Technofile: Consider yourself a housewife. Yes I know, but bear with me.

Or do you not want to know how to beat eggs properly? I mean, really, in this day and age. . .

Ok, Ok. before you send those incensed letters, let me explain.

Whether you be man, woman, animal or mineral, these days the idea of actually being, well, "avec apron" is considered somewhat demeaning.

But, gentle reader, let me ask you this. How much dumber is the company that asks you to spend your precious time gazing at a TV while wrestling with the latest Jamie Oliver recipe in the kitchen?

This is not a stupid question. As the broadcast world gradually invades our personal space (take, for example, the TV broadcasts coming to a mobile phone near you), the mere idea that you might escape into your own, potentially more creative culinary world, is anathema to the "one-way" media.

Sorry, but why can't I comment on that article or that show? Why can't I send the writer my own thoughts?

And why do I have to stare fixedly at a screen even when I'm creating my own highly original recipes?

These ideas appear to have been lost on the makers of the latest products from the consumer appliance world, however.

For some reason they remain locked in a world of daytime TV and soap operas.

Take Morphy Richards, for example. They shoot horses. . . sorry, I mean they make kettles and toasters, don't they? Well yes. But trading on the idea that most people are rarely less that two paces away from a TV screen, the company has come up with an LCD TV system - for the kitchen.

The flip down A13FG LCD DVB-TV system works like this. It attaches to your existing kitchen units with a hinge that swivels.

This mean that you can watch terrestrial TV whether you are cooking breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The 10.2-inch LCD screen also contains an integrated FM stereo radio, a remote and an AUX input for connection to DVD and video.

The television can store up to 1000 channels and features autoscanning, an electronic programme guide, internal full range speakers and a detachable stand.

It can be powered using a 12V mains adaptor or the 12 volt cigarette lighter socket in a car. It can also be used as a screen for a security camera or computer.

The A13FG is available for just under €290. That's assuming you actually want all this in your kitchen.

Let's be serious. What you are far more likely to do is just haul out that old 14-inch TV from the kids' room.

Meanwhile, what you really need in the kitchen is an interactive screen on which to display recipes, pictures of food and anything else relevant to preparing your meal.

At which point, please ditch the thought of an old fashioned TV in favour of a small, compact PC or Apple hard-drive unit, coupled with a small flat screen.

Although a little pricier, this is going to be far more useful.

It means that you would be able to display family photos, check e-mails, and chat with relatives and late-working spouses.

Try the Mac Mini (from €539 without screen) or the Mini PC Plus form Evesham (€730).

Er, who needs TV?