# How many computers have you got in your house? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 6, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387 "2016-04-06T21:29:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/62 "2016-04-07T20:49:03Z")
Two chromebooks, one of which I rarely use, a tablet I never use, and a dedicated work PC that runs Windows 10 that I absolutely hate and would never use except I need microsoft Word for work. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/63 "2016-04-07T22:10:45Z")
I think… 28. (4) There are four SmartTVs in the house. They are Internet connected, have a browser, can download apps… I call that a computer. (1) There’s a Bluray player with the same features. (3) There are three custom built media centres connected to three of the tvs. (1) There’s a server that controls the lighting, as well as being the backend for the media centre. (6) There are six tablets, some of which aren’t used anymore. (8) There are approximately 8 smartphones in the house. My other half is an Android developer. (4) There are at least four laptop computers in the house. Mine, his, his work supplied one, an old one. (1) Desktop PC, no longer used. There are four humans living in this house. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/64 "2016-04-07T22:18:23Z")
Oops. Forgot to count the Wii, and there are old consoles in storage - a GameCube, a Playstation 2. Plus a LeapPad tablet. Revise my answer to 32. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/65 "2016-04-08T16:09:49Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > So what’s left of the original incarnation? The motherboard standoffs and the power cord? 😃 The case is about it at this point. And the next time I upgrade anything I’ll probably have to get a new one of those. The reason I was saying it’s a “Ship of Theseus” is because I haven’t replaced everything at once, other than in about 2000-ish, when I think I carried a hard drive over and that was it. Otherwise, it’s been a new motherboard, processor and memory in the old case, with the old hard drives, old video card, old power supply and old blu-ray burner. Or a new video card and power supply in the same old case. Or 2-3 new hard drives and a new OS, but the same other hardware. I’ve been doing that kind of thing to that computer since sometime between 1999-2001 (don’t quite remember exactly when I got that original system.) ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/66 "2016-04-08T16:27:01Z")
I think the count is 10 right now. That’s not counting the things that are computers but that we don’t think of as computers. If you add those in its probably about 15. 4 laptops 1 Chomebook 2 desktops (at least I think I am down to 2 now. Only 1 is actually plugged in.) 3 tablets 1 android mini PC 3 Roku devices 2 cell phones What is that 16? It will thin out a bit when the child goes off to college next fall. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/67 "2016-04-08T16:29:40Z")
On seeing other replies I see I forgot game systems. I think there are 3 or 4 of those as well. So a final count of about 20. I’m not counting the Timex Sinclare ZX81. It’s more of a museum piece than a computer. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/68 "2016-04-08T16:32:00Z")
Should we be counting e-readers? That would be another 3 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/69 "2016-04-08T16:36:40Z")
Functioning: two laptops (one barely so), one desktop (barely), one netbook (but it stopped networking), one tablet, two smartphones. Paperweights: one laptop, one handheld. The smartphones and tablet have pretty much ended the other devices’ travels. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/70 "2016-04-08T16:49:47Z")
One ancient desktop running Windows 2000 that hasn’t been switched on in months. One laptop running Win 10 (mine) Two laptops running Win 7 (one is media server) One netbook running Win 7 One kindle fire One kindle five android phones one ipad ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/71 "2016-04-09T02:13:55Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Oops, I forgot. There’s an Amazon Dash button sitting right in front of me. Make that 8. I’m having … fun … with it, doing things Amazon didn’t expect. [Here’s](https://familab.org/2016/02/hacking-the-amazon-dash-button-to-make-a-simple-cheap-iot-place-anywhere-networked-button-3/) the specs. Pretty powerful for something that’s $5 with a $5 discount on your first purchase. (I.e., free.) What do you have it hooked up to do? ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/72 "2016-04-09T03:47:47Z")
Wife made me ditch my DOS 4.0 and Win95 systems last fall. Currently have: Vista era desktop running Lubuntu. This is mine that I use daily. 2 Kindle touches used daily 2 other 'droid tablets of recent vintage. Laying in kids rooms I think. Win7 HP laptop Win 8.1 HP laptop 2 Win10 laptops about a year old. PS3 PS4 Xbox one WII Some budget stretching desktop my 20 year old IT student put together last month. Part of a desktop under development in my 16 year olds room. His finances are slower. Three Samsung S-4s waiting for upgrade. One HTC Droid One LG phone. 3 streaming devices. Forgot: Daughter may have her school supplied Chromebook home from school for homework. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/73 "2016-04-09T06:12:01Z")
