Awesome Back to School Tech Under RM200!
In this article, we look at a few back to school tech that can help enhance your learning experience and help you excel in your online classes.
1. Rocketbook
Price: ~RM120
Rocketbook is a physical notepad that allows traditional note-taking to be easily digitalized and stored in the cloud. Rocketbook comes in a variety of sizes depending on your needs and preferences. The best part of it all, each page can be reused multiple times!
Each set comes complete with a notebook, pen, mobile app and cloth. After you have digitized and saved your notes online, you can use a wet cloth to wipe away the ink and reuse it again.
Here’s a quick run-through on the magic:
- Set up categories for the seven symbols in the book and where you want the notes to be stored at (e.g. Math @ Google Drive; Science @ Dropbox etc.)
- Use the notebook as a normal notebook with the Pilot Frixion Pen – draw, write, scribble etc.
- Once done, mark a “X” on the category on the bottom of the page and use the app to scan the page to be stored online.
- Once it is stored online, use the wet cloth provided and wipe away the ink and you can reuse the blank page again!
Aside from taking notes, Rocketbook is also great for drawings, diagrams and math formulas; Anything can be cumbersome to replicate in normal computers.
For starters, we recommend checking out the Rocketbook Everlast Mini. It is more affordable and portable. Since the pages are reusable, you don’t have to worry about using multiple pages at a time.
2. Aukey EP-N5 Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Price: ~RM 259 (RM150 during promo)
Studying at home can be quite a challenge as there can be a ton of distractions around you. Having said that, a good noise cancelling/isolating earphone can definitely help you focus on studies or attend online classes.
There two main types of noise-cancelling/isolating earphones: passive noise isolating earphones and active noise-cancelling earphones.
Passive or noise isolating earphones as the name suggests, isolates the users from the outside world with heavily padded earpads or earbuds to prevent outside noise from entering the ear by creating a tight seal. This type is generally cheaper and does not consume additional battery from the headphones.
Active noise-cancelling headphones on the other hand work by using microphones to pick up low-frequency noise and neutralise it before it reaches the ear. Active noise-cancellation requires a source of power either from batteries or direct plugin to operate.
For a great budget active noise-cancelling earphone, we highly recommend the Aukey EP-N5 Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds. Although it is priced at around RM259 at time of writing, you can actually get these great earbuds for as low as RM150 when on promotion.
3. Full HD 1080P Digital Webcam with Built-in Microphone
Price: ~RM35.90
Although most laptops and tablets come with a built-in front facing camera, they are often relatively low-resolution 0.3MP cameras. Furthermore, these fixed-position cameras often showcase us in the least flattering manner as we try to focus on a class.
With an external webcam, you’ll have the ability to adjust the camera angle. furthermore, most external webcams come in higher resolution than built-in laptop 720p cameras. To top it all off, a majority of webcams come built-in with a mic, this allows from the isolation of laptop fan sounds and also eliminate the need to depend on headset mics.
When choosing a good webcam, here are few key areas to consider:
- Resolution
- Wide-angle capture
- Rotatable (X & Y Axis)
- Mounting type (clip or mount)
- Connection (USB)
With all things considered, the following Full HD 1080P Digital Webcam with Built-in Microphone is a great entry-level webcam. For even better video quality, you can opt for the 2k Full HD model which is priced at ~RM74.90
4. Tenda AC23 Gigabit WiFi Router 2100M 2.4+5G
Price: ~RM159
Are you experiencing intermittent video calls or internet connections during your online classes? Chances are you could be in a ‘dead’ WiFi-zone of the house where the router signals cannot reach well.
WiFi dead zones are caused because of a concrete wall blocking the signal or your device is too far from the router. There are several ways to overcome this issue:
- Relocate the WiFi router to a more centralized and open space location.
- Replace your WiFi router with a one that omits stronger signal or has more antenna for better coverage.
- Purchase a WiFi repeater.
The default modem and router provided by TM or Maxis are rather low-end and does not give you the best coverage. As such, it is a great idea to purchase a better router right away.
The Tenda AC23 is a great affordable router that supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz with up to 7 antennas. Despite its low price point, this router is rich in features and also performs really well even if compared with higher-end routers.
