As tech's main attraction for 2010, Apple's iPad is ideal for students seeking a one-size-fits-all device for books, note taking and Web access in the classroom. With a custom-built 1 GHz Apple A4 silicon chip and a LED screen with 1024-by-768-pixel resolution, the 10-in. tablet is a high performer with a sleek body. (For seasoned Mac users, the synching features are just an added bonus.) Downloads in your iBooks library will appear on all of your Mac devices: computer, iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Weighing in at just 1.5 pounds, it fits nicely in backpacks, and campus trekkers can — and should — save their muscles for, ugh, textbooks. Browse iBooks for your required reading, or download apps like Coursesmart, a top e-textbook seller, or The Chegg, a leader in textbook rental for your course reading.
Price: Starts at $499