Those people with a computer in the living room - how do you make it look nice/unnoticeable?

[redadmiral]

Want to put one in the living area for the children, but hate having the TV around, let alone more screens and tecchie stuff. Don't really want a laptop either as they are too fragile and fiddly for the children IMO, plus we already have a Mac mini that I'd like to use.

Anyone got any ideas for hiding it or blending it in????

Thank you Cat

Ok, I think it's between a laptop, or maybe a fancy screen that doesn't look to tecchie. These are nice, though pricey.

www.formacstore.com/stores/product_family_view.do?pubID=7449&familyID=65209

Think they do cheaper ones too.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions.

Or get a mac.... then build a whole new extension study room to show it off

Ah, you have a Mac Mini... hmm... dilemma... no, just go whole hog and get an iMac - no ugly base unit to hide anywhere, the monitor itself is also the computer. Smaller keyboard too.

Ducky you are such a show off

Happy birthday my dear

Thank you

how about this?
www.new-heights.co.uk/furniture/oak-desk-casper
expensive but beautiful solid oak

My SIL put her new (with a fault) laptop on her brand new expensive dining table and got lovely burn marks

I've got something sort of similar to this which is nice because it hides the lot when not in use.

Which isn't often, but still......

Great minds.... Luvaduck. I've been looking at that. The futon company do something similar for £199, but it's nothing like as nice as that...

But then I could buy a laptop for that and not have to hide it... aarghhh.

See why I need help?

Really I want some magical tiny thing that will hide the computer and provide storage for all the books, toys and crap that take over the space every day.

Thanks too Hecate. That's pretty impressive!

We have this unit from teemo.co.uk. Was about £400 IIRR.

LOL my first thought on reading the title was 'buy a Mac' but I see you're ahead of me there! I'll second the vote for a nice shiny iMac. Yum, clutter free and gorgeous!

hmm thats the problem - something thats tiny and hides all the shit!
we've gone for that ikea thing in the hallway leading to kitchen as don't want ds pulling at the leads - safer to shut away. but am still on the look out for a beautiful one that costs less than 500 quid
have you tried lombok or habitat for something more attractive (sounds like leads aren't a prob for your dc so a bureau would be fine)

we just had a £50 one from argos, not pretty, but functional. It was in the corner behind the sofa so not really overly noticable. It is now in the hall with the pc and I have a laptop in the lounge.
ds1 (5y4m) has been using the laptop for a good couple of years.

Put a nice doily on it.

colditz

laptop?

Army camouflage netting? Depends on your wallpaper I suppose.

opaque space-time forcefield thingy?

Have you seen some of the tardis-like creations people have found, onebatmother?

laptop

stick it in its lovely case

put down the side of the setee

sorted

Hmm, to me all the hidey things are a bit knitted loo-roll cover-ish. They're all a bit lumbering and sort of 'adapted' looking..

Buy stylish titanium Powerbook and be out and proud.