Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.Reviews ethics statement
Getting school-friendly tech doesn't need to break the bank. Check out CNET's top tech picks you can buy for less than $100.
John Falcone
John P. Falcone is the senior director of commerce content at CNET, where he coordinates coverage of the site's buying recommendations alongside the CNET Advice team (where he previously headed the consumer electronics reviews section). He's been a CNET editor since 2003.
If the $99 Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch is too rich for your blood, save $20 and go with the $79 standard Kindle. There's no touch screen, but it makes up for it with a featherlight weight.
Moving into an Apple-centric dorm that's brimming with Macs, iPads, and iPhones? The $99 Apple TV will be a perfect gift. It's the only streaming box that can handle Netflix and iTunes, and AirPlay lets you send content from any other iOS device wirelessly.
If the campus bookstore is a Barnes & Noble, the Nook Simple Touch may be the way to go. (Spend $40 extra, and you can upgrade to the new version with a built-in GlowLight.)
For just $25, this handy Belkin dongle turns anything with an audio input into a wireless stereo system that's compatible with your iPad or smartphone.
Don't fret that the Klipsch Image S4 headphones are a few years old -- they're still one of the best deals out there, and a perfect gift for anyone with a phone or music player. The S4i, which can also be had for less than $100, integrates an inline remote and built-in microphone for iPhone calls. For Android smartphone users, Klipsch also makes the S4a. (Looking for more? Check out "Best headphones under $100.")
Today's college dorms have more tech than your average Best Buy showroom. Tame the remote control clutter with the Logitech Harmony 650. This sub-$80 universal remote can replace up to five clickers.
Logitech's Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 can stay charged from indoor light sources, and easily toggle between up to three Bluetooth devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad). It's the perfect keyboard for Apple multitaskers. (Just looking for an iPad keyboard? Check out the $100 Ultrathin Keyboard Cover or the $130 Solar Keyboard Folio, also from Logitech.)
This tiny Bluetooth speaker plays bigger than it looks and makes for a good traveling companion. It also has a built-in speakerphone -- perfect for calling home.
Yeah, it's not as cool as an iPod Touch or an iPhone, but the Nintendo DSi -- now just $99 -- is as durable as a tank, has a battery that lasts forever, and is still the only portable system where you can play Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon. (Supersize to the DSi XL for $30 more, or step up to the 3DS for $70 more).
The Roku HD is, hands-down, the best media streamer you can buy for under $60. It delivers Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, Pandora, Crackle, and literally hundreds of other online video and audio channels. If you can live without iTunes and YouTube, this one is a no-brainer. (Note: The nearly identical Roku LT is available for $10 less, but it's nearly always out of stock.)
There are a glut of Bluetooth speakers with rechargeable batteries out there, but the $99 Soundfreaq Sound Kick strikes a strong balance between size, sound quality, and price. Use it to stream music from any smartphone or iPad.
Why You Can Trust CNET 
