[KeriVit]

Well, it looks like my partner will be going to Iraq for 6 months. In order to put aside any emotional issues that brings, I've decided to concentrate on getting her computer set up for communication and such. It's on a military base- but she will be a civilian in a trailer with electricity and stuff.

She has an iBook G4 with Superdrive and Airport card. So what other things would you suggest I set it up with? Software, hardware, etc.

iSight or dif cam? We'll need 2 i guess.
Messaging programs?
Any websites that would be helpful?
What other sort of accessories?
Need more RAM? (Currently 256)
Games or other things to combat boredom...

ALSO- a digital camera- sturdy- maybe 3.2 MP...

Thanks for any input.

[f1000]

Before you buy her any expensive and potentially useless equipment, I'd have her double-check to make sure she can use them there.

[JustAnOl'Broad]

Originally posted by KeriVit:
Well, it looks like my partner will be going to Iraq for 6 months. In order to put aside any emotional issues that brings, I've decided to concentrate on getting her computer set up for communication and such. It's on a military base- but she will be a civilian in a trailer with electricity and stuff.

Sounds like a Civilian Contractor type job; I would think the Company
she works for would have a list of what's allowed and such.
Also, talk to the folks who've come back from their 6 month tour
and ask what would've made it better.
If taking a computer or camera to such a place, I'd think an iSkin for the
keyboard and good case for the camera would be my first concerns.
Weather and dust proof would be my priorities.
Lots of music and new movies would be good for down time;
favorites that you have in common.
Good set of earplugs for privacy.
Lots of support for morale from you.
Best wishes to both of you;
and for a speedy, safe return.
Patti~

[Xeo]

I got Logitech QuickCam Zoom's off eBay for like $15 each shipped. They suck but they work in iChat with the iChatUSB plugin and are a lot cheaper. They don't compare to an iSight, but they get the job done.

The messaging program, if you want vid stuff, is iChat all the way.

[Krusty]

For non-cam messaging, I would choose Skype. It does written chatting, send/recieve files and audio chat. The audio is better quality than any phone I've used. Its free and it works seamlessly cross-platform (if that's an issue).

I use it regularly to talk to the other side of the US and have used it to talk to Thailand with only minimal drop out. Highly recommended for all purposes other than video feeds.

[KeriVit]

Originally posted by Krusty:
For non-cam messaging, I would choose Skype. It does written chatting, send/recieve files and audio chat. The audio is better quality than any phone I've used. Its free and it works seamlessly cross-platform (if that's an issue).

I use it regularly to talk to the other side of the US and have used it to talk to Thailand with only minimal drop out. Highly recommended for all purposes other than video feeds.

interesting. I'll have to look into that. Thx

[Superchicken]

iChat AV can sound as good as a phone for audio I dono about video. Perhaps an AirPort Express base station. Good head phones, you might wanna rip a few movies to her HD with HandBrake. Have lots of music. If she likes video games you could get a USB game pad download Snes9x and some SNES ROMs games like Tetris attack have gotten me through the most boring of classes.
For cameras I'd go with an iSight just because if you're going to actually be using it to see each-other from far away... it'd be worth it to see a good picture.
You might go for an iPod shuffle too if you could get ahold of one just because they're probably harder to loose and not as big of a deal if you loose as an iPod.

[KeriVit]

got 2 iSights today. She's taking my digi-cam so I gotta find one for me- oh the horror! any enhancements?