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What's in John's Backpack? (EDC)

I may no longer be a computer science major, but I'm still fascinated by electronics of all kinds. That's why I take great pleasure in writing about my "everyday carry," that being the devices that I regularly take along with me. These are often being swapped around, as I am an enthusiast at heart, but some of these have stuck around for a long time. So, here's the list:

Phone: iPhone 15 Pro (128 GB)

It's a very nice phone. That's about all I have to say about it. Like most people, I'm pretty apathetic toward iPhones. I prefer iOS for my needs, and it does what I need it to. 'Nuff said.

Laptop: MacBook Pro 14" (2023, M3)

I feel bad for my MacBook Pro. It gets tossed around in my bag, is constantly being used, and has a fair few battle scars. But it keeps on going. This laptop has gotten me through college thus far, and I'm hoping I won't have to replace it for a few more years.

Watch: Apple Watch SE (the newest one)

I swear that this is the last Apple thing on the list; I'm just getting them out of the way. This watch has also been through a lot. The screen is covered in light scratches. I use it primarilyfor fitness tracking and notifications. It helps keep me moving and in tip-top shape (genuinely). I got it new for under $200, which is a steal for such a useful device. It's earned its spot on my wrist fair and square (which is funny because it's a square).

Headphones: Sony ULT Wears

I don't see people talk about these Sony ULTs much, probably because they're mainly concerned about big bass, and audiophiles hate that. Luckily, I'm not an audiophile. To me, they sound great. They are comfy and have really nice noise cancelation. The app for them is great, too. For $150 new, I consider them to be a good value.

E-Reader: Kindle 5th Gen

This is the oldest device I use regularly, but it does (almost) everything just as well. I just wish the screen lit up. Otherwise, with the help of Calibre, this thing works great. The physical buttons are awesome, too. It's crazy that you can snag one of these for under $20 secondhand. No regrets.

MP3 Player: iPod Nano 2nd gen

When I'm feeling retro, I pull out my blue iPod Nano 2nd generation. It has a new battery and a whole 4 gigabytes of storage. I also threw RockBox on it, which is surprisingly great! Paired with the ULTs, I've got myself a pretty sweet portable audio setup.

Gaming: Switch Lite

I like Mario Kart as much as the next guy, and last but not least on this list is the Switch Lite. It's much more portable than the normal Switch, which I like. As a very casual gamer, this thing is more than enough for me.


I'm one to change my tech arsenal regularly, so this list will probably be outdated soon. However, it's fun for me to track what I have over the years, so I don't care! Thanks for reading.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  


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