Tech Goes Girly. And I Want It All

November 14, 2009 Posted in Cool Stuff, Wired

pinkcomp So the majority of girls aren’t whizzes when it comes to technology. If you are, all the power to ya.

Can you fix my iPod?

But no matter if we are clueless (“which end of the charger goes into the wall?”) or tech savvy, we all have one thing in common: we’re girls. And with that comes the need to accessorize, decorate and carry around gadgets that match our outfits.

So instead of running around campus with boring gray accessories, why not add some excitement to the tech side of your life with cute, girly gadgets? Hey, it might even help you down the road. When your computer crashes, the fact that it’s pink may just stop you from throwing it out the window. And if it doesn’t, well at least you’ll have a cute padded case to cushion the fall.

Flash Drive:

I can barely remember a pen when I roll out of bed in the morning, let alone the flash drive that has my essay saved on it. Now there’s no need to place Post-its everywhere I may happen to look (my shower caddy, my makeup bag, you get the deal), because you can’t miss this sparkling bracelet hanging in your jewelry box. Add flair to an outfit and bring your documents with you wherever you may go? Done and done.

Keyboard:

Okay perhaps it’s a little gaudy, but in the privacy of your dorm room, why can’t you indulge your inner girly girl? Staring at a word document for 6 hours will have you passed out on top of your keyboard, squares imprinted on your cheek, drooling onto the space bar. It’s just messy. A flashy keyboard will put a little excitement back into your homework (Okay, excitement may be a bit much, but the light from your lamp bouncing off the rhinestones will at least keep your eyes open) so you can get ‘er done.

Mouse:

After awhile the touch-pad on my MacBook really starts to bother me. You bump it, it clicks off the page. You have to hold down control to right click. You have to use two hands to do anything because you’re too challenged to maneuver this thing with just one. It’s annoying. And don’t even get me started on the little ball. How does anyone ever use that!? I’ve had enough and I’m ready for a real mouse. But, I don’t want just any mouse to plug in, I want a cute one. That sparkles. Yeah, it’s pricey, but it’s also the coolest thing to happen to my computer since, well, I got my computer.

Laptop Sleeves:

Lugging your laptop around campus sucks, but it sucks less if you do it in style. These sleeves are super cute, come in a variety of colors and are padded to protect your laptop from damage. (“Dad, I don’t know why it won’t turn on! It’s not like I accidentally drop-kicked it down the stairs or anything…”)

iPhone and Blackberry cases:

Pretty much everyone has a Blackberry or iPhone these days, and I refuse to be one of the automatons with my handheld glued to my hip. But I’m also not willing to give up BBM, so I’m going to make mine prettier so it stands out from the rest. Good plan, right? These cases are so adorable your phone will be more like an accessory than the addiction it currently is.

Earphones:

How freakin’ cute are these? I’ll take any opportunity I can to spruce up an outfit, and these headphones are like adorable earring! Plus I’m hoping the opportunity to sport these on an elliptical will get my ass off the couch. (Especially when my mom starts sending her fall treats my way.)

4345730 CommentsTech+Goes+Girly.+And+I+Want+It+All2009-11-14+18%3A00%3A25Brianna-Fordham+University on "Tech Goes Girly. And I Want It All"

Mox says:
Sat, 14th Nov 20098:58 am

This is ridiculous. It's shameful that tech companies think they can attract more women customers by making their products cutesy, and it's sadder that women fall for it. It's not necessary to make useful items into accessories. Not everything needs to be "accessorized" so it can match with your outfit, ehmygawd. Please bring back the intelligent, interesting articles which I started reading College Candy for.

becca says:
Sat, 14th Nov 20099:51 am

i completely agree with mox. changing my desktop's wallpaper is as close as i ever want to get to accessorizing my gadgets.

college candy has been going downhill lately.. i used to read almost every article posted and now i'm lucky if even one or two a week catches my eye.

Krissy says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200910:18 am

I liked this article, I kind of want the flash drive bracelet! haha

Brittney says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200910:21 am

This is pathetic. I don't think it's true that most girls don't understand technology, and if you really don't, you are going to have a really hard time getting through life.

Also, all of that stuff is hideous.

Jaleesa says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200910:53 am

I agree with all of you! (Except Krissy) As soon as I read the "which end of the charger goes in the wall" line, I was offended. Where in the world did you get the notion women are technologically inept? In this day and age, technology is a must. Just because most girls aren't glued to a video gaming system like guys tend to be, doesn't mean we don't know our way around electronics. Give me a break Collegecandy.

Riko says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200912:01 pm

They all look very tacky. Although, i do like the pink laptop!

Obvious says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200912:02 pm

IT'S SATIRE.

I highly doubt CC is going to post a blog with this sentence in it: 'Yeah, it’s pricey, but it’s also the coolest thing to happen to my computer since, well, I got my computer.'

H says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200912:29 pm

Obvious..It's pretty obvious that it's NOT satire haha, but what is up with the rest of you? This stuff is cute–if you'd rather have your plain old gray laptop and black Blackberry case, then more power to ya. A lot of college-aged women love this kinda stuff, including me. I will be buying that rhinestone bbcase asap and bitches will want it.

becca says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200912:36 pm

this is neither scathing (though it is self-depreciating), nor is it humorous in it's absurdity (laptop sleeves and headphones are far from being over-the-top). therefore, not satire.

and yes, they did post a blog with those words in them.

