the three Cs of tech

concept · in 9 sources (2018–2020)

Buy tech only if it helps you consume, create or connect, and prefer purchases that go from zero to one.

Sources by year: 2018: 8 · 2020: 1

Also known as: consume, create, connect, zero to one purchases

Questions

• How do you decide whether a purchase is worth it?
• Which tech is worth buying?

What the videos say

The most important statements of each year; all statements.

2020

• 2020-06-07 · My Favorite Mechanical Keyboard - IQUnix F96 Coral — recommendation: Ali's verdict on the IQUnix F96: its sound sells it and makes it a joy to type on; it is expensive, but worth it to him because he uses his keyboard more than his mouse. — 00:01:48
  • If you are spending $200 on a keyboard, Ali says, pay the extra $30 for wireless; he cannot imagine going back to a wired keyboard. — 00:11:44
  • Ali used his old Magic Keyboard for 11 years, so spending $250 on a keyboard over such a period does not bother him. — 00:12:27
  • Ali judges a keyboard's price by use: $500 is where it must be very compelling, but $250 is fine since his AirPods cost that and he uses his keyboard ten times as often. — 00:12:53
  • Ali says nobody needs to spend $250 on a keyboard: it will not make you happier, only make you feel like a badass and annoy the people you live with. — 00:12:53

2018

• 2018-01-13 · My University Desk Setup - Cambridge Medical Student — recommendation: Ali says the Apple Magic Trackpad suits a MacBook because macOS relies on gestures, and that smooth trackpad scrolling alone is worth its price compared with a mouse's jumpy scrolling. — 00:02:16
• 2018-04-14 · Last Minute Study Tips, Flashcards, Essays & Maths - Exam Revision Q&A with Cambridge students — Ali spends a lot on camera equipment that reduces the friction of sitting down to make a video: a tripod is worth £50 rather than stacking books to hold the camera. — 00:15:14
• 2018-05-07 · Live Q&A + Hangout - Bank Holiday vibes - Ali Abdaal, Cambridge medical student — Ali: For a future medical student planning a sunlight-simulator alarm clock, a sleep-tracking Fitbit and a big monitor, Ali calls the first two a bit overkill but a big monitor really useful. — 00:09:46
• 2018-05-21 · Study with me + More revision tips - Cambridge University medical student VLOG #34 — Ali used to feel guilty about buying a £2.50 latte, and still does a little, but thinks in exam term it is worth spending it to increase his happiness and enjoyment. — 00:02:26
• 2018-05-29 · Live Stream - Hangout — recommendation: Ali says a student should get an iPad for studying if they can afford it: iPads are quite useful but by no means compulsory. — 00:03:18
  • The best technology for medical school depends on budget, Ali says; he uses a MacBook and recently an iPad, which he thinks a pretty great combination. — 00:21:55
  • Ali was anti-Apple until he could afford it, seeing no point in a £1,500 MacBook when Windows gave the same specs for under half; after his mother gave him a MacBook Air at university, he found its user experience worth the price, at least when Windows was not that good, and premium Apple products worth it for him. — 00:24:39
• 2018-06-02 · How I take notes on my iPad Pro in medical school - Cambridge University medical student — Ali thinks the iPad is worth having for that alone if it encourages you to take more and better notes about ideas and day-to-day life. — 00:12:50
• 2018-06-09 · iPad Pro vs iPad (2018) comparison for college / university students — Ali would still probably buy the iPad Pro himself: spreading its £300 extra cost over the three years he expects to use it, about 150 weeks, comes to about £2 a week. (hedged) — 00:05:52
  • To Ali the iPad Pro is an absolute joy to write on while the 2018 iPad is only functional, and that pleasure justifies the extra £2 a week for him personally. — 00:07:28
• …and 1 statement more in 2018 — all statements of 2018