The final appliance
The results look something like this:

The kitchen PC takes a bow

Not bad, I think, all things considered. But perhaps you're shooting milk out of your nose in violent hysterics. The important thing, for me, is that my wife didn't object to having this puppy in the corner of the kitchen, and I was able to reclaim my laptop computer.

Shortly thereafter, the laptop died a horrible death, but that is another story.

The kitchen PC concept, at least initially, has proven successful. We plan to add some things to expand its uses, like a higher res monitor with speakers and perhaps a DVD-ROM drive so it can play kiddie games. And we may yet find some reason—aesthetic, social, or practical—why this won't work, but so far, so good. Just wait 'til grandma tries to jam a piece of toast in the back.