 8 hours. The compact unit weighs about 1 pound.
More: mycharge.com
Scale
The Yunmai Color scale ($69.95) is a handy item to have around during the college years, which can lead to adding a few unwanted pounds.
The scale has four high-precision pressure sensors and four human body sensors to measure critical health features, including bioelectrical impedance analysis of body mass index, weight, fat, muscle, visceral fat, bone mass, water, basal metabolic rate, body age and protein.
A 4-inch LCD displays weight and body fat percentage. Up to 16 profiles can be stored in the app. Four AAA batteries power the scale and it has Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.
More: iYunmai.us
Portable speaker
The Monster Firecracker portable high definition Bluetooth speaker ($129.95) has two high-performance full-range drivers with a passive bass radiator to produce room-filling sound.
A unique feature is a 500 Lumens photo light, which will shine for about 7 hours. The light is measured at 5000-degrees Kelvin, which translates to natural light. It’s also splash proof and has a built-in high intelligibility mic for hands-free calls.
There’s also a built-in USB port for charging other devices and the internal battery will last for 25 hours of play life.
More: monsterproducts.com
Contact Gregg Ellman at greggellman@mac.com. Follow him on Twitter: @greggellman
This story was originally published August 10, 2017 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Gadget Guru: Some top choices for back to school."