Too many to count unless I limit the scope somewhat. As far as I’m concerned, a “real” computer is one that supports a native general-purpose programming environment. Counting only ones that I use on a regular basis: - Core i7 desktop, Win10. Gaming and serious development. - Core m3 notebook, Win10. Portable development. - Core i3 notebook, Win10. Spare laptop. - Core 2 Duo, Win 2003 server. File server. - Atom dual-core tablet, Win10. Tablet stuff, ultraportable development (runs desktop Win10). - Raspberry Pi A, Raspbian. Electronic litterbox controller. Of course I have a zillion phones and non-desktop tablets and ereaders and gaming devices and media players and stuff, but you can’t code on them natively, so I don’t think they count. I also have a half-dozen computers in storage, collecting dust. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/74 "2016-04-09T18:37:45Z")
2 Hackintoshes 1 MacBook Air 1 MacBook Pro 1 MacBook 2 iPhones 6’s (1 is a Plus) 2 iPads Those are the ones that are in regular use. Then there are countless functional ancient machines that are squirreled away. There is also a Powerbook ‘Pismo’ that has been up and running for over 7 years since it’s last reboot, but it spends most of it’s time sleeping. I’m also not counting the Raspberry Pis - one which runs my 4K digital picture frame, and several for development. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/75 "2016-04-09T20:37:06Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > What do you have it hooked up to do? (Re: my Dash button.) It has WiFi, so it’s on my local network. I’ve tested it to start a program on my PC when I push the button. Currently exploring how to add a more versatile input method to it, e.g., a keypad, which the SoC can handle but leads are kind of hidden. There’s a socket for uploading new code and such. It also has a microphone! So the Real Prize would be turning it into an Alexa-connected device. I know that a 120MHz processor, 128KB of RAM, 1Gig flash isn’t much now, but it wasn’t that long ago this would have beaten an early Pentium (except for the RAM but the flash memory is even better). I just keep finding stuff all over: E.g., also in my network-hub room, there’s a nice backup HD. Apparently it runs Linux. Some models like this can have their firmware changed to allow command prompt, etc., but I don’t have an interest in that. Messing with my backup device is a no-no. And this doesn’t count the Basement Museum of Computer Crap. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/76 "2016-04-11T15:28:49Z")
I’m assuming this is the traditional definition of a computer, which is a desktop/laptop/whatever. We have six active: his and hers desktops, laptops and Kindles. I also have three computers in my office that still work that I raid for bits and pieces. So all told, a total of nine. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/77 "2016-04-13T13:45:30Z")
Oh, my, I didn’t count the iDevices and stuff like that. I guess strictly speaking they’re capable of being general purpose computers, but they’re so locked-down that I never consider them. I never would have considered my Palm V or Clie a general purpose computer either, and those were a lot more open. One my TV’s runs Android. Where do we draw the line? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/78 "2016-04-13T19:51:48Z")
Let’s see: Win 10 desktop that mainly serves as a media server for my network. Very old XP desktop that’s kind of my last resort (or was at some time, now I’m only too lazy to recycle it. But it runs.) Linux laptop I’m typing this on right now which is my main machine for surfing the web and doing basic stuff. Two other laptops which are spare parts stores for the other one, one still runable, one partly gutted (so I don’t count that one). The favorite, my C64 fom 1984 with a heavily yellowed case, but still up and running (ok, this I have only for sentimental reasons, but it counts). One android tablet PC I use from time to time. My android smartphone, and an old smartphone as backup. Oh, and the Kindle. Not counting the blue ray player, TV, sat receiver etc. So, I’m counting nine. Rather few for an IT guy. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/79 "2016-04-13T21:03:30Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > One my TV’s runs Android. Where do we draw the line? The Great Thread Question, again. Somehow, this fired up an old answer I used to use: Can you play Tic-Tac-Toe on it? Which caused an oops. In the drawer next to me is a programmable calculator. It’s more advanced than it’s older sibling down in the Museum which I did program to play Tic-Tac-Toe. ComputerCount+=2; 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/80 "2016-04-15T03:21:53Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > It’s more advanced than it’s older sibling down in the Museum which I did program to play Tic-Tac-Toe. The output lights weren’t in a nice pattern that would have allowed Tic-Tac-Toe, so I programmed a guess the number game on a training PLC. So, touche, even ladder logic can be general purpose enough! ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387/81 "2016-04-15T03:42:50Z")
Two Macbook Airs (one is mine for work, one is my son’s for school) 1 Macbook (the new ones that replace the air - that is for my side consulting business). 1 tower PC use for World of Warcraft and Counterstrike (built by my older son off at college, adopted by my younger son. He has replaced the power supply and video card so far). 1 Dell laptop my wife uses for her work - only Windows machine we have. 1 Mac Mini - backup machine, used to be used by the kids for school until they hit the stage where laptops were considered necessary. Then we get the other “computers” depending on your definition: Two iPads (one full sized, one mini) One HP Slate (got it as a speaker gift - used as a Kindle) One Kindle 3 iPhones 1 Apple TV (plus two other Apple TV units sitting around) Guess I should include the smart TV, Xbox One and an Xbox 360… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-computers-have-you-got-in-your-house/751387.md?page=5)