Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask Slashdot: All-In-One PC For Kitchen?

Posted by timothy on from the wake-me-when-it's-got-a-robot dept.

New submitter brabq writes "Now that I have a couple of CableCard tuner devices in the house (including the network-based HDHomeRun Prime), I'm thinking of buying one of those all-in-one touchscreen PCs for our kitchen (yeah, something I've always sworn against for future repair reasons). The idea is that it would be used primarily for (1) watching TV, via the aforementioned Prime and WMC, and (2) light web surfing (recipes, some sort of video chat possibly). Does anyone have any experience with these types of devices in a kitchen-like setting (where I'd like to use a touchscreen over having a keyboard/mouse on a kitchen counter)? I keep hearing that Windows 8 is going to have some added benefits to this type of setup — is it worth waiting for its release? My end goal is it has to have a high WAF ... if my wife doesn't like its appearance on the counter or finds it useless, then the whole thing will be a waste."

5 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. I know you don't want to here this... by Tyler+Eaves · · Score: 5, Informative

    But just buy a fucking iPad.

    --
    TODO: Something witty here...
    1. Re:I know you don't want to here this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      A little bracket to mount it on the wall and you're done.

      You can buy magnetic iPad mounts so that you can stick it to your fridge (e.g.FridgePad; I'm sure there are other options). You can also buy protective coverings or sleeves that still let you operate the touchscreen (e.g. Chef Sleeve), though in practice we've found that it's not really a problem (a touschscreen is pretty easy to wipe clean).

  2. Instructables to the rescue! by ArhcAngel · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here ya GO. Be sure and pick a spot where you can get at the reset button.

    --
    "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  3. Got a Touchscreen PC for the kitchen 3-4 yrs ago by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    We have an HP TouchSmart PC in the kitchen, where the microwave used to be. No cable, just ethernet & it's used primarily for seaching for recipes. Can't user her iPad, as the grandkids commandeer that when we get home! It's also good for measurement conversion, Calorie counts, Product warnings/recalls, etc. There's a wireless mouse/keyboard & it's stayed clear of the flour/sugar problem we likely would have had by having it up higher than the countertop. With our own PC's elsewhere in the house - it's convenient just for what it was purchased for. If you want it to be static - get a PC, if you wish to have portability, then a tablet. Depends upon your expected usage & whether you're already WiFi or not.

  4. Not iPad -- no HD channels with Cable Card by crow · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm surprised by the number of people suggesting mounting an iPad or similar tablet. Yes, this does make a lot of sense. It makes even more sense to have a mount where you can put the iPad while you're cooking, then take it with you when you're done--this is ideal if you want to have an iPad anyway.

    The problem is that you can't currently watch HD channels on an iPad. There is an app for $18 that will let you watch SD channels, but apparently the processor in the iPad can't do HD MPEG-2, or at least the writers of the app in question haven't figured out how to do it.

    So with TV being the primary function, you need something that can handle TV.

    Another issue is how your cable company sends the channels. Are all the channels you care about set to copy freely? If not, then you can only use solutions that are Cable Labs certified (that probably rules out any tablet apps or Linux solution).

    Now, having said all that, I think I need to find a mount for our iPad to put on a cabinet in the kitchen.