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Saturday, November 22, 2008
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Toddlers and computers rule #47: Don't let them bang on the keys

I've just spent the last 10 minutes trying to figure out how my notebook's display rotated 90 degrees after my 1-year-old son decided that he would impress Daddy by banging on the keys.

Sure, it was cute, but apparently Mr. Genius figured out the correct key combination to rotate the display (I didn't think it was possible with the notebook). Rebooting the system didn't restore the problem; and I was about to give up on the day and show our IT group on Monday until I was able to find an Intel graphics adapter setting in the Control Panel (under the Display option) that had a "Rotation" button enabled. Unselecting that worked.

Lesson learned - keep the toddler away from the notebook. But he has officially joined the ranks of the rogue users in this family (the 2.5-year-old daughter enjoys #1 rogue user status so far).

Second lesson learned: This is why I don't telecommute often.

Toddler-safe

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You should definitely take a look at www.babysmash.com, the first computer program that we ever allowed my son to use. Baby presses keys, and fun graphics on the screen change. The ONLY way to get out of it is a three-character combination involving keys so far aparts that baby's hands cannot reach. It works, and I know: my son was a hyperactive, enthusiastic boy with an amazing ability to break things.

cool idea

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thanks for the suggestion and the link! I'll try it out soon!

Just remember that the keys

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Just remember that the keys on a notebook are nowhere near as strong as the ones on a keyboard and they are not covered by the standard warranty but are covered by most extended warranties - if the child breaks off more than two or three you will need to send the notebook in for paid repairs.

good point

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Installed Baby Smash, the kids seem to love it and aren't smashing on the keyboard as much, plus I'm monitoring it to make sure they don't pound super-hard. Plus, it's a "work" notebook, so I can just blame something else if the keys stop working (shh, don't tell anyone).

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Network World's product test editor and one cool dude.

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