Looking for the hottest holiday gifts for college student? Here are some of the most popular and most coveted gifts for college student for Christmas and Hanukkah 2010
The Apple iPad
Since Apple released the iPad in April 2009, college students have been coveting this tablet computer that's both fabulously cool and very functional. With a starting price of $499, iPads don't exactly fall in the category of cheap holiday gifts for college students, but they perform a multitude of functions in one easy-to-use device.
One of the most useful functions of an iPad is that it allows students to download textbooks onto an device that weighs less than two pounds, which means a whole lot less to carry around in bulky backpacks. The iPad also allows students to read periodicals, search the web, listen to music, exchange photographs, and use all kinds of great iPhone apps for college students.
The Amazon Kindle
If saving a student the hassle of lugging around books sounds like a great idea, but $499 for an iPad sounds like an awful lot of money, consider purchasing an Amazon Kindle. This popular wireless device doesn't have all the bells and whistles as the iPad, but it does allow students to carry around books (and other reading materials on a hand-held device. Kindles start at only $139, and there's no additional charge for wireless access.
4G Smartphones
No, college students really don't need the latest in cell phone technology. But for students who want the latest and greatest, an upgrade to a 4G smartphone makes a fantastic gift. The main advantage of 4G phones (which stands for "fourth generation" is that they're incredibly fast; in fact, they're faster than many home broadband connections.
Some of the most popular 4G phones include:
- Apple iPhone 4
- HTC EVO 4G
- Samsung Epic 4G
- T-Mobile myTouch 4G
- Motorola Droid X
Of course, one advantage of the new influx of 4G phones is this: many 3G phones have become cheaper! These means it's a whole lot cheaper to purchase a smartphone for a college student that has everything on it he or she really needs.
Lightweight Laptop Computers
Every year, these once luxurious machines get a little cheaper. For college students, the ability to cart around a laptop to class, the library, or a coffee shop is much appreciated, and a lightweight laptop means this can be accomplished with a whole lot less pain.
Some of the most popular lightweight laptop computers include:
- The Apple MacBook Air
- Lenovo ThinkPad
- Dell Adamo
- Toshiba Qosmio
And good news for bargain hunters – just as 4G smartphones have driven down the price of 3G phones, lightweight laptop computers have driven down the price of ones that are heavier and lack some of the bells and whistles.
Other Timelessly "Hot" Gifts for College Students
Some college student holiday gifts will always be appreciated, useful, and downright "hot." A few gifts you can never go wrong with:
- cash
- gift certificates to favorite stores (for clothes, books, food, gas, etc.)
- gift certificates for music downloads
- campus sweatshirts and similar merchandise
- fraternity and sorority sweatshirts and similar merchandise
- game consoles and games
- backpacks (notebook backpacks or traditional ones)
- decent linens and other practical household items for dorm or campus apartment
- home cooked food
College students always need stuff, and the hottest gifts out there aren't always the most practical. But if you're looking for something special, consider one of these gifts to really leave a lasting impression on your favorite college student.
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
