Storage

Hard Drive: IBM Deskstar 60GXP 40GB ($102-115)

I've yet to have problems with IBM hard drives. They've always worked flawlessly for me, and they're very fast. Drives in IBM's 60GXP line have fewer moving parts than their predecessors in the 75GXP line, potentially increasing their reliability. Because you have to live with this box in cramped conditions, the fact that the 60GXPs are nice and quiet is certainly a bonus.

Size is a tricky pick here. Looking at prices, 40GB seems to be the sweet spot. Value trails off when you go smaller or larger, and 40GB should be plenty of space for all but the most devoted bandwidth hog.

CD-RW drive: Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32 ($132-150)

No, this CD burner isn't here so you can steal and burn music; it'll actually help you out in a few courses. I can't remember the last time I wrote a paper, created a presentation, or dealt with anything other than plain text that actually fit on a floppy disk. When you're in school and you have files that you absolutely can't afford to lose, the ability to burn backups to CD is essential. An off-site backup scheme is also useful, but a burner can be your first line of defense against accidental deletions, hardware failures, and the virii which are rampant at most schools.

We think the PlexWriter 12/10/32 is pretty spiffy. Though I can still rememeber the my anemic 2X burner, the days of half-hour burns are long gone. This 12X drive isn't quite as speedy as a 16X model, but it's plenty fast for most. The drive also incorporates Burn-Proof technology, which pretty much guarantees you have to find your coasters at the local pub rather than using spent CD-R discs.

DVD-ROM drive: Pioneer 106S ($56-75)

What can I say? I'm a sucker for slot-loading drives. In fact, if I had my way, you'd be able to get all DVD and CD-RW drives with slot loaders rather than those annoying cup holders. Alas, it seems I'm just a bit ahead of the times.

In any case, I've worked with Pioneer's 106S in a couple of machines I've built, and it's a beauty. Plenty fast, reliable—and did I mention the slot loading?

DVD might seem like a bit of a luxury here, but let me try to justify it. This drive is going to cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $60. You can get a plain CD-ROM drive for less, but such a small difference in price is certainly worth the ability to play DVD movies. Besides, there's no better way to get someone back to your room than suggesting you "watch movies."

If you really don't think you'll need DVD at all, consider using the Plextor as your only drive. In addition to being a great burner, it's a better reader than most of the $30 CD-ROM drives out there.

Input

Keyboard: Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro ($35-55)

Odds are, you're going to be spending a lot of time banging away at your keyboard. In my experience, no keyboard equals the silky smoothness of Microsoft's Natural Pro. While you might not agree with Bill's business practices, XP's activation scheme, or the fact that he puts the 'b' key on the left, it's hard to say bad things about a keyboard so comfortable to use. Nothing is better suited to those marathon term-paper writing sessions that last through the night.

As an added bonus, the Natural Pro doubles as a USB hub, giving you an extra couple of ports right out in the open so you don't have to go behind your computer to plug something in.

Mouse: Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical ($20-30)

Mice are really a matter of personal preference, since some hands fit some mice better than others. For my tastes, nothing beats Microsoft's mice for both their shape and smooth wheel scrolling. The IntelliMouse Optical also uses what will hopefully become the standard for all mice: an optical sensor in place of the dated ball. Once you've gone optical, you can never go back; the optical's precision is clearly noticable, especially when working with graphics. Unlike its big brother, the IntelliMouse Explorer, the IntelliMouse Optical can be used with either the left or right hand.