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Back-to-school contest: Win a new laptop with Rocket built-in, a Rocket mobile hotspot or a BlackBerry prize pack
August 30th, 2010 a 10:06am
With back to school season in full swing and the first day of classes around the corner, it’s never been easier or more affordable to stay connected, productive and entertained.
While you can check out our back to school products and services here or URmagazine’s latest gift guide here, some must-haves from our fall lineup include:
- Social View smartphones that let you stay on top of every tweet, status update, text and email in one easy-to-use timeline.
- Rocket mobile internet sticks, hotspots, hub, and laptops that provide online access for work or play anywhere on the Rogers wireless network – perfect for updating your profile in between classes or the impromptu coffee-shop study session
- Rogers On Demand Online gives you instant access to a variety of primetime and web-exclusive TV, sports and movies so you can watch The Bachelor while your roommates are watching the hockey game.
It’s contest time
Now listen up, class. We here at RedBoard hope we can make going back to school a little bit easier by giving away five prizes that will make you the envy of your study group or staff lounge:
- One new HP laptop with Rocket built-in – one of the coolest additions to our 2010 lineup that has an 11.6-inch high-definition LED display, an HDMI port to easily connect to an HDTV, up to 6.5 hours of battery life, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n plus Rocket mobile internet built right in so you can stay connected even when you’re not in an internet café.
- Two Rocket mobile hotspots so you can create your own password-protected hotspot for five, when and where you need it – and small enough to fit in your pocket.
- Two BlackBerry prize packs that include a backpack, USB key, tshirt and $100 Rogers gift card.
How the contest works
- In 100 words or less, tell us how winning the prizes above would change the school year for the student or teacher in your life. Or, if you are a student or teacher, the impact they’d have.
- You must submit your entries via the comments field below.
- The contest is open as of right now and will run until Thursday, Sept 2 at noon ET.
- The RedBoard team will narrow down the entries to our favourite five submissions and publish them on the blog Thursday afternoon along with details of the prize each won.
Consider this your first homework assignment of the year. Marks will be given for creativity…and spit out that gum.
Richard Bloom is a regular contributor to RedBoard.
Contest closes at 12:00 noon on September 2, 2010. Open to residents of Canada, excluding residents of Quebec. Tell us in 100 words or less, on the Rogers Redboard blog how winning the contest’s prizes would change the school year for the student or teacher in your life. Or, if you are a student or teacher, the impact they’d have. One (1) HP Laptop with Rocket Hub built-in(TM) valued at $549.99 to be won as the grand prize. Second and Third place winners will win one (1) of two (2) Rocket Mobile Hotspots™ each valued at $249.99 . Fourth and fifth place winners will win one (1) of two (2) BlackBerry® prize packs each valued at $175. One entry/person. Odds of winning depend on the quality of the post and the number of eligible entries. Mathematical skill-testing question to be correctly answered to win. No Purchase Necessary. Full Rules at http://redboard.rogers.com/2010/redboard-back-to-school-contest
Update (September 2, 2:03 p.m.): The entry period for our Back-to-school contest has closed – and we’re thrilled by all the submissions. From poems to heart-felt stories, the quality was fantastic and certainly creative. Well done. You each get an A for effort — but we had to narrow it down to five.
Here are the winning submissions and each winner’s prize from our random draw (we will get in touch with each of you via email to arrange delivery):
Chris G (Prize: Rocket mobile hotspot):
Winning the laptop for my cousin would be awesome, between work playing for the basketball team and in class he’s constantly on the move. Simply finding wifi isn’t possible, especially during the long road trips during away games. Overall it gives him an added advantage to succeed in all that he does. I think he would take the mobile hotspot and let his teammates jump on to catch up on school, or connect with friends and family while on the road. The $100 gift card will come into play when he inevitably loses his phone (happens once a year).
