Being James Bond: A Guide to the Coolest Gadgets Around Campus

(James Bond theme plays in the background)

They’re all sitting, five minutes before the class starts in the basement of Morton Hall, so innocent, so appropriate. Suddenly, the window smashes open as I, fully dressed in a tuxedo, come in and somersault into my seat, just as the clock strikes 9 pm.

That’s how my classes start everyday…or so I wish.

Instead, some students arrive to class 10 minutes before it starts, some students arrive 10 minutes after, but we all file in like orderly, good-natured people, notebooks out, pencils ready, jotting down the notes for a particular day that we would need to know for the exam next week.

But just because we don’t act like secret agents all the time, doesn’t mean that we can’t have the gadgets equal to James Bond’s caliber. In fact, to survive on this high-tech campus, you need to have some key gadgets to help you get around. But in the end, we are all college students, and we may be limited in the amount of funds we can use. So instead of a GPS, sometimes, we have to resort to just the old fashioned map.

So consider this a guide, one secret agent student to another, of what types of gadgets you might need on campus with you at all times that won’t break the piggy bank.

Laptop: Easily the most essential of all the gadgets in the arsenal. Not only is it used to store countless government secrets, it’s also used every day from writing papers, to surfing the internet, to just plain chatting with friends. Anyone who’s ever had to put in their laptop for repairs to IT knows just how horrible life can be on campus without one.

Cell Phone: Now, in this section, I would usually say “iPhone” except for the fact that AT&T service on campus is probably the worst out of all the carriers. I myself have a Sprint Samsung Rant, most of the time, I have to go outside to make a decent phone call. Therefore, when choosing a cell phone, go Verizon, it’s the only one that works awesomely anywhere on campus.

Skype: For those of you who already use Skype, you know just how amazing this program is and can be. Not only can you chat through its instant messaging service, you can also voice/video call anyone in the network, absolutely free. And if you ever go studying abroad, it’s only $6 for unlimited phone calls to a country of your choice, mobile OR landline.

Apple iPod Touch: How else are you going to stand those awful debriefings they have after every class? (a.k.a. walks to your next class) The iPod touches especially come equipped with several optional widgets and programs. Crank up the iPod, listen to some tunes, and maybe do a few judo moves on the Sunken Garden, just to make sure you still got what it takes to take out the bad guys.

Casio Giez G-Shock wristwatch: Now, if you really want to be James Bond, you need a Rolex Submariner or

Omega Seamaster diving watch, but most of us, I’m guessing, don’t exactly have a couple thousand dollars to spend on these gadgets. That’s where the Casio wristwatches come in handy. The Giez is a $300 watch that does just
about anything and everything you could wish for in a $3,000 luxury watch. The Giez comes fully equipped with atomic clock synchronization available from six different atomic clocks around the world. Thus, even if you’re in China, Japan, or Europe, in addition to the burg, you’ll always have the right time with a glance. In addition, to a stopwatch, the Giez is also environmentally friendly, being solar powered and never requiring batteries.

SLR Camera: Well, for every great college moment, you’re going to want to capture it with a camera of collegiate caliber. And let’s face it, the handheld point and shoots are puny little things you give high-schoolers who want to take myspace photos of themselves looking into mirrors. No, you need something that can capture all of your college moments in all its hilarity and (sometimes) tranquility, and an SLR is really the only way to do it.

Sony PSP or Nintendo DS: Really, any game system will do, but trust me, you’re going to want to have something to keep you going through the night when you have a paper due the next morning. I personally prefer either the PSP or the DS simply because you can bring it around with you anywhere. Also, games made for the two seem to be designed for short little bursts of boredom, which is perfect for writing a paper. Maybe tell yourself to write a page or two, and then play a song on “Rockband: Unplugged.” (I recommend Buddy Holly-Weezer)

So whether it be stealing state secrets, or uncovering it with your next thesis, jumping through windows, or looking out of them as you wait for class to start, don’t be caught, at the very least, without the right gadgets. You may not have a need for a Walther PPK or a tuxedo on this campus, but trust me, you’ll be in big trouble if you’re not packing some of the above in your briefcase for your day-to-day activities.