Kid's Computer Project

Got a new video card installed on Tuesday. Was very pleased on how easy THAT went...just popped it in and done.

That eliminated the "ghosting" I was seeing.

I have accounts done for all the kids. The week was a bit busy, so I didn't get to the rest of the items.

But I did manage to learn a bit about SSH, which I have already started documenting for my next entry on this project.

I am still learning all the ins and outs of Linux. So setting up a system all on my own has and is an adventure. And because I AM learning, I am going to make sure I don't just gloss over things that actually took some doing or at least took ME some doing. Then, either someone else will see how to do it, or can comment on how to do it better...or whatever.

More updates tomorrow...promise

Since Chandler is REALLY wanting me to let her use the computer. I figured I better come up with an actual PLAN for getting it up and running. As well as decided at what point is it ok to let them start using it. So, this is what I plan on getting done this week:

1. Printer up and...printing.
2. Set up user accounts and permissions for each kid.
3. Flash plugin.
4. Video Support for wmv files
5. Set up Firewall?

After that, I should be able to start showing them how to log in and how to get to their favorite sites. And how to get to the educational stuff. If I don't get to the firewall it won't be the end of the world...I just need to make sure I get that going before I let them completely loose.

The kid's rooms are pretty much swapped. And the first desk has been setup up and computer hooked up. I chose the girl's room as the location for the first computer.

Additionally, the computer has been joined to the network. Which again, went very smoothly. In my brief Linux experience Edubuntu/Ubuntu is head and shoulders above Fedora in easy of wireless network setup. The GUI in Fedora is all but useless. Where the Ubuntu distros are as easy as configure as a Windows box.

First Major issue has cropped up:
as mentioned before the display has "ghosting". And the video driver isn't playing nicely with the LCD monitor. I swapped monitors and that did not help. I will need to do some research and either find an alternate video driver or replace the video card with a more supported one.

The last week since returning to Carolina has been hectic. As a result, all I have been able to get done is some "desk swapping": Got a desk from work to serve has my wife Heather's work desk. That frees up a desk to go in the other kid's room. Still need to decide which desk will go in girl's room and which will go in boy's room. We started swapping the rooms around this weekend.

The room that is currently the girl's has a small walk-in closet, and the boys just has a standard closet. Since I only have one of my girls full time, and both boys full time - it makes since that the boys should have the bigger closet. This will give my youngest daughter, Chandler, the add benefit of a longer dresser to put all her nick-nack girl stuff.

Long story to say...the first computer desk will be set up this week.

I shut down the computer and packed it up for the trip back to North Carolina. I think that I will need to replace the video card or monitor when I get back...The video images has "ghosts". Or maybe I can find a different video driver for it. But it is all packed up so I will worry about it later.

Once I get it unpacked and set up, the next step is getting the printer up and running - I don't see that being a big deal at all.

I made the decision to use a wireless network card. That way I don't have to worry about running the network cable upstairs.

Quick trip to the store and 50 bucks later...I have a Linksys WMP54G PCI card.

On the box it says "Designed For Windows XP" - I figure this is just marketing...Get a BIT worried when the product page on Linksys doesn't mention Linux at all...Even MORE nervous after a quick "Google" of the card. Many people having problems. I read a few different sites on how they got it to work by downloading different drivers, paying for drivers, etc. So now I am thinking I just screwed off 50 bucks cuz I already ripped open the box. But I figured what the hell...That is what this project is about, and if I have no problems it won't be a interesting read.

After opening the machine, and cleaning out all the dust, etc. I take out the old Base 10 network card, and put it our new wireless card.

I was pleasantly surprised that not only did the operating system detect that I took out the old card...but it found and subsequently allowed my to configure the wireless card effortlessly. Even the WPA encryption went quickly.

Day 2 and we have wireless networking installed and functioning! The true test will be back home seeing if we can get the Linksys Card, and the Belkin router to hook up as quickly.

After having the generous Grandparents make sure they didn't need anything on the machine...I began the install.

Edubuntu being basically Ubuntu - the install when very smooth. The only thing I don't like about Ubuntu/Edubuntu is that it doesn't make an actual ROOT user. The user you create when you first install gets the root privileges. Not very hard to work around...just a bit annoying. Actually let me correct myself - it doesn't NEED a work around at all. I MEANT...not hard to make the way I like it.

I forgot to time the install. It is so easy I just walked by the machine every so often and answered the questions (time-zone, etc) and kept going. The install CD discovered all hardware correctly, guides you through the partitioning of the hard drive - or lets you do it manually. It is painless...and generally awesome.

First thing to do is acquire a machine...Thanks to my parents, this has been done. They let me take one of their machines. (Yea...Mom and Terry had 3 machines - what can I say, I come from geeks.) It isn't a top of the line machine. But it should be fine for the kids to get started on:

• Gateway Pent. III 600 MHz - not blazing. good enuf
• 20g Hard Drive - I may put in another 30g after the holidays when we get back to Carolina.
• 256 Ram - should be able to find some memory to slap in to beef that up.
• Decent graphics card.
• LCD Monitor

On to the install...

From my Blog entry announcing this project:

It is time the kids have their very own computer, and really learn about computers. Not just how to load a Word doc, or go to Yahoo in a browser. All of which my youngest (the infamous Pooh Bear) learned by age 3 or 4. YES! At 4 he was able to click on an icon and load his favorite game site. Unfortunately the side effect was a lot of spyware on the ole' family PC. I have been wanting them to learn real REAL computing for some time. Which brings me to my next two "big" projects. (one being MUCH bigger than the other.)

Project 1:
A computer JUST for the kids. We have had this before...but it was so crappy that they couldn't DO much...and that computer wound up controlling the temp in the kid's rooms by running the i-button temperature controllers - but that is a story for another day. "> This year they get their very own machine. You might be asking yourself - what is the project then? Just install windows eh? WRONG. Like I said, I want them to really LEARN stuff. So they get Linux. But not just any Distro...Linux for Young Human Beings: Edubuntu! I have been using a related Distro, Ubuntu, for a bit - and feel comfortable enuf with it to make it the operating system of choice for their machine. It comes with lots of educational software, and the such - along with being geared toward the younger user. I will try and document the fun of installing it and getting them to use it over the next couple of months. We will still have a Windows machine in the house for when they HAVE to use something on Windows that can't be done with Wine, etc.