The Tech Setup Taking Me Through College
carrying me to a 4.0
I’ve been in college for a while now. And like every CS/CS-adjacent major out there, tech is the only thing I know.
Here are 10 things I use pretty much every day:
15” MacBook Air
This thing is a beast:
Insane battery life
Great performance for everything (including video editing and coding)
Runs local large language models with ease
All in a slim, lightweight package.
12.9” iPad Pro
My iPad is an aging but powerful device.
I do admittedly run into a few performance issues here and there. The battery is definitely not as great as it used to be (nowhere near my MacBook Air).
But for any tasks related to creativity or studying, this iPad is my go-to device. Nothing comes close to the joy of learning or brainstorming with an Apple Pencil and an iPad Pro.
Apple Pencil
My Apple Pencil is without a doubt expensive. Definitely overpriced.
But it has given me so much value over the past 4.5 years. I have:
written countless journal entries
made numerous flashcards
taken millions of notes
finished billions of homework assignments
If you have an iPad, a stylus is a must.
If you’re a student/notetaker and you have the budget, get an Apple Pencil. Otherwise, the ripoff styluses on Amazon will do.
Magic Keyboard
Paying $350 for this probably wasn’t the best decision.
But when I didn’t have a laptop, this keyboard was the only way I ran this blog.
My personal recommendation?
Only get it if you need it. If you have a laptop, you probably don’t need it.
Also check out discounts. There’s a renewed Magic Keyboard on Amazon going for $160.
If you end up getting it, you’ll love it.
AirPods Pro
Not much to explain here.
Philips Hue Go
Definitely better options out there, but not bad for a college dorm room.
Would recommend random Amazon smart lights if you’re looking for one—Philips Hue is a bit too expensive.
Space Heater
Space heaters are awesome.
My room gets the Pacific Ocean breeze every night, making it pretty cold in the winters. A space heater is a necessity.
Brita Water Bottle
Water bottles with built-in filters are essential. Water at my school is known for being particularly interesting, and a filter makes me feel a little safer.
Herschel Backpack
These backpacks are clutch.
Look great. Functional. Not too big.
Not great if you’re the type to pack a ton of stuff in your bag. Better for the minimalist type.
USB-C Extension Cord
USB-C extension cables are insanely useful nowadays.
Every charging cable I have is USB-C to Lightning/USB-C/Apple Watch. Having an extension means I don’t have to use my phone at an awkward angle in bed.
Final Thoughts
Hope these are helpful for you. Definitely useful for me.
Thanks for reading!
Adi
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