Photos: Tech tugs at college students

ASU freshmen Jennifer Johansen and Joe Gamez sit on either side of fellow freshman Robert Quach and his new Alienware notebook. Notebooks are a popular choice for students buying personal computers, but they're not just used for schoolwork. High-performance computers like Alienware PCs are often used for gaming. Quach's favorite games are "World of Warcraft" and "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic".

He and his friends also use social networking sites when they are not playing games. Gamez said he used to be a big Xanga fan while in high school, but has since stopped. "Xanga's very depressing," he said. "It's a journal, but your life sucks while you're in high school, so everyone just talked about how their lives sucked."

Nicole Girard/CNET News.com

Matthew Bader, a sophomore studying computer science at ASU, says he's crazy about all things tech. He said, in all, he has seven computers and about 30 gadgets scattered around his apartment.

His Universal Power Bank can charge two portable devices at a time. Bader finds the ability to work wirelessly useful because, he says, "the Ethernet ports around here are either full or non-existent."

Nicole Girard/CNET News.com

More campuses around the country are offering free wireless Internet access to students.

AirBears, the University of California Berkeley's wireless network, is available throughout the campus. It is free for all Cal students, who just have to enter in their Calnet login information when prompted. Emily Perhamus, a second-year Peace and Conflict/Religious Studies major, uses AirBears from Memorial Glade. "I'm actually reading an article online right now for my Environmental Justice class that's in a few hours," she said. "I think AirBears is very convenient and use it a lot. I'm glad that I can still access it, even from all the way out here."

Neha Tiwari/CNET News.com

Dhruv Bhatnagar, a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley, checks his mail and listens to music in between classes in front of the Main Library. "This (Toshiba) Gigabeat is my favorite piece of tech. I like it because it can play all formats...that's why I got this instead of the iPod." When asked about his laptop, he wasn't as positive: "My laptop is a year old...it's totally outdated!"

Other members of the college student body expressed how they are waiting for Windows Vista before investing in a new computer. Windows Vista is scheduled for release in early 2007.

Neha Tiwari/CNET News.com

ASU sophomore Alex Covarrubias, who's studying business marketing, says he loves his iPod Nano, but he's pretty neutral about his classroom clicker. Students use the clicker to participate in discussions, quizzes and tests.

Some ASU professors require their students to get the clicker to encourage participation in large, auditorium-style classes where students can easily become anonymous.

Nicole Girard/CNET News.com

While some students have to lug around a duffle bag of gadgets, others opted for an all-in-one gadget such as this Sidekick 3, owned by ASU sophomore Tommy Roberts. He uses his Sidekick primarily for listening to music, checking e-mail and talking on the phone. He said his Sidekick has only a 1.3 megapixel camera, so he still uses a Canon camera for taking pictures.

Nicole Girard/CNET News.com

Tri Tran, a sophomore at UC Berkeley, waits for the No. 51 bus on Shattuck Avenue.

While waiting, he likes to listen to his Creative Muvo TX FM 1GB MP3 Player. "It's very easy to use. I like the simplicity of the drop and drag function," he said. I just wish it had some more space!" Most students on or around UC Berkeley's campus were seen sporting headphones or earbuds, exemplifying the trend of college-age consumers owning MP3 players.

Neha Tiwari/CNET News.com

The newest must-have for an NYU dorm room is the iPod speaker system. This one is a Logitech MM50.

Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com

New York University sophomore Allix Geneslaw shows off her favorite iPod accessory--rhinestone-studded earbuds.

Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com

"I hate my Razr...It can never hold a full charge. But I do love listening to my iPod," said UC Berkeley senior Chris Erwing of the technology he was wearing on a recent sunny day on campus.

Neha Tiwari/CNET News.com