While working on moving stuff around and hooking it back up today, and realizing that the Doctor Who pinball backglass wasn’t going to be able to adorn the window anymore, I decided I’d like some real live sunlight in the room. This turned out to be a very popular move with my household helpers.
Olivia seems especially happy with the prospect of being able to sit on top of the computers and watch the bird’s nest that’s been built in the brush that pretty much covers the window. (It’s an interesting privacy screen, but it’s really just a case of me needing to get out from behind the computer and get outside and suck up some allergens to cut it all down. On the flipside, I could always just tell people that my game room is on Kashyyyk.)
God only knows what the bird were thinking. 😆
I ate lunch and then got back to work, only to find that someone else was finishing lunch off for me. BUSTED!
The pinball backglass had to come out of the window because the PCs, scanner and other stuff wound up in front of it. Not really where I wanted all of that stuff to land permanently, but it’s where it all fit.
I got Orac hooked up to its monitor, input devices and the network again today, and got most of the peripheral devices hooked back up (scanners, printer, camcorder cradle, etc.). (The Enterprise really isn’t going to stay there – it may be in the room, but not right there.)
And now, the hitchhiker’s guide to my room, as it is at the moment:
- Phone
- Cable modem / wireless router
- Tix clock
- Slide/film negative scanner
- Avid monitor A
- Avid monitor B
- Orac’s monitor
- LCD TV / video monitor
- Zen’s monitor
- Zen
- Orac
- Flatbed scanner (camera bag on top)
- Printer
- Vectrex
- Cartridge storage
There may seem like a lot of open wall space where the phone and the router are, but that space will likely be taken up by VTRs, at least one monitor, and other stuff that isn’t here yet. Some of that gear is rackmountable, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do about that just yet.
Why not use a monitor/keyboard switch? You’d save yourself a ton of desk space by keeping it down to only a few monitors. I’m not criticizing, mind you. I fully understand the desire and need for multiple monitors, I just think you’re running out of room.
Surplus electronics stores might provide you an answer to your rack mount question. I’ve seen them at my local surplus stores. Kinda ugly and bulky and requires a paint job but they’re cheap!
Target or Wal-Mart might provide answers too. I found some nice metal shelves at Target that solved some organizational problems (my printers and scanners sit on one of these shelves).
Whatever solution you go with, I think it’s best that you go to these various stores just to brainstorm on ideas on how to solve the particular problem.
Actually, I may have found a rack – one with a glass hinged door on the front, no less, and for Not Very Much Moulah. Classy!
As far as monitors, an Avid setup practically requires two monitors – one for the “bins” that contain your media, and one for the “timeline” where you put everything together. I may wind up adding a drawer or a platform on a flexible arm for the keyboard and mouse for the Avid, because that side of the desk is running a bit low on space.
Or, to look at it another way, I’m four LCDs shy of the Nebuchadnezzar operator’s room. Matrix fan films, here we come! (OK, not really.)