I used a thin client, HP T610+, and installed Windows XP POS.
this is a point-of-sale version of windows xp that’s basically XPSP3. it comes with Ethernet, WiFi, touchscreen drivers, etc. works really well actually.
I firewalled it from internet access and allowed my kid to surf the intranet I host along with standard 90s 00s kids software.
reader rabbit
Disney interactive games
encarta 98
I also used a kid keyboard that deviates from the typical 102 keyboard. no function keys etc.
you could do the same with an old x86 laptop too, recommend using a dual core CPU if possible though.
to ensure nothing is broken, I used software called deepfreeze from Faronics. it freezes the system and restores the system after reboots. just to make it clear, this means any changes to the “c” drive will not be permanent.
to keep the save files I used a some batch scripts/shortcut trickery and re/store them from the NAS when the apps start and end.
in the end it’s sitting in my tech closet after my eldest lost interest after a year. Now I’m waiting for my youngest to break it out again.
You’re a genius. I installed Linux on an old chromebook and the amount of times my kid would alt-tab out of scummvm or dosbox or whatever was redonkulous.
Also Linux is about as kid-friendly as a honey badger
I used a thin client, HP T610+, and installed Windows XP POS.
this is a point-of-sale version of windows xp that’s basically XPSP3. it comes with Ethernet, WiFi, touchscreen drivers, etc. works really well actually.
I firewalled it from internet access and allowed my kid to surf the intranet I host along with standard 90s 00s kids software.
I also used a kid keyboard that deviates from the typical 102 keyboard. no function keys etc.
you could do the same with an old x86 laptop too, recommend using a dual core CPU if possible though.
to ensure nothing is broken, I used software called deepfreeze from Faronics. it freezes the system and restores the system after reboots. just to make it clear, this means any changes to the “c” drive will not be permanent.
to keep the save files I used a some batch scripts/shortcut trickery and re/store them from the NAS when the apps start and end.
in the end it’s sitting in my tech closet after my eldest lost interest after a year. Now I’m waiting for my youngest to break it out again.
You’re a genius. I installed Linux on an old chromebook and the amount of times my kid would alt-tab out of scummvm or dosbox or whatever was redonkulous.
Also Linux is about as kid-friendly as a honey badger
My hot take: good.
I’ve got my kids using Linux on Raspberry Pis, and I honestly want them to break it so that then they have to figure out how to fix it.
I mean, that’s basically how I learned to use computers (except I was using DOS)…
Same re: DOS. I still catch myself typing dir /w in the terminal erry now and then