Brad Moon

A printer is one of the most popular PC accessories, and with good reason. Even in the age of the “paperless office” it seems that we are printing more than ever. Students, in particular, make extensive use of printers, with fall marking the time when home printers fire up to churn out essays, projects and artwork. Whether your printing needs lean toward term papers, family photos or quarterly reports, here’s what you need to know to get the most from your printer.

Wi-Fi has rapidly progressed from being a novelty to something we depend on. With a wave of ‘smart’ technology now flooding our homes, Wi-Fi performance is more critical than ever. The need for reliable speed, bandwidth, coverage, security, compatibility, upgradability and setup that anyone can understand has driven tech giant Google—working with respected industry leader TP-Link—to release its own wireless router. Meet OnHub, the “new router from Google that’s built for all the ways you Wi-Fi.”  

Back to school shopping? Don’t forget the high tech supplies. Even if your student already has a computer, there will always be must-have PC accessories that will make this powerful educational tool even better.

For many college and university students, their dorm room is their sanctuary. The place they can hang out, do homework or just relax. Actually, the same thing is true of teenagers and their bedrooms. Another thing both these “lairs” share in common is a lack of space. All-in-One computers are perfect for these situations. You get the PC power needed for school, along with a big screen. Choosing an AiO PC means one compact, stylish package can also replace a game console, DVD player, stereo and TV. That’s why I say All-in-One PCs are the ultimate dorm room and entertainment hubs.

This is a question many parents are bound to be asking as back to school fever ramps up. I’m in a pretty decent position to weigh in on the question. One of my kids spent the previous school year using a laptop in class; another brought a tablet to school every day. Your mileage is going to vary depending on age and courses, but after a full year of using both high tech options I can say that for many students a tablet is definitely just as good as a laptop—even better in some ways—but you need to make sure it’s properly accessorized to make the most of it.

Want to generate some back to school excitement this year? It’s tough to beat a new computer—not just for homework assignments, but also as a portable entertainment hub—and when it comes to PCs, there’s probably no more exciting form factor than a convertible (or 2-in-1) laptop. These computers are thin, lightweight, boast long battery life and the amazing ability to transform from traditional laptop to tablet, and everything in between. Here’s why a convertible/2-in-1 laptop should be at the top of your back to school shopping list.  

Windows 10 is a pretty big deal right now. You can bet that by now, millions of PC users will have downloaded Microsoft’s new operating system and will be playing with the new features like Cortana. But what if your computer is showing its age? Now might be the time to replace it. Upgrade to a new PC and you can be sure your hardware can take full advantage of Windows 10’s new features and if your existing PC is running an older version of Windows, you’ll save a chunk of cash by not having to pay for the upgrade.

When we talk students and technology, we often focus on the big stuff like laptops, tablets and smartphones. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned as part of having three kids work their way through elementary school and into high school, it’s that a little piece of inexpensive technology is indispensable: a thumb drive. From “sneaker-netting” assignments between school PCs and home to collaborating on assignments with other students, USB thumb drives are indispensable. Here’s what you need to know.  

When a PC is fresh out of the box, it’s a thing of beauty. But then you have to set it up, get online, back up your data, worry about someone else stealing your data, keep the software up to date … well let’s face it: ownership is a lot of work. That’s where a Geek Squad Membership comes in. A low monthly fee gets you exclusive access to first class technical support that takes the hard work off your shoulders so you can enjoy actually using your device, plus exclusive benefits.

Smart devices, connected homes, embedded connected sensors, mobile devices and computers are all coming together in the Internet of Things (IoT). This massive network is constantly connected, constantly exchanging information and if it isn’t already, your home will soon be part of it. Your PC is a part of the IoT—both as a connected device itself and as an interface to other devices—and your Wi-Fi router is a critical, but often overlooked component. In this part of our Internet of Things series, I take a look at the role your computer plays and especially the importance of that Wi-Fi router.