Anon says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200912:42 pm

Why are haters always commenting on CollegeCandy? Seems like you all are too uptight to read sites like this. Stick to the Wall Street Journal.

Blaire says:
Sat, 14th Nov 200912:58 pm

No, this isn't steryotyping women AT ALL!

This is ridiculous, I mean there are some women that aren't very tech savvy, but neither are some guys! It's not just one gender that is idiotic when it comes to tecnology!

And a lot of these things look like something 5 year old, Barbie obsessed girls would like…

Zoe says:
Sat, 14th Nov 20091:03 pm

That flash drive is awesome.

Kelly says:
Sat, 14th Nov 20091:31 pm

Jesus, CC, way to pander to the lowest common denominator.

Danielle says:
Sat, 14th Nov 20091:43 pm

"So the majority of girls aren’t whizzes when it comes to technology."

Starting off with a stereotype— awesome.

A.C. says:
Sat, 14th Nov 20094:41 pm

It's pink and sparkly therefore, as a female, I MUST HAVE. I think my computer is BEAUTIFUL and sleek, no sparkles attached. Isn't this supposed to be a blog for college girls? I'm sure professors and future employers will be SO impressed with your hello kitty rhinestone laptop and matching blackberry case. I'm all for having fun, being a kid at heart and personalizing things, but this is just sad. Mox is right, I long for the days of semi-intelligent writing on this blog…

Tara says:
Sat, 14th Nov 20096:01 pm

This is ridiculous. All of the things on this list look tacky and aimed at five-year-olds. Computers, headphones and cellphones are NOT accessories…and even if they were to be considered as such, why would you want to deck them out in hot pink and cheap rhinestones?

I'm a college student, and a girl, and I always go for the sleek black or silver gadgets. Always stylish.

Nessa says:
Sat, 14th Nov 20097:25 pm

Hahah I like this stuff. All of it!

Am I going to buy it? no.

I'm not going to pay like $500 extra for a pink computer, or $45 extra for a flash drive.

R says:
Sun, 15th Nov 20097:29 am

I find this absurd. I am a girl and very "tech savvy," I built my own computer and can fix most gadget related problems that come my way. I think that if I saw someone with any of these gadget (besides the usb drive) I would find them immature. How do you expect to be taken seriously with pink rhinestones glued to every inch of laptop, phone, mouse, etc? How many adults do you see running around with these kind of things? I almost find this offensive, as if you are writing to children or something.

E says:
Sun, 15th Nov 200911:13 am

I'm glad everyone else found this as disgusting as I did!

Though, as I read it over again I am thinking (wishfully??) that this can ONLY be satire… CC does not seriously think we are this idiotic… Right??

molly says:
Sun, 15th Nov 200912:41 pm

I am NOT one to hate on articles posted here, but I agree– BLECH. I would not buy any of that tacky stuff, and like everyone else, I was mostly just offended that "we are not whizzes" and "dont know which end of a charger goes into a wall"…come ON girl. ouch.

molly says:
Sun, 15th Nov 200912:43 pm

p.s…

"And with that [being a girl] comes the need to accessorize, decorate and carry around gadgets that match our outfits."

uh….no. Not THIS girl.

Tia says:
Sun, 22nd Nov 20096:24 am

i agree with brittney and molly.

kate says:
Sun, 27th Dec 20096:13 pm

Please tell me that this wasn't really written by a woman. It seems like its from 1950. Shameful.

mich says:
Sun, 27th Dec 20097:11 pm

Yeah, maybe you aren't good with technology and whatnot, but to assume that ALL girls feel the need to pander to the stereotype is offensive. Even just the writer telling girls that we're are too challenged to use the touchpad (using "you" instead of "I") is dumb. And there's probably nothing that annoys tech-savvy people more than being asked to fix your stuff.

Leila says:
Sun, 27th Dec 20098:49 pm

My computer is black. All black. Nothing but black, and it's hot. I don't need fake jewels to make it look pretty, because I'm not 8 anymore. This article was very offensive to me. I know a lot of tech-savvy girls, and they're not giant nerds. I'm capable of tearing apart and putting a computer back together in an hour. So glad I don't read the rest of the shit on this website.

Kelly - University o says:
Sun, 27th Dec 200910:49 pm

Ohhh my goodness, you all need to take life a little less seriously. Or at least be consistent. If this article makes you feel like we're back in the 50's, I suggest you start boycotting the Intro to Cooking ones too.

PS: I wish this was from the 50's, we'd definitely have hover cars by now. Or at least hair dye that doesn't fade.

logic says:
Mon, 15th Feb 20107:47 pm

good god all those are ugly

Masha says:
Sun, 17th Oct 20107:23 pm

Well, *I* found it informative. The tone of the article definitely left much to be desired, but I'm here for the links, not the author's personality. Definitely looking into those ear buds~

If people don't take me seriously because of a pink, rhinestoned phone, then those are not people with whom I want to waste my time. Now, *that* is shallow, judging someone by her phone.