Hot items, laptops, flat-screen TVs: Big tech on campus
BY ROBERT EVATT World Staff Writer
Thursday, August 16, 2007
These days, dorm rooms need
more than just posters, a
decent stereo system and
laundry instructions.
Matt Carney, a Tulsa student
headed to the University of
Oklahoma in Norman, said he got a
new MacBook Pro laptop for the
occasion.
"I've been told people use
laptops for just about everything in
college, like taking notes in class,
writing papers, recreation outside
of class -- sometimes in class, too,"
he said.
Colleges and universities have
traditionally been high-tech
hotbeds, and incoming students
are gearing up to take advantage.
Joel Horst, operations manager
for Circuit City at 5313 E. 41st St.,
said nearly all students are
springing for laptops.
"It's simply because of their size,
since students don't have a lot of
space," he said. "We sell myriad
brands, so there's not one that
students are buying significantly
more than others."
Students usually spring for
laptops with WiFi -- or wireless --
capabilities for Internet access on
the go, as well as DVD playback for
entertainment.
It's not just computers. Wallace
Hartman, guest services executive
for Target at 1701 S. Yale Ave., said
his store has been selling many
more ethernet and USB cables,
calculators that interface with
computers and flash drives.
"Before, students stored their
information on floppies, but now
they have flash drives," he
said. "And the prices have
dropped, making them really
attractive."
Not every device coveted by
students are made for studying. Joe Chronister, a salesman at Ultimate Electronics at
10021 E. 71st St., said many
students are picking up new
TVs for their rooms.
Smaller components are
selling better, particularly
small, flat-panel LCD TVs, TVs
with inputs that allow them to
double as computer monitors
and TVs with built-in DVD
players.
"It's one less box to take
up," he said. "They need
something small that doesn't
take up much space."
Hartman said that smaller
gadgets have also have been
popular at Target.
"We've been selling a lot of
small DVD players, the ones
that are about seven inches
across," he said.
But next-generation DVD
formats, including HD-DVD
and Blu-Ray, still haven't taken off, even among techno-savvy young adults. The new players offer higher-resolution
pictures when used with appropriate televisions.
"It's still a VHS vs. Beta-style format war that's undecided, so most people are sitting it out," he said.
IPods and other mp3 players, the most popular small
electronic devices for years,
haven't seen much of a boost
from back-to-school shopping,
Chronister said.
"Most people already have
them," he said. "Now people
are buying stuff to go with
them."
Docking stations with
speakers or car stereo panels
with iPod connectivity have
sold well, Chronister said.
Students also like video
game systems for downtime,
and Carney said his is already
packed.
"I'm bringing my Playstation 2 so my friends and I can
play Guitar Hero," he said.
Robert Evatt 581-8447
robert.evatt@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Matt Carney works on his new Apple laptop computer at his home in Tulsa. Carney is packing up to head to the University of
Oklahoma.
Matt Carney works on his new Apple laptop computer at his home in Tulsa. Carney is packing up to head to the University of
Oklahoma.
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