A solitary hobby?

[Shockwave]

My new Laptop will be delivered tomorrow.. An expensive solution to an anti-social problem perhaps?
Mel doesn't use the computer a lot in fairness and as the forum keeps getting busier and busier I've found that I've been spending more and more time on the computer.
I never even noticed how much time I was spending, though I did always try to manage my time on the computer, I don't really think that being on the net is family friendly.. That's my question really.

Mel and I just bit the bullet and ordered a new laptop, we've decided to go wireless too.. I'm planning on spending quite a lot of time learning CPP and I can't justify the time alone upstairs in the computer room so the laptop seems like the ideal solution.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this or am I just a geek who should get out more?

[taj]

Briliiant question shockwave. Brilliant subject. Oh its an almost daily topic here. I live in Poland and have no real friends here and cant watch the news (yet) or read a newspaper. The internet is my life line for many things. So my wife and I decided to make the PC  like our TV. It stays on all the time and sits in the corner of the living room. Either of us can wander over and read mail, surf or program but of course its mainly me. Same as anyone can change channel, watch a bit of TV and then go back to reading or whatever.

I'm not sure its healthy but its the way we are and its working for about 2 years now, though at first, when I spent a lot of time learning demo coding, my wife got quite stressed about it. However its now clear to us that it was like a transition perriod and now it works well. We chat, watch TV, deal with our daughter, eat and surf the net as a sort of continuous mulsh of activity.

So our solution now is a silent PC which I am just buying this weekend. Its not silent but each component is especially "quiet". In time Ill invest in "silencing" the components 1 by 1. I really wish you could walk into Dixons/PC World and just buy an off the shelf PC that is as quiet as a Mac.

As for the laptop, it doesnt work for me (or it does but Id have to sit in the corner anyway) as my 3 year old little bundle of joy would not allow me to sit and use it in her play area (around the sofas). Or perhaps she would but I'd have to be dressed a a Disney Princess at the same time. Lets not go there. However I know another couple for whom the wireless laptop is the centre of the family. It controls TV, radio, stereo and is used to surf net all evening. The biggest problem they have is who gets to control it ...

Ive found as I begin to ask my wife for advice on demo coding, hey what do you think, I am in equal parts frustrated (shes not nice to me like you lot ;-) and also - hang on daughter, shes asking me to type quieter so Mama can watch her news - released. My wife will wander over now while Im watching a demo and comment. Bad colours, awful sound etc. She thinks ASD are brilliant and MFX are a joke :-). The point is she has an opinion about my hobby which she couldnt have if the PC were in another room and I disappeared for two hours a night.

It works for us is all I can conclude from this ramble.

[slinks]

All I can say is that computer useage is an antisocial activity, and that those who do use one on a regular basis are probebly depriving someone else of companionship. I'm one of the lucky ones who this doesn't bother, as there are only a couple of people out there I actually concider friends, which leaves me much time for computing. The rest of you, however, appear to have real lifes that may be put in jepardy by excessive computer usage, and would end up having to keep a closer eye on how much time they spend. It's unique to everybodies different circumstances

[taj]

The rest of you, however, appear to have real lifes that may be put in jepardy by excessive computer usage, and would end up having to keep a closer eye on how much time they spend. It's unique to everybodies different circumstances

No more so than someone who has a drink must constantly watch if they are a drunkard. Sure it happens to some but generally these people seem to be prone to such things (if it wasnt a computer, it would be another hobby).

[Jim]

My girlfriend has a laptop, and quite often when she's watching Charmed or The Closer, I'm sitting on the sofa using it to Remote Desktop into my PC upstairs.  It's a good way to avoid the "you're always hiding upstairs on that bloody computer" comments.

Jim

[Shockwave]

Well, the good news is that I am typing this on my new laptop, it feels really strange to use a computer without a mouse but it's nice to be able to watch a bit of telly downstaairs with Mel.

It will be interesting to see if this improves the home situation

[lilw4t3rdr0p]

Good Luck! It should!

We have both. A desk top and a laptop. We often find ourselves chatting while one is upstairs and one is downstairs. He is on his computer a lot as his degree is computers and his job is the entire SLC wireless area. He helps me and teaches me. I think sometimes the reason the chicks get upset is because they don't understand the computer as much as you guys do and just including them might help. They may not seem interested at first, but give them time and include them. Explain things if they ask. I learn so much from him and YOU ALL. Thank you. You all are at a much higher level of computer usage then the normal person, so understand that help teach those around you as you do here. He was surprized that I was on this forum and asked why. when I told him, he was happy and shows me something and even asked me questions. He is learning C++ for his job so that maybe be helpful for me in the future as well.

I have a lot friends and I don't neglect them partly because I got them hooked up on the net.

Kudos on trying to work on a solution Shock and all.