The following is a list of all the models of Kindle with a brief description of each.

1. Kindle 4- As the name suggests, this is actually Kindle 4^th generation, but it commonly goes by the simple name, The Kindle. It is the very basic model and is priced accordingly at $79. This model is lighter and smaller than any other Kindle reader even though it comes with a 6-inch screen. As it is the entry model, it does not offer any additional features- you can’t watch movies or play music on it. Also, it only has a virtual touchscreen keyboard and typing can be a real pain. However, it does what it is meant to do i.e. it provides an unparalleled reading experience. So, if you are looking for a simple e-book reader which can be used only for reading and nothing else, this is the Kindle for you.

2. Kindle Touch- Again, the name is self- explanatory. There are no dedicated buttons for turning pages anymore, instead, what you get is a decently responsive touchscreen. You can highlight text and turn pages using the touchscreen. It also comes with a MP3 player, though you still can’t create playlists or shuffle songs. On the plus side, the pop-up keyboard is way more comfortable than Kindle 4. This particular model is also available with 3G and that model is sold under a separate name, the Kindle Touch 3G.

3. Kindle Keyboard- Except for the keyboard, the Kindle Keyboard has nothing strikingly impressive. It is heavier and larger than other Kindle models and it doesn’t look particularly pleasant either. However, if you do a lot of typing while searching within texts, the keyboard will come as a huge relief. As with Kindle Touch, there is another variant called the Kindle Keyboard 3G which quite obviously has 3G. Significantly though, the 3G in this model allows you to browse anything on the web free of cost, as opposed to Kindle Touch 3G where you can only download E-books or surf Amazon.

4. Kindle Fire- The Kindle Fire announced the entry of Kindle into the tablet race. This model is not just an E-book reader, it is a full-fledged tablet. You can play music, watch movies, download Android apps, and of course, read e-books. On the plus side, there is so much more that you can do with the Kindle Fire, and it looks great and it is priced very affordably at $199. Talking about the flip side, the battery life is lower and it lacks e-ink which is otherwise characteristic of Kindle. But again, it is definitely worth its price.

So, we are giving you a list of the some of the most essential gadgets for college students:

1. Netbook- Netbooks are a miniature version of laptops, they are smaller in size and the range of functions is limited compared to a laptop. In spite of that, a netbook scores over a laptop in several ways. Firstly, a netbook is considerably lighter and smaller in size than a laptop. For a college student, portability is one of the most crucial features in a laptop as he or she has to carry around his or her laptop just about everywhere. This becomes rather unpleasant if you have a bulky laptop. On the other hand, you won’t encounter that problem with a netbook. At the same time, the functions offered by a good netbook are more than sufficient for a college student’s needs.

When it comes to netbooks, the Asus Eee PC 1015PN comes highly recommended. This 10-inch netbook comes with a 1GB RAM, Dual Core Atom CPU, Nvidia Ion Graphics for HD video and gaming and a comfortable touchpad. Asus has also launched the Eee PC 1005PR which comes with an impressive 250 GB RAM. If you are looking for something more affordable, you can also check out the Acer Aspire One Happy 2.

2. Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones- College experience is incomplete without some good music, either at parties or on your iPod. A pair of noise cancelling headphones can enhance the experience of listening to music. Such headphones become a necessity in college where students are surrounded by noise everywhere. After all, there is never a dull moment in college. So, if you want to find some peace in the middle of all the chaos, buy yourself a pair of noise cancelling headphones.

If you are willing to spend a few extra dollars, then nothing can compete with the Bose Quiet Comfort 15. These headphones offer the best noise cancelling feature, the sound is great and they are unbelievably comfortable. Alternatively, Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio also live up to high quality standards.

3. E-Book Readers- As a lot of curriculum books are now available as e-Books, it makes sense to invest in a good e-Book reader. The advantages are obvious- one single gadget can carry a thousand e-Books, saving a lot of space in your dorm room. It also makes books more accessible for college students. A particular book might not be available in your library, but you can always find a soft copy version. The Amazon Kindle Fire offers the best reading experience among such tablets. Amazon employs the E-Ink technology which completely transforms the experience of reading an e-Book, making it surprisingly similar to reading a real book.

These are only some of the gadgets that we believe every college student must have in the present day and age. Besides these, a portable gaming console like the Nintendo 3DS can provide that much-needed breather between classes. Add to this a good pair of iPod Dock speakers like the Altec Lansing Octiv Duo M202 and of course, an iPod, and you should be fully equipped for college.

It goes without saying that the Nexus 7 will be pitted against the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire and the iPad, the latter being the most dominant player in the tablet niche. While it might not be able to compete against either of the two in some departments, what makes it work is the value for money factor. By launching the Nexus 7, Google has made it clear that you can get your hands on a great tablet even for a lower price.

Design and Resolution

The Google Nexus 7 is quite like a simple black tablet with a very clean look. The crucial factor is that it doesn’t look flimsy or brittle. Rather, it has a strong and resilient external built and the credit for that clearly goes to Asus. The back side of the tablet is partially made of rubber making it easier to grip the tablet comfortably in just one hand. The bezel around the screen is pretty thin along the length of the tablet, but along the breath, it is considerably thicker. The thick band seems like an unnecessary waste of space and it makes you wonder if the tablet could have been even smaller and lighter. That is the only problem that we had with the external design.

Quite obviously, it doesn’t compare with an iPad in terms of design or aesthetic appeal, but then you can’t ask for everything in $199. Once you switch the tablet on, you would be surprised to see a refreshingly sharp resolution. The Nexus 7 boasts of a 1280 by 800 LCD screen, which is better than the one offered by Amazon Kindle Fire i.e. 1280 by 600. We are not denying that you can easily find better quality screens in tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, but that comes at a steep price.

Performance

The Nexus 7 is powered by a quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset which is one of the most powerful processers as of now. The processor functions at 1.3 Ghz and its performance is distinctly better than the Kindle Amazon Fire. While we are not taking away anything from the excellence of this processor, the real show stopper is the new OS- the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it’s the OS which seals the deal for the Nexus 7.

The software certainly has an edge and you will feel it the moment you start using the tablet. The level of responsiveness to touch and swipe, the speed of switching between apps, the experience of using a virtual keyboard- everything is clearly smoother. In fact, Google has gone ahead and termed their endeavor Project Butter i.e. they have tried to make the whole experience of using an Android powered tablet glitch free. And luckily for all of you, they have done exceeding well. In fact, if one were to compare the level of receptivity of the Nexus 7 to the Samsung Galaxy SIII with the Ice Cream Sandwich OS, the former will emerge as a close winner.

Other Features

The nexus 7 comes loaded with an array of Google apps including Google+, Google Maps, GTalk and of course, Chrome as the default browser. Google branded their tablet as a media consumption device and the media gateways are just indicators of things to come. These gateways lead you straight to the app i.e. when you select an album, you go straight to Music.

The video play is excellent for watching movies, although you might need some time to adjust to the size of the tablet. The magazine reading experience is also great, but Kindle outdoes the Nexus 7 in this department. Again, Google Play will need a little adjusting to, especially after most of us have been spoilt by the Apple iPod.

All in all, the Google Nexus 7 offers amazing value for money. For just $199, its performance and design are evenly matched against the most acclaimed tablets like the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Let’s conclude by saying that no other tablet offers as much as the Google Nexus 7 in that particular price range.