By JAMIE TUCKER Consumer Technology Reporter

Starting college or moving into a first apartment is a big moment. While students need the basics like notebooks, bedding, and coffee makers, a few smart tech gadgets can make life easier, more productive, and even more comfortable.

A laptop screen works fine for writing papers, but when students are switching between online classes, research tabs, and note-taking apps, it gets crowded quickly. That is where a portable monitor comes in. It connects to a laptop or even a smartphone to create a second screen.

Some newer models, like the ViewSonic VX1655, connect through Bluetooth and do not need any wires. It is something most students never think about until they try it.

Modern laptops are thinner and lighter than ever, but most of them only

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