Why would I want a PC in my kitchen?
My husband wants to put a PC in the kitchen. I suspect he wants to check sports scores while he does the dishes, but he insists it would be great for the whole family. I'm not convinced. – Suspicious in Schenectady
Hubby may be onto something, especially if your kitchen is the family hub. If you can get beyond the image of somebody dripping ketchup on the keyboard, having a shared PC permanently anchored in the kitchen can have multiple benefits.
Get quick information – Your gang is sitting around deciding what to do tonight. Bowling or a movie? They pull up the local multiplex Web site to see what's playing and when. Then they check the bowling alley site, where they learn a tournament has claimed all the lanes.
TIP: Bookmark quick information sites such as the show times and ticket search on MSN Movies in your browser for quick access.
View family member schedules – Imagine if Johnny came home from school and didn't have to interrupt you at work to ask what time soccer practice starts. Or if Susie kept her baby-sitting jobs on a central calendar that you could check when the neighbors call and she's not home. You can even input special events and schedule reminders so you never miss Aunt Harriet's birthday again!
TIP: Microsoft Office Outlook provides an easy-to-use calendar that you can publish to the Web for broader sharing, or you can find calendars to download by typing "family calendar" into a search engine or visiting CNET's Download.com.
Leave messages – Track comings and goings by training family members to post messages – and check for them – on your kitchen PC. It could be as simple as leaving a Word document open – or if you use Microsoft Windows Vista, there's a handy notes gadget that can sit on the desktop (Figure 1).
Make shopping lists – What better place to keep and update a grocery list than a kitchen PC? You can go the Word doc route noted above or use one of the many online grocery lists that you simply fill out and print. Save time and money when you download and print coupons along with your grocery list.
TIP: WorkingMom.com offers free printable grocery lists and coupons, as do some cooking sites and online grocery stores.
Read recipes – Why print out a recipe when you can use the MSN Lifestyle recipe finder and read right from the screen? Or, suppose you're off work late, didn't stop at the store and need to make dinner from what you have on hand. Very handy to log on to allrecipes.com and use the ingredient search to type in what you've got to work with, checking the fridge and cupboards as you go. Which wine with dinner? You're just clicks away from a food and wine pairing chart on foodnetwork.com.
Be entertained – Put in a CD for a little mood music while you cook. Look up Jeopardy answers on the sly. And if hubby likes checking sports scores while he does the dishes, why not? Maybe he'll clean the oven, too.
For hardware, all you really need is an inexpensive Web-connected PC; either a desktop or laptop will do. The real issue is keeping it away from heat, water and the splatter zone – but convenient enough that everyone will use it.
