From my newest article in SU’s Daily Orange:

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.”

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.

read the whole article