Kim S (Prize: BlackBerry prize pack):
Winning any one of the prizes would make school much easier for my sister. She has 4 kids, and is doing her masters online. She spends all her money on her kids, so her computer and cell phone are older, slower models with limited features. It would be awesome to help her out if I could.
Derek (Prize: Rocket mobile hotspot):
Generation X teaching Generation Z – how do we keep up? If you can’t beat them, join them! When I was a student, I communicated with phone calls and notes being passed back and forth in class when the teacher wasn’t looking (and walked uphill both ways of course!) Generation Z is always connected. More and more is being done online – handouts, discussion forums and student-teacher evaluations. This mobile pack will help me work and teach anywhere from field trips to the library dead zones. So class, let’s get out of the classroom this year!
Jessica Straus (Prize: HP laptop computer):
I thought I would express how much these prizes will help me through a limerick.
There once was a girl from Brock
Who’s computer was more like a rock.
She tries to be cool
When she brings it to school.
But that dang things works worse than a clock.
If that doesn’t convince you… here is a hiaku.
To be the winner,
There could be nothing better,
A sweet new laptop!
Lynn G. (Prize: BlackBerry prize pack):
I am a Gr. 5/6 teacher who does everything in her power to add technology into her classroom (students gets very motivated with computers, cameras and the Internet). Finally, I get access to my own Smartboard this year! But the problem is there is no Wi-Fi at my school and using the short cord to reach the wall is such a pain. And the sign-out list for the “teacher laptop” is brutal. Therefore, having my own laptop would make my Smartboard a permanent fixture in our classroom. Which will help motivate my students to become more engaged lifelong learners!
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As a student, struggling with finances is a stress we don’t need. If I was to win the BlackBerry prize pack, or the HP Laptop bundle, it would take that stress off my shoulders, keeping me connected and organized throughout my school year. Stress is something no student needs, and I would love for Rogers to be there to help relieve some of that burden, and shows how they value higher education and their customers.
As a student at York University, staying connected can make the difference between an A+ and an F. Emails are sent to me from professors, school clubs and other students up to fifty times a day – it can be difficult to keep up to date when my email is only easily accessible from home. With Rocket mobile connectivity, I’d be able to use the internet wherever and whenever, whether it be in class or on the bus. Submitting assignments on the go and reading last minute lecture location changes would make my life so much easier.
Now days, having internet and being connected is mandatory in order to be updated. I study computer science at Capilano University, It means a lot to me to win on the listed prizes. Winning the laptop would help me to have all of my assignment and my project with myself wherever I go, and I can present them to my friends and amaze them with my talent
It would change her life because she would have the pride of winning! Winners are always happy and hold there heads up high, no sulking around! A happy student makes a more productive student!
A laptop would really help my son in school. Right now we are sharing the same computer which can get a little difficult at times when he wants to go on his educational sites. Him having a laptop would allow him to use it in his bedroom where he can have peace and quiet or bring it along to a coffee shop where mom can have some peace and quiet while he plays on his favourite site (starfall.com).
As a medical student, it is often hard to find internet connectivity within the hospital. A laptop with built-in rocket mobile or a standalone rocket mobile hotspot would greatly enhance my ability to learn while stuck at work. I spend ~60-80 hours/week at the hospital including some nights, and an internet-enabled laptop would allow me to educate myself about the illnesses, diagnoses, and treatments. Internet gives me the ability to read the most current articles and online textbooks and provide the best patient care possible.
A Rocket built-in laptop? How cool! I’m a teacher in a school board that seems to be stuck in the twentieth century in terms of tech. Here’s some inspiring math: HP laptop + Rocket = Mobile classroom on-the-go that could even mean lessons outside! Now that’s some 21st century teaching!
As a student, these items would allow me to stay connected to classmates on and off campus for projects and assignments. Even during the summer, when I take distance education courses, I can do my work on the go. No doubt, very useful.
