RE: Baby's first PC

["Alex Monaghan" <ha@xxxxxxx>]

> Keyboard wise, I have not been so successful so will probably
> get a wired one
> and an extension lead to keep the PC as far away from the
> sprogs as possible.
>
> I've been looking at this:
> http://www.inclusive.co.uk/catalog/kidboard.sh>
tml,
> or
> possibly the "Jumboboard" (linked from that page)
> but I dunno if it is an
> advantage or not to go for the jumbo - and it _is_ a shed
> load more expensive.
>
> How have the rest of you found kids with keyboards?

Mine seem to have no problem with a standard keyboard, most kids software
we've used for younger kids is mouse driven anyway. Ours had no problems
looking for the letters and pressing the keys. They've not been able to
destroy the "Genius" cheap & cheerful so far (I've destroyed
one though :-)

None of the nurserys or schools we looked at had anything other than a
standard keyboard anyway, so they'll have to learn a "real
keyboard" soon.

> That pretty much leaves the actual PC.
> Need:
> - Quiet
> - Rugged
> - Able to play DVD's
> - Durable/not too loud speakers.
>
> suggestions?
>
> Am thinking minitx, but don't know if the fanless boards are
> up to the task of
> playing back DVD's - or perhaps DivX vids streamed off the
> network. Any thoughts peep? What about drives?  Seagates are
> quiet I believe, but I can see the PC being
> bumped about a bit, so will need some reasonable level of
> shock protection....

Mine is just a cheap & cheerful MiniATX format made by me, unless your
kids
are abnormal, any noise from the fan / hdd will be drowned out anyway. Keep
them occupied and the bumps will be a minimum, mine's been running for
about
4 years now and so far survived 3 children.