by "functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
Published 12/20/2017 at 11:16
by "functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
Published 12/20/2017 at 11:16
No Tags
STARS: 6
When we first moved into our own house in 2008, I thought it would be a good idea to have a computer in the kitchen. I’m not a super nerd but ironically, I do work in IT now, and I like using technology to make things easier, that’s the whole point, right? But due to cost and complexity, I never bothered with the original concept, until we renovated our kitchen last year.
I’ve used a variety of computer-like things from an Intel Stick which is like an HDMI dongle that runs full Windows OS, to a Roku box, to an Amazon Fire Stick. Each has its pros and cons, but it got me to thinking, one of these must be the right answer for a kitchenputer because I can just have a screen on the wall, keyboard, mouse, and that’s it. Basically I wanted a computer that didn’t take up (much) more room than the screen itself, but didn’t want to pay insane Mac prices.
Enter the Chromebox: it of course runs ChromeOS which is little more than a browser, but it has HDMI, multiple USB, stereo audio and SD card interfaces. Perfect, because other than our work computers, we don’t really have anything in the house aside from tablets. Via ebay, I essentially traded an old cell phone for a Chromebox, which I hooked up to a surplus screen I bought from work for $25. Having never used ChromeOS before, I soon realized I needed to login with a Google account. Not wanting to use my own account, I created [lastname]kitchen @ gmail.com. This was an accidental brilliant idea that I wish I could say I planned.
So now, whenever my wife or I come across a good recipe online, we just email it to that address. Then anytime we’re looking for a recipe, you just search in gmail and it comes right up. Favorite recipes we don’t want to lose if
that one cooking blog
disappears? Print as PDF and save to the Google Drive of that address. Friend or relative wants to share a recipe or have one of ours? Email it to/from there. Recipe from a book? Snap a pic and email it. Can’t remember what you need for a recipe while at the store? Look in that email account from my phone, and it won’t be lost among the 8 million emails in my personal account.
Then while you’re actually cooking, the screen is right there of course. I also can’t tell you how many times I’ve been looking at a recipe and needed to google something for clarification, or to look for a substitution. I like not having to pull out my phone for a quick thing like that. Couldn’t we use an ipad for this? Sure, but this whole setup cost me about $100. And the cheap wireless keyboard can be wiped down easily if it gets dirty (I did buy one of those silicone waterproof keyboards but HATED typing even a simple few words on it).
Of course you can also watch TV on the interwebz, so we can see the local news and weather, or watch a ski race (that’s another story, but just go with it) while we’re hanging out in the kitchen, which is a LOT of the time with our small kids being hungry approximately every 13 minutes. It’s also just a nice way to show the kids what’s happening with the weather, looking at radar, etc. instead of on a tiny cell phone screen.
My final step was to buy a $10 wall mount from amazon so it’s easier to reach the outlet behind the screen, and so you can move it out so it’s easier to see from other areas of the kitchen.
Sure, we still have a big ol’ shelf full of cookbooks, and we reference those on a semi-regular basis. There’s really no substitute for flipping through an interesting recipe book to discover something new, or using an encyclopedic reference like Mark Bittman’s
How to Cook Everything
, but for every day use, the kitchenputer coupled with a dedicated email address has been a brilliant addition to our kitchen.
"facw" (facw)
12/20/2017 at 11:23, STARS: 1
The kitchen is the one place where I really like having a tablet.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
12/20/2017 at 11:27, STARS: 1
I used mine in the kitchen a lot before this, but part of the reasoning is to have a way to watch skiing - the part I left out is that that requires a wired connection because it’s a european tv service I access via VPN, and that just does not work over wifi for us. So... yeah. I love my small android tablet though.
"Thomas Donohue" (tomonomics)
12/20/2017 at 11:29, STARS: 1
I just picked up a refurb 22" Dell touchscreen for the kitchen (it will be replacing a 16" HD TV). I’m planning on using it with an Intel NUC, haven’t loaded Win10 yet. I’m hoping that with touchscreen and YouTube.TV I won’t really miss the keyboard. I might keep a small bluetooth keyboard behind it just in case.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
12/20/2017 at 11:33, STARS: 3
That’s pretty great! I love my Chromebook. Now I want a Chromebox (which i didn’t know was a thing) for the garage.