I teach students at a hospital where a new MRI machine means another year (or longer!) of me using DOS programs and Windows XP… at this rate, it will be Windows 12 before I get an upgrade. When we look up information, I rely on books and the slow hospital network. In contrast, my students whip out their Blackberries and iPhones with the fancy 3G technology and are online at the patient bedside and can find an answer faster than me!
So Rogers, please save this teacher from another year of humiliation and bring me into the 21st century!
It would be so very helpful for me to win one of these prizes, being a busy full time student and mother of a newborn and currently not working, it is difficult for me to stay in touch with my family. Also, I have an outdated, ancient computer which does not function properly and I may lose my currently saved data, homework, pictures of my baby and my lifeline to school! One of the prizes would make my life much easier and help me attend to my baby and care for my family, while I try to finish school and make a better life for my family.
A new laptop with a built in rocket stick would drastically improve my school year. As a new teacher, I am constantly trying to create new assignments and plan my lessons. Having the ability to do this on one computer that could move between my house and school would allow me to maximize my efficiency and time I spend on my work. AS a bonus, I might even have some free time in my life (but I am not counting on it)
This will be my 4th year back to University as a Biochemistry Major. Even after 3 years of University, I am unable to keep up with the notes when using a pen/pencil. I was home schooled when I was younger, so I did all my work on the computer and didn’t take notes. Often I feel extremely hindered compared to other students in the class because I am unable to take notes as fast, however, I type very fast… so good Laptop would help with my studies. Thanks a lot!
These prizes would really help my sister in law as this would help her connect to the net and manage her class lessons, learn new tips and tricks to entertain the kids and keep in touch with fellow teachers
This laptop, blackberry and rocket mobile would be great for me because my husband works out of town constantly so me and my kids only get to talk to him on the phone once a day. This technology would not only bring us into the current times, but it would help keep our family together through better communication (and of course, it would make homework easier for my kids too).
Teaching is as much an art as it is a skill.
To teach is to inspire.
To inspire is to lead.
To lead is to respect and to respect is to unite.
We all remember the teacher that inspired us to become a better person and to do anything that we put our mind to.
Some of us ended up finding happiness in a career, while others delight in their family or even a hobby or pet.
In the end, these indulgences have become what we look forward to each morning.
Without a teacher, where would we be?
I would be very happy to win this contest because I do not own a LAPTOP. This would be very helpful in my school year because im going into university and I really need a device to research and do my work. I am an A+ student and this laptop would really mean something to me.
How this would help me
1. Research
2. Homework
3. Studying
Winning the HP Laptop with Rocket built in would make my school life amazing!
Currently I am chained to my desk at home, using my desktop PC and home internet. On campus I am without a computer, taking notes by hand and accessing the internet through campus computer labs. A laptop would give me the gift of mobility, and one with Rogers service built in would be great – because I could be connected everywhere!
This computer would make my life easier, more mobile, and allow me to get things done much faster!
Winning this laptop would be amazing because school is around the corner and I need something to do my research. AND I am with rogers internet and I have a rogers phone I am a true rogers fan. Winning this would change the whole year
These prizes are all about connectivity and accessibility, two very important things in university as I’ve come to learn this past year. I quickly discovered that in university, unlike in high school, it’s not as easy to be available due to varying/clashing class schedules and extra-curricular activities. Unsurprisingly, this made it very hard to collaborate on projects and meeting places, the outcome of which was poor choices and missing information. Overall, any of these prizes would benefit me greatly by allowing me to be more collaborative and active with input regardless of time, place, or proximity to a Wi-Fi hotspot.
I’m a student in high school going into grade eleven. The HP laptop will be very useful because it’s so small and compact I’ll be able to bring it with me everywhere. The use of wireless at school will be a necessity for when I have to finish assignments and the library isn’t open. It will also save me the trouble of having to email assignments to myself because I’ll have my laptop with me at all times. The Blackberry will be useful because it would allow me to get in contact with my friends if I missed a class.