How To Travel With LCD Gaming Screen?

johnpagenola asks: "My 17 year old son will start traveling this Fall to fencing tournaments, but he needs his gaming fix over the weekend. How best to travel with an LCD screen to protect it from damage? Is there a way to put together a storage device for LCD with speakers, SFF system unit, keyboard and mouse?" Other than "buy a laptop," can anyone suggest some travel-proofing tips for such a set-up?

Not to be a troll...

[Xerithane]

But does anybody find this to be exceptionally wrong? If you can't go a weekend without playing video games, I think you should have some priority adjustments. He's going to fencing tournaments so why not read books that enhance the mind? I'm speaking directly of combat philosophy books. Granted, there aren't that many out there but it seems better than playing video games in the commute.

Now, back on subject, I'd suggest going with the Sony Glasstron [reviewfinder.com] goggles. I have a friend who had a setup with N64, PSX, DVD (Before PS2/Xbox) with these in his car. It worked really well for him.

Have the kid get a life?

[Anonymous Coward]

"gaming fix on the weekends"?

seriously, if he can't go 2 days a week without playing games he's got some problems.

A life?

[Bush_man10]

If someone can't travel without the need for playing games then a life would be the best fix imho. :) Don't mean to sound harsh but make him get out an enjoy the places he will be visiting. There are so many people to meet and things to see out there. I myself wouldn't be worried about how I will play UT or some other game.

Well that's just my 2 cents :)

he is 17 years old

[jest3r]

Why does a 17 year old need his father to ask Slashdot how to carry around a computer?

Lend him your car (presumeably he has a license by now) .. and throw the computer in the trunk .. No need to tote it around like a suitcase to the actual fencing tournaments .. and if you don't want to buy him a laptop .. lease one ..

Jebus!

[Moridineas]

Maybe I'm old fashioned but whatever happened to the ancient art of reading? Humans have occupied themselves for thousands of years without having to get their "gaming fix." Instead of worrying about satisfying your sons raving video game addiction that apparently can't go a single day without gaming, maybe you should buy him some good books.

How about stop gamming for a few days

[Anonymous Coward]

This may sound unpopular with the slashdot crowd, but how about leaving the computer behind and reading, or seeing the sights in the new town ya'll are visiting. He'll appreciate his games that much more when he comes back, and maybe come to enjoy otherthings as well.

Re:Not to be a troll...

[Xerithane]

On the other hand, if you spend the whole weekend reading how to fence, preparing to fence, and fencing, you're liable to go insane. At least I would. I can't stand to do anything - even something fun - for that length of time. (I've got nothing against fencing; in fact, I used to fence myself, but quit because it doesn't mesh with my personality. I'm a nice guy, not agressive at all; no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't become agressive during the bouts and so would be way to defensive.)

You raise a good point. Combat books are a lot more than just mental preparation. I would recommend you read a good translation of Book of the Five Rings, by Miyomato Musashi. Here's an online [samurai.com] version. You can buy this at Barnes & Noble in the business motivation section, to give you an indication of it.

These are people that have earned utmost respect from dedication and focus, and their books explain how you can do this in any field, not just combat. I think that combat is an intrinsic part of building confidence. I'm not speaking purely of physical, but physical (obviou), verbal (debate), mental (chess).

You can be as aggressive as needs be, in the field that suits you best. If everyone was aggressive physically, you would naturally be that way. My guess is that you have spent most of your life living in an environment where mental combat is the most important, and that's where the passive nature comes from. I grew up in a more physically combative environment, and while I can speak well and carry good debate my main combat prowess does come from the physical.

Reading combat books, of all sorts, has improved my life dramatically. I would also classify the well-known Art of Happiness book as a combat book. It teaches you how to combat selfishness and greed, and improve your lifeview. It involves much consideration (5 points for catching the reference).

Re:i completely agree

[guttentag]

These days, if the kid doesn't bring his gaming system he won't be able to socialize because everyone else will be be playing Unreal Tournament between fencing tournament matches. They wouldn't know how to socialize without the proper hardware interface.

Don't you feel old?

OT: Slashdot bitching

[Sancho]

Geez, you guys keep telling this guy how to run his (and his son's) life rather than giving constructive criticism to the question at hand. Do you think he hasn't thought about his son's gaming "addiction"? He came here with a question and all you can do is tell him how to raise his son. You have no idea how their family is set up. Perhaps his son is only allowed to play games on the weekends when he doesn't have to think about school? Rather than asking him to make the choice between fencing and gaming, his father could be trying to work out a compromise. You don't know the situation, so how dare you pretend you know what's best?

Yuppie Patrol

[soupforare]

Your *17* year old son is going to *fencing* tourneys and *has* to be able to play his 'puter games?
Colour me a misanthropic nihilist, but piss off.

I don't care if this is a troll, SUV-driving, private-school-attending, prig kids who need their fix are not what I want to be reading about on /.

Re:I would wean him off games now

[Jearil]

Something feels wrong when I'm seeing posts on /. trying to stop kids from playing video games and encouraging them to go out drinking.

Ok, so let me get this straight. Instead of building up important hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and problem-solving skills, he should instead kill off as many brain cells as possible in order to be socially acceptable to jock-like peers. Well we all know how being socially accepted and having everyone like you while you puke in the back of a VW is important, so I guess you're sorta right...

GAME ON!

BTW, if you're trying to carry a flat screen LCD for use with a computer during a weekend event, essentially any plain ol' brown box will work as long as you don't step on and/or puncture it. (previous experience). Also you should check out that neat mini-pc that's the size of a cdrom drive at think geek [thinkgeek.com]