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
12/20/2017 at 11:39, STARS: 1
This is genius.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
12/20/2017 at 11:39, STARS: 1
My parents still have a desktop running... wait for it, (gasp) Windows XP. I’ve been considering getting them a chromebox as they only use it for solitaire, email, viewing shared photos, and nothing that can’t be done with google docs.
"cmill189 - sans Volvo" (cmill189)
12/20/2017 at 11:42, STARS: 1
Great idea and setup.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
12/20/2017 at 11:50, STARS: 1
It’s brilliant, but my father would be confused by the browser-centric interface. He likes to understand things fully. I spent a long time trying to explain the “Desktop” of Windows (xp, 7) and how it relates to the folder on your computer under C:\users\username\desktop. Oh boy.
But you’re absolutely right, and I’m hoping I can convince my parents to get a chromebox for their next computer. I may get a chromebook laptop so that might be a way for them to try it out.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
12/20/2017 at 11:51, STARS: 0
Oh yes, the garage chromebox/screen will be a thing... as soon as I have a garage! I might get a chromebook with holiday sales... which one do you have?
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
12/20/2017 at 11:51, STARS: 0
Thanks! I only wish I could have thought of the email address instead of accidentally being forced into it...
"facw" (facw)
12/20/2017 at 11:52, STARS: 2
Ouch. MS stopped patching (mostly, they’ve made a few exceptions) XP in April of 2014. Pretty dangerous to be running. There are some ways to get patches for the point of sale version applied, but still not a good idea, especially for non-technical people.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
12/20/2017 at 11:53, STARS: 0
How much was the touchscreen? That would be awesome, though I would definitely keep a small keyboard around for when you need to type more than a few words.
I couldn’t beat the $25 surplus price on my screen, so that’s the way it will stay for now.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
12/20/2017 at 12:00, STARS: 1
I wonder if this is still in print.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
I often use the iPad in the kitchen, but I usually find that I like to just print my recipes and take the paper in so I can be messy without worry. Your setup is really cool. I just couldn’t find any place on my counter where I wouldn’t ruin it.
"Thomas Donohue" (tomonomics)
12/20/2017 at 12:04, STARS: 0
Yeah, $25 is a steal. I got a Dell 2240 for ~$175. They usually go for ~$250 or so. The downside is no speakers (I happened to already have the add-on soundbar).
There’s a lower model w/Speakers (2220?) but not sure if it’s 1080P.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
12/20/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 0
Ah, nice. The place I work is going through a ton of office moves and staff reductions, so there is a room full of screens right now, the IT surplus guys just want them out of there. I may pick up another one just because $25!!
Mine doesn’t have speakers either. I use a little bluetooth speaker when I want sound... not super convenient but I’m sure I could pick up a little soundbar from ebay or something - or maybe I should ask the surplus guys, duh.. hmmm
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/20/2017 at 12:22, STARS: 1
O just use my smart phone.
"TorqueToYield" (torquetoyield)
12/20/2017 at 12:33, STARS: 1
This is pretty slick. I also have a google drive folder full of recipes and this set up would be real nice instead of having to rely on a phone/tablet.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
12/20/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 0
You’re only one step away! The other option is a chromebook because you can get them as a flip-style tablet, then you can use it elsewhere, too. But I had other motives for having something not on wifi, but direct wired.
In my house with small kids where it often feels like living inside a mild tornado, I really like having this thing bolted to the wall.
"Nibbles" (nibbles)
12/20/2017 at 13:46, STARS: 1
If you don’t have Nibbles Recommends favorited on that box you are dead to me
"SpeedSix" (speedsix)
12/20/2017 at 15:27, STARS: 1
Same, I grew up with minimal exposure to actual wrenching, so it’ll sure come in handy for when I need to reference a digital manual or video every three minutes when I start out.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
12/20/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 0
Very handy, no matter how experienced you are.