On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, over two billion dollars was spent last year on electronic gifts for America’s six million high school graduates. Well, here’s some advice for anybody thinking of getting a computer or other big ticket electronic gift for a high schooler about to set off for college in a few months—check the college for info or even products. So says John Campbell, associate vice president for information technology at Purdue. He points out that some colleges or even individual departments may have certain system requirements that gift givers might want to be aware of. For example, some departments may suggest that students don’t use a Mac, while others may insist they do. Schools buy in bulk and may offer discounts on computers, as well as printers, software, external hard drives, or even mp3 players. And university computers may be preloaded with software used on campus or configured to connect with specific campus networks. Consumer Electronic Association surveys found that a quarter of all high schoolers want a computer for graduation. The other three quarters presumably want a car and a computer.
