PC Setup for Small House with Child?

nzgeek asks: "I've been managing with a pokey Windows notebook for a couple of years now, and am desperate to get a decent PC for development and gaming. Problem is, our house is tiny and we have a 1-year-old entropy generator running amok. What's the best recommendation for getting a full-power desktop PC installed in our house? My ideal setup would be a mini-tower case hidden in a cupboard, with a remote LCD monitor, mouse, keyboard, and headphones. The keyboard and mouse can be done via bluetooth, and there is no problem with cable length for headphones. The major stumbling block is VGA connection for the monitor. Any suggestions on how to overcome this problem?"

Re:Simple Solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Put the computer on a high shelf

It's always a good idea to give the heavy items in your house with dangling cords more potential energy by placing them higher.

Re:As long as you're starting with something new..

[Anonymous Coward]

actually have to agree grandparent isn't a troll.

dumb mods today I see... any other day this post would be lifted on high...

today we hate Apple I see... I missed the memo.

GP made a very good and useful suggestion as did the post under it.

Re:Simple Solution

[GuyMannDude]

One year-olds are vertically-challenged.

Yeah, well so are most geeks. I wish I had a dollar everytime I heard some chick say "Well, you're smart and all and kinda cute but I just can't see dating someone who's shorter than me. I hope you don't think I'm being shallow. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someone wonderful out there! Someone who can appreciate all the wonderful qualities you have! No, not me. But someone! Sure! It will happen to you! You're such a great guy! A little short, sure, but you're a great guy! Just don't get discouraged. No, I won't reconsider. Look, there's no need to cry. There are tons of girls out there who would love to date a short, smart guy. What? Well, no, you can't expect me to name them off the top of my head like that. Huh? Well, I don't know! Look, don't get angry. I'm trying to boast your morale and this is how you act? Christ, no wonder you can't get a girlfriend. Your height is only the start of your problems. What are you blubbering about? Well, you shouldn't have freaked out like that. Okay, fine, apology accepted. I'm sure it must be tough for someone as short as you to find a girlfriend. No, I don't want to know how long it's been since you've head sex. There are lots of cute, short girls out there who would love to date someone their size! What? Are you sure? Why would some 5'2" girl want to date someone 6'? No, I haven't looked through the personal ads. Well, I'm sure those aren't typical of most women. Look, I've got to go. I just remembered I have to wash my hair. Maybe you should invest in some platform shoes..."

GMD

Height, and Distraction

[cliffiecee]

With a 0-1.5 year old, 'up' often equals 'out of reach'. Besides, there's FAR too many interesting things near the floor that mum & dad don't want her to reach- why look any higher? So, your average computer desk should be fine. Make sure it's off when you're not around and it probably won't seem so interesting, for a while :)

All bets are off once they master climbing, though. That's where distraction comes in. Sacrifice that laptop to the gods by installing programs like flabbergasted [kidsdomain.com]. Give the tyke her own computer, so she'll be less interested in yours.

Caution: kids learn computers quickly with this method. My 7yo boy tried to social-engineer my Linux password the other day.

Re:As long as you're starting with something new..

[Mawbid]

No no no. He should get a recumbent exercise bike instead.

None of the hassles of computing, and his body will thank him for it. And don't forget, exercise promotes mental well-being too.

I like recumbent exersise bikes more than iMacs, so my suggestion is better.

PC Setup for Small House with Child

[Anonymous Coward]

Here are my suggestions for a very PC household:

1) make sure both parents work on alternate days. that way the youngster won't form any stereotypes.

2) if you have african-american friends, be sure not to ever refer to their skin color

3) when holidays come around, be sure to say "festive seasonal greetings" rather than "Merry Christmas" or any other specific religious holiday.

4) if you have any gay or lesbian friends, be sure to invite them over to play with the child so he or she doesn't make assumptions about gender

5) Remember, evolution is a THEORY, not FACT. See if you can come up with some of your own theories of life and teach them to your child so that he gets a well-rounded view. My favorite: life was created by a giant walrus.

6) make sure to watch network news every night, so that both sides of every issue are explored, even those where one side is universally accepted by most intelligent people

Oh wait.. did you mean a different PC?

Re:As long as you're starting with something new..

[nlindstrom]

Get two PCs, a powerful one to act as the backend server, and an all-in-one-with-monitor kind to act as the semi-dumb terminal. Install Gentoo Linux on both, and use FreeS/WAN to secure the connection between the two. Run X on the terminal, and connect to the backend server to run your desktop and apps. You can make the whole thing wireless.

By the time you're done compiling and installing Gentoo, and have finished getting FreeS/WAN and the related software to actually work, your child will be at least 18 years old, and you can kick them out of the house a buy a real computer -- like, say, an Apple eMac or iMac.

Re:Better yet ^2

[way2trivial]

coming to find those letters on the CPU...

Effective yet cheap

[eyepeepackets]

Consider getting one of those electric fence devices used to keep little dogs in the yard: They use low amps, high volts and junior will understand the concept of "stay away" with the very first lesson.

These can also be effective on door knobs when wired correctly (keep wifey out!) but should be used on toilet bowl flush handles with much caution unless a man slaughter charge isn't a concern.

Other devices can be useful for keeping pesky children in line whilst teaching them the concept of survival but you should check the laws in your area as some certain methods and devices are frowned upon.

Cheers!

Kids aren't stupid and they learn damn fast...

[WIAKywbfatw]

My nephew learned that he could get what he wanted from the fridge by opening the freezer compartment first, pulling out its draws one -by-one and using them as stairs so he could reach his goal. His age at the time? Barely more than two years old.

Don't ever assume that because they can't reach it from the ground that they can't reach it at all. Kids aren't stupid and they learn damn fast.

Cage

[skinfitz]

Simply place it in a cage that only you have the keys to. When you want to use the PC, unlock the cage, go in, lock the cage.

Problem solved.

You could always substitute 'cage' for 'room'.

Re:Better yet

[Destoo]

I need a copy of that program.

Some creative marketing team could even make a box and think of a name and cook up an instruction manual.

I smell a software patent!

Re:old-fasioned

[hoggoth]

So I'm sitting on a bus listening to these two middle-aged moms sitting behind me.

One says: 'My son gots in trouble yesterday at school. He hit another kid.'
The other: 'Dats terrible. Wadya do?'
First one: 'I tolds him hitting is bad. It's wrong. Never ever hit anyone. Den I slapped him upside da head so hard he spun aroun'. I learned him to NEVER hit anyone'.

Re:Wrong!

[MrResistor]

I love my parents. I'm glad they punished me physically when I needed it.

Oedipal complex with a spanking fetish?