Keeping up - technology and the Joneses

I know so many people that have categorically stated that they hate iphones. They wouldnt even entertain a try on the touch screen and the apps. fastforward a few months/years and I bump into them in the dtreet totally engrossed in - yes you guessed it - their iphone! So what is so special about this little number that even the android versions manufactured by apples rivals cant slow the sales figures?

I was exposed to the iphone very shortly after it came out. My then other half always had to have the latest technology before anyone else in our social sphere. Compared to todays iphones, it was a clumsy piece of hardware, but the original iphone is still an envied piece of kit compared to the mainstream phones available on the market.

What really does it for me is that these little machines evolve. The software and operating systems are frequently updated and the updates are accessible. In fact the whole technology around the iphone is accessible. Apple scored huge big brownie points in terms of seamless accessibility. The iphone is essentially a small computer with a phone attached.

Disagree? Think about this, 15 years ago, a computer with 1,2 or 4 Gig hard disk was a very big deal. You had to access it with a CRT monitor and similar laptops were like carrying a load of bricks in your bag. Now you can have a phone, on which you can send and read email, from multiple accounts, browse the web, access skype, play games, install work related applications and even read business documents. You can access a map that tells you where you are and then tell you how to get to where you're going. The possibilities are endless.

So this week after holding off for a considerable period of time, I bought my other half an ipad. I thought about this carefully. because of the speed of modern obsolescence I did not want to buy some technology only to want to upgrade it in six months time. I ordered the top of the range as by experience I have become aware that often reduces the speed of obsolescence.

I thought about it carefully though - and took out a contract- why you may ask - it works out more expensive? Well lets do the math. £349 for the ipad £25 a month for two years. The 64Gb ipad with wifi and 3G costs £700 new, regardless of where you shop. I took £25 and multipleied it by 14. it costs £600 over two years - but.... take the £350 off that for the remainder of the ipad had I bought one outright that leaves me £250 to justify. I get 15GB of usage for two years for £250 dive that by 24 and you get 15 Gb for £10.42 a month including VAT. Thats a lot less than the same home broadband after VAT, and home broadband providers dont dish out computers with the deal.

The ipad deal from Three remains unbeatable and I'm afraid to say their service while not perfect is untouchable compared to the likes of the giant providers.

Well done Three.

Expensive software at giveaway prices - for students!

It never ceases to amaze me how students just bypass some of the greatest spending opportunities. It is clear that big business recognises the spending power and appeal of students, but how many students realise their spending power. Microsoft office 2010 for less than £50. Yep and this year there's a fab deal with windows 7 thrown in for only £30. This is software that you will use for years to come and then be able to upgrade once your'e out in the real working world.

All sorts of different software houses offer deals for students. It really is just a case of becoming aware of the deals and the fact that these corporations value you for the future repeat customer youre going to become.

You can enjoy student deals with Apple, Microsoft, Adobe,Serif and others. Just do the homework.

