Re: plea from poor X10 user

[Raymond <Reb.barnett@xxxxxxx>]

A ban on PCs in the bedroom from my wife goes without saying. However I
have just about persuaded her on the merits of [an occasional] laptop
beside the bed based on its ability for video-in and hence we get a =
flat
screen TV beside the bed for free, and I get to check the motorway
traffic before I decide when to get out of bed :-)

The ideal solution that would perhaps be of general appeal would be a
flatscreen thin client machine by the bed to provide control of the
house via an intranet and TV/audio facility. This would obviously need =
a
network connection, and ethernet is the cheapest.

On the topic of low cost automation: I use Comfort since it offers a
dual purpose alarm and automation controller. The other bonus is that =
if
means you don't need a PC at all for home control. It's a modular =
system
so even if used as just as an automation controller (and you forget
about the security facilities) it works out pretty reasonable.

My desire for an MP3 jukebox is fuelled by the fact I can experiment
with it at no immediate cost: I already have a PC, CDROM, soundcard and
hifi. If it works I get close to whole house audio for the princely sum
of a soundcard and some wires run to the 2 hifis we already have. More
rooms could be added for the cost of an inexpensive amplifier and pair
of speakers. Even if(when) I add a dedicated MP3 PC server (=A3200?) =
the
cost is still far less than the cost of a decent Hifi than can change 6
or so disks at a time.

My only real cost is time...

Ray.

> >You may think you'll never want a computer in your=20
> bedroom...however a few
> >months ago my wife was sitting in bed typing a letter on the
laptop.
>=20
> No, I _know_ I will never want a computer in my bedroom. =20
> Same as I don't
> want a cooker in my bathroom, or a bath in my hallway... it's=20
> bad enough
> waiting for all of a wife's evening routine to be done=20
> without having her
> start to type at the end of it all ;-)
>=20
> I suppose there is an argument for being able to play games=20
> in bed if ill,
> but that's rare, and certainly no need for Ethernet...
>=20
> I'm too young to be a Luddite, really I am ;-)
> --=20
> Nigel Orr                  Research Associate   O   ______=09
>         Underwater Acoustics Group,              o / o    \_/(
> Dept of Electrical and Electronic Engineering     (_   <   _ (
>      University of Newcastle Upon Tyne             \______/ \(
>=20
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------
> Want the power to purchase wisely? Productopia has the answers.=20
> http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/553
>=20
>=20
> eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/ukha_d
> http://www.egroups.com -
Simplifying group communications
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20

------------------------------------------------------------------------
GET $10 OFF ANY ORDER @ healthshop.com! No min. purchase req.
Save on vitamins & supplements. Use coupon code: EGROUPS99
at checkout.  http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/463


eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/ukha_d
http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying
group communications