Kensington

Right about now you're starting to wonder what kinds of electronics your college student is going to need. "Need" being the operative word here, as opposed to the many gadgets they merely want but claim to need. Retrevo has provided us with their "Back to School Tech Guide" to help you sift through the options so your students can be as productive as possible, and you can still afford gas to go visit them.

As far as Retrevo's editors are concerned, the perfect dorm room set up is a decent laptop with plenty of storage, a second larger display monitor that also functions as a television, and both a wireless mouse and keyboard. A good pair of headphones or speakers is also pretty necessary.

Must Have

1. Laptop/Netbook
The specs of what kind of laptop students need varies depending on what they will be doing - literature students who will be writing essays could get by with a netbook, while graphic artists will need something more robust but according to Retrevo's Product Life-cycle there are a few must-haves for everyone. Read more

From banking and shopping to researching and applying for jobs, nearly every aspect of our daily lives has become faster and more convenient with the help of computers. Yet every day, the dark side of technology rears its ugly head. Between the virtual theft of personal information and the material theft of laptops and desktop computers, our desire for - and dependency on - technology can also put us at great risk for loss.

"Luckily, there are plenty of ways to protect your identity and personal property from falling into the wrong hands," notes CableOrganizer.com Product Specialist Christina Hansen. "In addition to digital safeguards like firewalls, filters, and anti-virus software, there are many other security devices that physically prevent theft and block unauthorized access to your computer drives, personal records, and online accounts."

Here are 7 easy-to-use solutions:Read more

November 3, 2008 – Kensington Computer Products Group, a worldwide leader in delivering smart made simple computing accessories for the mobile consumer, announced today, a wide variety of computer accessories and products for those on your gift giving list. Just in time for the holiday season, Kensington's top picks won't break the bank during a time when consumers are watching their budgets but still want to buy cool holiday gifts for loved ones, family and friends.

"We asked our own employees to provide a 'favorites' list of Kensington products and what they would recommend as gifts that are sure to be a big hit,” said Christine Dumery, Director, Marketing Communications, Kensington. "Not only did they come back with great ideas, they also suggested who might best like the products.” "So we've organized these suggestions into three categories – the Music Lover, Gadget Geek and the Jet-Setter, to help everyone find the perfect gift.” Read more

August 18, 2008 – Kensington Computer Products Group, a worldwide leader in delivering smart made simple computing accessories for the mobile consumer, today announced that it is the first company to ship a USB-IF certified Wireless USB universal docking station. The Kensington Wireless USB Docking Station will be available at www.dell.com later this month.

Wireless USB enabled notebooks are becoming increasingly popular and affordable. A recent In-Stat report estimated that just under 100,000 Wireless USB devices shipped in 2007, but projects that this number will grow to more than 190 million devices by 2012. Until now, there has been no available gateway to take advantage of the wireless capabilities between them and standard USB peripherals, requiring users to continue plugging and unplugging their external monitor, audio speakers, printer, keyboard, mouse, hard drive and other devices into their notebook ports each time they settle into their workplace. Now, the Kensington Wireless USB Docking Station brings all the convenience of a wireless connection to standard USB devices, audio speakers and even an external monitor which simply need to be plugged into the dock once, so users can save time and work comfortably without being tethered to a desk space.

"We are pleased to see Kensington continue the innovation of Wireless USB products with the introduction of a Wireless USB Docking Station,” said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President. "This solution provides a new usage scenario that supports workstation functionality while enhancing consumers need for convenience, productivity and mobility in the home or office environment.” Read more

July 14, 2008 – Kensington Computer Products Group, a worldwide leader in delivering smart made simple computing accessories for the mobile consumer, offers a wide variety of products to enhance the travel experience during the busy summer season. Kensington's easy to pack, stylish and multi-function products help vacationers get the most out of their digital devices whether they are on a plane, taking an extensive road trip or simply heading out for a day at the beach.

Kensington research shows that the four most frequently used personal technology products carried around during the day are a digital camera, a flash drive, a mobile phone and an MP3 player – devices that can add both pleasure and practical support to summer travel. Research also indicates that 65% of people plan to take their notebook computer with them on vacation. To help vacationers travel lightly and securely with all those digital devices, Kensington offers the following tips: Read more

June 16, 2008 – Kensington Computer Products Group, a worldwide leader in delivering smart made simple computing accessories for the mobile consumer and the world's #1 seller of notebook locks, today announced new enhancements to its family of world renowned ComboSaver Combination Notebook Locks. Kensington's award-winning locks offer the most secure physical notebook protection in the industry, which is why the patented Kensington Security Slot is found in 99% of notebook computers and why leading companies buy Kensington-patented locks to protect their employees' notebooks both inside the office and on the road.

Over 600,000 notebook computers are stolen each year. Notebook theft is rampant and continues to accelerate as notebooks become more pervasive, especially among the high school and college generation which are less trained in protecting their belongings at all times. In addition, notebook content itself is becoming far more critical to a person's well being - and can be potentially damaging if it falls into the wrong hands. The time spent recovering from lost documents, pictures, music files and other personal items is unpleasant but the outcomes from stolen sensitive records and even identity theft can be catastrophic. Read more

June 16, 2008 – Kensington Computer Products Group, a worldwide leader in delivering smart made simple computing accessories for the mobile consumer, today announced two innovative new wireless mice that help simplify school and business travel whether across the campus or across the globe. The versatile SlimBlade Bluetooth Presenter Mouse combines the power of two devices into one, while following the notebook's sleep and wake modes so a user never has to turn it on or off again. The ultra-portable Ci95m Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver offers instant connectivity, so it's always ready to spring into action.

The SlimBlade Bluetooth Presenter Mouse gives students and mobile professionals a compelling reason to jump on the growing Bluetooth bandwagon. People know the Bluetooth technology primarily from their cellular phone experience. But now that more notebooks are equipped with Bluetooth capabilities, Kensington and its smart made simple design philosophy is helping users benefit from that. The sleek SlimBlade Bluetooth Presenter Mouse gives users all the advantage of a full-function laser mouse for the ultimate in precision, responsiveness and tracking ability while saving a precious USB port for other devices. It also saves school and travel bag space by doubling as a meeting or classroom presenter. A simple double-click easily toggles between the two functions. Read more