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Space Saving Technologies for the Home?
An anonymous reader asks: "My wife & I are moving from an 1800 square foot apartment to a 900 square foot apartment this weekend. In order to keep our one size extravagance, a 6' x 6' table, we need to make some compromises. What can I do to solve this problem? What other great space-saving solutions with technology are there?"
"The first compromise we've made is books. All of my O'Reilly books, and any other book that we can access on Safari is being given away or sold. I've also gotten rid of my outdated tech manuals, except for the VMS books, and historically significant UNIX books.
I've also disposed of all my desktops. My wife is keeping hers, but all I really need is a portable laptop stand which can mount an LCD screen, and my PowerBook.
Now comes the Living Room -- our entertainment center takes up way too much space. 400 DVDs, 100 videos, and countless CDs. We're going to rip all of the CDs, for sure. We're also going to get rid of our television and replace it with a wall-mounted LCD.
This leaves an important question: Digital Media Centers. I've seen a lot of half-there DIY digital media centers involving MythTV or Windows Media Center Edition. I just haven't seen the right solution. The right solution to me needs to allow me to easily rip and encode (though I'd be happy just ripping, because I don't want to sacrifice quality for space. I have 10 400GB hard drives laying in my office waiting for a use)."
I've also disposed of all my desktops. My wife is keeping hers, but all I really need is a portable laptop stand which can mount an LCD screen, and my PowerBook.
Now comes the Living Room -- our entertainment center takes up way too much space. 400 DVDs, 100 videos, and countless CDs. We're going to rip all of the CDs, for sure. We're also going to get rid of our television and replace it with a wall-mounted LCD.
This leaves an important question: Digital Media Centers. I've seen a lot of half-there DIY digital media centers involving MythTV or Windows Media Center Edition. I just haven't seen the right solution. The right solution to me needs to allow me to easily rip and encode (though I'd be happy just ripping, because I don't want to sacrifice quality for space. I have 10 400GB hard drives laying in my office waiting for a use)."
Okay... think logically here.. What do you need a 6x6 table for?
I specifically avoided having a table or a sofa in my (1,100 square foot) apartment. Those two items would take up the whole damn place. Instead, I have a treadmill, widescreen projector HDTV and a huge cheap desk with rows of computers.
I can't figure what you'd use a table for that you couldn't use something else (that takes up less space) for...?
When I got my divorce the ~2200 ft^2 here got a lot bigger. Food costs went down by about 80% too.
Trolling is a art,
Look into a new invention called a "dumpster". I hear that its a great way to make room!
Measure the table in meters to make it smaller.
Measure the apartment in centimeters to make it bigger.
Umm...Profit?
Stop the world; I need to get off.
Just pile everything on the table!
Graham
The first rule of optimizing your living space is that you do not talk about optimizing your living space. The second rule of...
Downmodding is the refuge of the weak. Don't downmod, make a better argument!
Or, for those of us unable to change the Gravitational Constant of the Universe, try this:
* Buy inflatable furniture
* Fill it with Helium
* Watch as your furniture floats to the ceiling when you don't use it!
Frink: Nice try floyd, but you were designed for scrubbing, and scrubbing is what you shall do.
We're going to rip all of the CDs, for sure.
Shameless filthy hippy pirate detected. DEPLOY LAWYERBOTS.
Mr. Anonymous (if that's your real name), prepare to be sued. I'm sure our settlement proposal will help you decrease the number of possessions you have to deal with.
Mwah ha ha ha! EVIL PIRATE!
Did you know 1 in 10 Europeans were conceived on an IKEA bed?
There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
Grandparent use binary.
dum de dum de dum de dum de dum
And if you hang balnkets off of the bed you get a totally cool fort to hang out in :-)
You are so boring that when I see you my feet go to sleep.
I made room by getting a bunk bed that doesn't have a bed on the bottom.
Dude, you did read that he was married, didn't you?