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Built-in Kitchen Computer?

Posted by Cliff on from the and-it-should-resist-cooking-messes-too dept.

shaun_gordon asks: "As a long-time geek and first-time home buyer, my wife are planning on a complete kitchen remodel. As part of the remodel, I want to put a computer into the kitchen to use for looking up recipes, controling the stereo, watching movies, etc. My only requirements are that it be Internet connected. My wife's requirements are that it be hidden. I am currently thinking of a flat screen that would fold down from under a cabinet and a keyboard in a drawer that pulls out. Has anyone had any experience installing something like this? Any recomendations on building or buying the integrated display? Anything else that I should consider?" Those looking into doing something like this may find a laptop with an 802.11-based wireless network adapter a better, and possibly cheaper, alternative for this kind of feature. Webpads might be another viable alternative, assuming they ever hit the consumer market at a worthwhile price. What suggestions might you have?

4 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Who needs a screen and keyboard? by trentfoley · · Score: 5, Funny

    Conceal a mic and speakers and mount a video camera that has a big round lens that glows red in the center. Then you can just ask questions to the air and have a recorded voice say, "I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave. You have only one egg and you are out of milk."

  2. As much as I hate grammar posts... by p4ul13 · · Score: 2, Funny
    ... my wife are planning on ...

    How many wives have you got?

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    Paul Lenhart writes words!
  3. Married Geek warning. by pruneau · · Score: 5, Funny
    "As a long-time geek and first-time home buyer, my wife are planning on a complete kitchen remodel. As part of the remodel, I want to put a computer into the kitchen to use for looking up recipes, controling the stereo, watching movies, etc. My only requirements are that it be Internet connected. My wife's requirements are that it be hidden."

    Non-geek traduction:

    _They_ just bought a new house.

    Beeing geek _he_ wants to put a computer inside the kitchen, too (beside the living room, the toilets and the bedchambers). He's trying to make us believe that the recipe part is important, but what he really wants is watching movies.

    Beeing female, _she_ wants to organize the kitchen to her liking, and just do not give a damn about the computer: note the "hidden" requirement.

    Marketing conclusion: your primary problem here is not technical. What you are into is WR (Wife Relationship), because the thing better have to be:

    • Usefull
    • Not in anybody way
    • Resistant to wet/greasy/small fingers
    • Rember that wifes tend generate small, noisy and smelly things too ! They usually are called childrens, and will break everything you put in their path (including themself).

    Technical conclusion: everything short of an armored version of this won't do. Equip it with a disposable keyboard, screen and mouse. Oh, and you'd better tailor the software you put there to please her, or that machine won't last long. A kitchen is indeed not a computer-friendly environmment !

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    [Pruneau /\o^O/\ warranty void if this .sig is removed]
  4. Female Geeks by The_Mighty_Squid · · Score: 4, Funny

    If she was a true female geek she wouldn't cook. I am a geek/wife and all I need is a microwave, toaster oven and a husband to use them.

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