Yesterday, Two days ago (damn you Time Warner), I covered the hub of your college life – your desk. While I may have harped on just how much work you’re going to be doing, there’s also plenty of time for fun in college. This edition of Pimp Your Dorm is designed to help you have a little, and to do so in style.

Today we’re focusing on that part of your dorm room that’s sure to get plenty of attention – the entertainment system. When I say system, I mean the part of your room that’s dedicated to producing various forms of visual and aural entertainment. Whether it’s music, movies, or a little gaming you’re after, this guide will have your room set as the center of attention.

TV
This is where entertainment starts. Your TV selection is important, because it can provide you with benefits you might not otherwise see if you went with that cheap all-in-one from Wal-Mart.

I’d highly recommend the Samsung LN26C350. A 26-inch TV isn’t huge, but it’s also not going to break the bank. Frankly, your dorm room is going to be small, so sticking with a smaller TV is probably a good thing. The unit comes with 2 HDMI inputs to take advantage of the 720p resolution, which will also make the smaller image crisp enough that you won’t care about the size. Most of the time this baby will run you a cool $500, but B&H has models listed for just $385.99! Even if you have to pay full price, remember that you want quality. I replaced two TVs in three years at school because I was cheap. Total cost? Almost $450. Pay the money up front and you won’t have the headaches later.

Receiver
You need something to push your audio, right? Right. Again, don’t skimp and try to save the extra $40-50 here. Spend that money now and you won’t have to consider upgrading down the line.

I’d recommend the Onkyo TX-SR507. It’s a 5.1 receiver, which is just about perfect for most dorm rooms. With the right speakers you won’t be taking up too much space and you’ll still get great sound. Dorms are certainly not the optimal place for a home theater, but you can make do. I also like that this receiver runs HDMI audio and video, so there’s no screwing around with a optical ports. More on this later. Amazon has the latest model for $249.

Speakers
Every time someone brings up “reasonable speakers” I point them to the Polk RM6750. It’s a 5.1 system with a full-size woofer (none of that short-throw crap that’s going fart every time you watch the opening sequence from Fellowship of the Ring) and reasonably sized satellites. The woofer has a built in amp, too, so you don’t have to worry about your receiver trying to push too much bass. Pair with that Onkyo you’ll get great sound for movies, music, and any game you might want. $208 from Amazon.

Game System
Speaking of games, it’s time to discuss your system of choice. I realize that for most gamers this is a matter of deeply personal interest. You don’t want me telling you what to do. I won’t. I’ll tell you what I would do and why.

Were I headed back to college I’d be looking at a new 360. The chip is cooler, faster, and supposedly more reliable, and the RRoD is supposedly impossible now. The 360 also sports a larger installed base than the PS3, which gives you more options for getting some quick game time on the hall. There’s nothing like coming back from class on a rainy day to the sounds of Halo booming from three or four rooms. Trust me, it’s what I did for four years. The new 360 comes with HDMI, which is perfect for your setup (and again, no optical ports necessary). Your games will look great and so will the rest of your media.

That’s another great reason to get a 360. It’s really the best for moving content from your computer to your home theater. You can watch your movies, TV shows, and listen to your music with the fidelity of your full system.

For the die-hard PS3 fans, this setup is perfect for you, too. Again, HDMI support, a great sound system, and a TV to make your Killzone games look crisp and vibrant. Either way you go, I’m sure you’ll be happy.

Cabling
I’ll leave you to find your own cabling, with just one caveat – buy cheap HDMI. I know I’ve spent the majority of this guide encouraging you to spend some cash, but in some cases that’s just not necessary. HDMI cables can get ridiculously expensive and it’s usually for no benefit. Rick Broida over at The Cheapskate posted a 3-cable deal for just $10 a while back. By all accounts consumers have been just as happy with their three dollar cables as people who spend $30-40 for a single six-footer.

That should do it for our entertainment edition. Check back tomorrow (internet going to the crapper notwithstanding) for the final edition of Pimp Your Dorm Room: Everything Else. I’ll be covering the little things that will make your college life easier, more enjoyable, and make your dorm more like a home.

As a budding college student, you’re going to spend massive amounts of time at your desk. I know, I know, we’re not supposed to talk about that. I’m supposed to tell you about all the parties, the booze, the great friends you’ll make, the beautiful women you’ll meet. Between all that, though, is the very real fact that either you or your parents are paying big sums of money for you to get an education. So why not get one in style?

This edition of Pimp Your Dorm Room focuses on that haven of study (and perhaps the occasional video game), to help you create a space where you can get in, get your work done, and get on to the other parts of college there are to enjoy.

Laptop
This one word is probably the single most important word for your studies over the next four years. You need a laptop. Forget the desktop gaming days, or maybe you can have both, but at the very least you should invest in a good laptop. I would highly recommend the new Macbook Pro.

Since lowering prices, Apple has made the Macbook Pro an affordable, entry-level machine that has enough power to last you a few years. The 13-inch model starts at $1199, but you can knock that down $100 with an education discount and even nab yourself a free iPod Touch. The operating system is robust, and OS X viruses are still few enough that you shouldn’t see too many problems in the near future. If this is your first Mac, you can even take a free course at a nearby Apple store to help you get acclimated. Simple features like the backlit keyboard and automatic screen dimming will come in particularly handy when your roommate wants to sleep and you need to get some things done.

Option: Microsoft Office – Office is still the standard on most campuses, and the software with which most people are familiar for word processing, spreadsheet work, and creating presentations. Wait until you’re on campus, though, before buying. MS runs some pretty nice deals on certain campuses that could save you hundreds.

Headphones
Here’s an item I would again recommend for those times your roommate might be sleeping or someone’s hosting a loud party (one you’ll hopefully be a part of when you finish your work) and you need to finish a paper. Noise-canceling headphones are a godsend, allowing you to focus on your work without interruption and without annoying anyone else.

We just ran a review on the able planet Clear Harmony NC1000CH headphones, which sport some of the best noise reduction (18dB!) in the industry. Granted, they aren’t as high profile as something like a Bose Quiet Comfort, but they’re easily as good, better if you run out of batteries. Tiger Direct has them for $249.99. Trust me, they’re worth every penny. The NC1000CH comes with a case so you can store your phones safely while you’re away. Read the rest of this entry »