Built-in Kitchen Computer? 87
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?
sounds like a fun project (Score:4, Informative)
Keyboard (Score:3, Informative)
Other requirements (Score:4, Informative)
What timing! See today's Wall Street Journal. (Score:2, Informative)
We just went through this.. (Score:3, Informative)
What we wound up doing is buying a older used laptop on eBay for about $400 and putting a wireless card in it that goes to my WAP11 in the office. We just leave the laptop on the counter all the time, with a piece of wood underneath it. The wood will prevent the countertop from discoloring from the heat of the laptop's CPU and it also raises the laptop off the counter a bit, so if something spills on the counter, the laptop isn't necessarily going to fry (although a direct hit would still take it out).
So there you have it. It works great for my wife and she uses it everyday. It's much less intrusive than one might think since a CRT isn't involved. I guess if you must have a truly hidden option, then you could look into an iMac [apple.com].
Enjoy!
Re:Audrey (Score:3, Informative)
touch screen thin client (Score:4, Informative)
You'll need VGA and serial connections to make it work. Any random sub-$100 motherboard/CPU combo should cover your needs there, just grab the cheapest you can find on pricewatch. You'll also need an ethernet card that has a boot PROM socket.
I would mount the motherboard on stand-offs in the back of a cabinet, or maybe behind some (short) drawers. Put a wire cage over it so you don't accidentally shove some tin cans into it or something (ouch!), and it will have more than adequate ventilation.
An industrial keyboard is a good idea as well, I would look for a mini keyboard as opposed to a full sized one, since it would be easier to hide in a drawer. If you're mostly just browsing, you probably won't need the keyboard that much.
Of course, you'll also need a Linux box to act as a server. If you don't have one you'd have to add the cost of a hard drive, but I don't expect that would break the bank.
Anyway, that's how I would do it. The only thing visible would be the LCD touchscreen, and most of them are easy enough on the eyes for even my wife! It's bound to be more aesthetically pleasing than some of your regular kitchen appliances, anyway.
Previous Slashdot story (Score:3, Informative)
I'd still love to have a kitchen system that would combine a recipe database, grocery list, ingredients inventory, meal planning programs, etc. The individual components all exist, but I don't know of any project that has linked them all together. A console like that in the kitchen would be wonderful.
No, use this keyboard instead! (Score:3, Informative)
I just spilled wonton soup on mine and it's still typing fine!
My kids played tug-o-war with it the first day I had it... still works, though admittedly the kids are all under 50 pounds US.
And, your wife can use it to open those tough pickle jar lids, too. No, I'm not kidding.
You could try this... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Looking up recipes=WTF!?! (Score:3, Informative)
I tend to cook a lot for myself. Most recipes come from the Joy of Cooking, which is pretty much the only cookbook one needs. As for things not found in that book, I look up recipes on the internet and always print them. I can safely say I'd never ever ever ever ever want to try to look at a monitor while cooking because it is much easier to shuffle paper around than it is to scroll, click, and wait to load. That and if I modify a recipe it is trivial to scratch in the change on my printout. that's much easier to do when your hands are covered in oil than finding you place and typing it in.
Something small? Go with the Via C3 Mini-ITX (Score:3, Informative)
For more info, check out the unofficial source of mini-itx goodness... Mini-ITX.com [mini-itx.com].
Of course, there is still the issue of keyboard, waterproofing, touchscreens, and all that. But getting a nice, cool-running, system that fits in a 7"x7" square is a good start.
A few other ideas (Score:3, Informative)
Also, if you can hack this, set up a palm organizer or similar to act as a wireless remote. Sort of a rich-man's X10. (Even better, get an X10 array in your kitchen.) Don't ask me how this would be done, but having this handy would be optimal, especially if you're going to wire your kitchen to be controlled from the computer. (Perhaps future technology or a few hacks could explain how to control your stove's variable controls from your palm.)
And last, a low-tech idea - if you have the money, get a floor sink/drain. (See also the drip pan for the keyboard above.) An ideal assembly would have it recessed obscurely behind the cabinets, and accessible if you have to clean it - if the wife doesn't want a computer visible in the kitchen, she won't want something like this visible, as this is typically an industrial application. (I'd recommend directly underneath your kitchen sink - this way, the sink can be configured to drain into the floor sink. It's not unlike a typical restaurant or retail setup, so if you've ever worked for (say) McDonald's you probably know how this is done.) The rationale is simple: if you spill, rather than spending 20 minutes mopping it up with a sponge, all you have to do is spend a couple of minutes mopping it into the floor sink. Just make sure you pour water in it once every week to keep the odor down, or let the main sink/dishwasher/etc. just drain to it, but most importantly, keep it clean lest it backs up all over your new kitchen floor. (You can get commercial drain cleaners for this last bit, but you're looking at using a spoonful of drain cleaner once per week to keep it clear.)
Waterproof "fasionable" keyboards (Score:3, Informative)
I've thought of this as well, but my stickler is trying to find a mouse that is waterproof. It would probably be optical, but with a sealed lens cover, and a completely rubber topside with buttons underneath the rubber.
LG internet refrigerator (Score:3, Informative)
Saw one locally and it looked pretty neat. I'm not in the market for one so I didn't pay attention to the price. I recall it also played MP3s and had a TV.
Re:Female Geeks (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Mirrors but hopefully no smoke? (Score:1, Informative)
Most likely, you'd need to flip in software somehow.
Gateway Connected Touch Pad (Score:2, Informative)
Edmund