Good point on the fans. Didn't think of that.
As far as my 500W space heater, it is more fun to have it running a UT2K3 server than to sit in my living room looking pretty, if you know what I mean. When it starts dipping down to 0degF, I'm going to appreciate my computer room (
).
As far as mounting it outside, I would really like to, but I have a problem. Being in a rented apt, I don't have the luxury of cutting the walls. Being on a ground accessable floor, I can't leave a window cracked. Being in a college ghetto next to greek row and party houses, I can't have ANYTHING that can be taken outside.
Point of example: the guy that used to live next to me had 5 hibachi grills, a bike, a flower pot, and the spare off of his car stolen. The wood scraps from my box that I left next to my porch lasted less than six hours before they disappeared. Since I've window mounted (inside) my 802.11b APs, I've had people try to pry my window open to steal them multiple times. I actually chased one off at 7PM just a couple of weeks ago. If you think I'll leave a window cracked you're nuts. I might as well be living in the slums of an inner city for all of the criminal activity up here.
My favorite is when some guys PICKED UP my old car and slammed it into the dumpster outside my house. It was an 86 Caprice Classic 4dr ... it must have taken quite a few of them. This is what I get for the convenience of living near campus.