Five things a student can’t survive without

1. A computer – In this day and age you’d think this would be pretty obvious, but every year there are thousands of students that go off to college and university thinking that the library or student centre will have enough computers to provide for everyone – think again! With many Universities accommodating more than ten thousand students, the stark reality hits home when the night before an assignment is due, Joe Student turns up at the Library to discover that s/he has been beaten to the coveted computers. Precious student funding has to be carefully divvied up to provide for books, accommodation and food, so it is very wise to hunt down the bargains and deals. A lot of students turn up at local high street stores before learning the real value of key word search engine research, not realising that there are plenty of internet retailers that have some real whack in terms of IT turnover.Have a look at our front page for the latest deals, sign up for the email newsletter and/or visit our how to page to find great ways to do your essential shopping.
2. A mobile phone – I don't know very many people over the age of ten that don't have a mobile phone these days. That said, it doesn't mean that everyone has a great deal. There are fantastic deals for both pay monthly and pay as you go customers. Generally a contract means a better deal but this is not always necessarily the case. Are you going to be away over the summer and find over an eighteen month or twenty four month contract you actually land up paying for six months of contract that you don't need? However if you are like most students that like to travel, the contracts come in the most handy especially with European and US roaming charges that are now mostly capped. Our latest email newsletter will update you with the most recent deals and what to look out for when shopping.
3. Broadband connection – While most students living in residence will be able to enjoy a broadband connection, this is a vital consideration for students living at home or in digs where they rent privately. Most universities enable students to access the WLAN on University premises, this privilege is shot if you live a few miles down the road and want to work from your space. Again WLAN can slow down enormously when there is a huge demand on the system and this most often happens when you need it the most – the eve of an assignment due or the eve of an exam. Mobile broadband becomes more cost effective every month and some providers have some really amazing deals. One the tricks of course is also to take a look at the netbook and PC deals available with the mobile broadband deals and you may find yourself coming out on top pound for pound. These five issues are covered in our latest email newsletters so be sure to sign up and get the info from the horses mouth.
4. Entertainment – The concept of entertainment for students is a very wide one, however there seem to a few common denominators for everyone. Students love to watch TV. Before you stop me in my tracks and say “but I can watch on my computer or laptop” allow me to relate a few harsh realities to you. Watching a feature length movie on a laptop on your lap whether you're seated on the sofa or lying in bed cannot happen every day. Your neck will soon discover aches and pains you never knew existed and the proximity of the screen to your face will probably double your prescription for glasses overnight. Its a novel idea, but unless you only watch telly once in a blue moon trust me it wont last long. That said if you're taking out a mobile phone contract you can always balance the financial prudence between a netbook and a telly/wii/Xbox free with your contract.or do as one of my clever acquaintances did and got a free telly with her mobile phone contract and a free netbook with her broadband contract – Mission accomplished! For the latest deals and loads of extra editorial sign up to our email newsletter.
5. Food –
Students eat and drink a lot. They also do so on a budget. The editorial over the first semester of 2010/11 will give you a great idea of how to eat for very little. We’ll be covering everything from vouchers and freebies right down to where to shop, which supermarkets are making the grade and which nights out are going to save you a small fortune. There are restaurants out there ready to throw all sorts of incentives at the student customers as are the high street chains that provide everything from coffee to caviar. Food deals are everywhere it’s really just a case of developing the habit of reading all the signs around you and your regular sources of internet deals. So if you want all the deals, The great meal for one in a minute recipes and all the frills that come with them, don't forget to ensure that you receive our email newsletter.

The back to school Shopping trip

As September approaches and students everywhere start preparing to either start or return to University several important factors need to be taken into consideration.

For those that have already been accepted here is the opportunity to see how your Unversity fares in the league tables. However you are reminded not to forget that there are U niversities that fare appallingly in one academic area and are renowned in others. Bear this in mind when you look at the tables. I recall my late father telling me that statistics can be made to say anything!

The great scouting motto "be prepared" is the first and greatest piece of advice you can be offered when starting on a new academic tier. When at school we would not have turned up without a pen for class so here are a few suggestions.

At University you will attend lectures, these are not quite the same as the fully interactive classes that you will have had at school. The most valuable investment that I ever made in terms of my early university education was a digital voice recorder.

Read the post on taking notes and building up a body of work where this piece of technology becomes a vital tool to success.

Reducing exam prep How to take notes and build up a body of work

The single greatest skill in education was in fact taught to me by a teacher in high school. I was truly a recalcitrant learner and avoided work generally doing the bare minimum to get through. After one of my infamous homework showdowns, this teacher sat me down and explained that I had the means to excell but was doing myself a disservice and since I had a penchant for leaving things to the last minute she had a few tips to offer me. These tips got me through higher education and I still apply them today.

• Keep a notebook/file for every subject or module you are studying.
• Every day that you have a lecture, take a few minutes to précis the lecture in a notebook, underlining key words and phrases pertaining to that lecture.
• Once a week, read over your précis notes and ensure you have an understanding of the contents.
• Review the precis notes once you have completed the module.
• When time comes to study the module for examination, you will find that you are revising material that you already know and is usually chronologically noted to make it easy to understand.

This method of study preparation drastically reduces the pre exam study hours needed to put into an exam and thus enables you to excel at a chosen subject.

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