Jinn of Quality and Risk

Primarily, to share pictures with family and friends (e.g. sharing kids' photos with their grandparents). When all has been put in place for this, a lot more follows, easily, such as sharing movies, music, and live video.

What's needed, with examples and prices:

• a wireless broadband connection and home network: ADSL or similar, and WiFi base/Ethernet router, $200 plus $30/mo
• a complete, portable, and user-friendly computer: iBook, $1000
• a digital camera: Canon S400 or Nikon Coolpix, $400-600
• a colour printer: Canon i900D, $250
• a colour scanner, $100
• a personal email address and web site: .Mac subscription, $100
• Note: Apple includes all necessary software with their computers, such as Mail for email, iPhoto for pictures, iTunes for music (incl. online shopping), and iMovie for movies; a few hours of tutorial, sitting at the computer, are highly recommended.
• Note(2): include AppleCare extended warranty and service, and directions to the nearest Apple Store in (highly unlikely) case of hardware problems.

In the same spirit, digital-age people need the tools supporting live video communication (once one has a broadband connection, why abstain?)

• a webcam: iSight, $150 (each, hopefully installed at most ends)
• a (video) chat/IM application: Apple's iChat, free

And for a friendly TV experience in tune with the appreciation of digital image + sound:

• a personal video recorder: TiVo, $500
• a region-free DVD player:Apex, $100
• a large TV: 30'' CRT, $1000; or 42'' plasma, $3000
• a sound system, $1000
• a convenient, cheap supply of (DVD) movies: Netflix membership

Finally, if one is going to spend that much money, here are two items that are not properly speaking needed, but their impact on one's enjoyment of music is tremendous --and fits well within the digital-age, electronic lifestyle:

• a personal music collection and player: iPod, $500
• a great sound to wake with: Bose Radio/CD Wave, $500

 

As enjoyed in Marrakech. First and top of the league, mbalax with ginger, pineapple, and fresh mint juice; refreshing, surprising, and somehow feels inebriating. Less impressive was kwassa kwassa with orange, (too much) banana, coconut, and lime. Also enjoyable, nkiolo koba with pineapple, mango, and peach juice.

Non-alcoholic, of course.