Disney, Asus bring Netpal Netbooks to kids

(Credit: Disney)

Disney and Asus have teamed up to do something others have been doing wrong for a long time: they've developed an affordable and functional portable kids' PC, according to USA Today. It comes in the form of a Netbook with an Intel Atom processor; a small, 8.9-inch screen; parental control options; and desktops with customizable themes that revolve around the likes of Cars, Toy Story, WALL-E, and Hannah Montana.

The Netpal Netbooks will have an unknown clock speed (our guess would be 1.6GHz-2GHz) and will have a 16GB SSD or 160GB HD based on parental preference. They'll come preloaded with Windows XP. But they'll have another IO layer over XP so the kids can't break too much. We'd guess a locked-down Windows theme of some sort.

This means the computers can run actual commercial software, as well as access the Internet via Wi-Fi. Consumers can get one decked out in Mickey Mouse's "Magic Blue" or Ariel's flowery "Princess Pink" for $350 at Amazon or Toys R Us. I'd wager, given that Asus' Eee PCs based on the Atom are decent platforms for OS X "HackBooks," that the Princess Pink will be a popular choice for girl hackers.

There are girl hackers, right? Really hot ones, like in Transformers?

[Quest27]

Stee Jobs is gonna be sooooooo pissed

[Quest27]

Sorry, meant Steve Jobs :P

[edfaulkner]

I had the non-Disney version of this, an Asus EEE PC 1000H 1.6GHz. I thought it would be GREAT for my kids, but alas, they gave it BACK to me saying it was too slow and the screen was too small! They are 6 and 8! Pretty savvy, but even they rejected this low powered beast. Apple has NOTHING to worry about, Quest27. They use my wife's Macbook instead and love it. (disclosure: no, I don't work for any of these companies, heck I don't work for ANY company... see news.com's list of Tech Company layoffs, mine's in there!). :-)

[RotoRooterGuy]

I have two of the ASUS 900HA, which are pretty much the same as these. 160GB HD, same display, 2GB RAM, WiFi, BT, XP Home.

These are GREAT for toting around when I don't feel like lugging my 15.1" notebook that weighs in at 12 lbs with adapter, etc.

They are good for office programs such as Word, etc.

I teach college. I load up the web pages (that I make for the students) and programs for the day's lessons. Take the netbook to class, connect it to the classroom's projector, audio and DSL line. We then have far more interesting classes than talking from a book.

And I don't have to lug a huge notebook. With adapter and cordless trackball mouse my entire setup weighs about 4 pounds.

Many of the students use their (mostly ASUS) netbooks to take notes or follow along on the Net during lectures.

These kinds of uses are why netbooks were the 2008 hottest selling item and it's looking that way this year.

If you are considering these, get the hard disk model, that comes with XP. I'd stay away from the too-small SSD.

[L33tLuXX0rz]

Ive been meaning to get a netbook, if it is 1.6GHZ and this blue color, then I might have to get it for myself.

The lack of a release date is odd though.

[rrod182]

Oh boy, i was going to get my kids an imac to share, but a couple of these would be freakin' rad, hope they can do media.

[pbradleyii]

My soon to be 8 year old daughter has been pretty happy with year old hand-me-down imacs and macbooks from her mom over the last couple years.

It is funny, though - she actually needs a more powerful computer than my wife, because of the demands of some kid's websites (club penquin, I think, and a couple others). So maybe I should give my daughter the new macbook and my wife can get the hand-me-downs!

Oh, my daughter is really looking forward to inheriting my G3 iPhone when I get my 3G S hopefully on Friday.

[sshortcake]

Ahh the needs and demands of an 8 year old girl.

No one will hate her for being a spoiled brat, probably.

[MrDaz]

I wonder what Disney's largest independent stock holder and board member, a certain Mr Steve Jobs, thinks of a Disney Netbook PC running Windows.

[pbradleyii]

I also meant to say that the Disney/Asus is a really nice looking machine, and I'd definitely take a look at it for my daughter if not for the steady stream of used macbooks in the house. the article didn't mention if it has a DVD player, but that is a must for any kid's computer when traveling, unless you want to spend the time ripping those favorite DVD's onto the hard drive.

[RotoRooterGuy]

Oh, by the way, I went on eBay and bought a used DVD ROM drive (IBM for their T lines, for example T-40) and separately bought a USB powered housing for the DVD drive.

Inserted the DVD drive into the housing and I end up having a very small USB powered DVD drive, that weighs about six ounces! And ends up costing me about $12 (shipping included) for the housing and $15 for the DVD ROM drive (no one wants a player only, so they are cheap).

This is the reason I made my own USB powered DVD drive. If I bought a unit ready to use it would have cost me at least $75.

Note: because it does not need a power adapter (it's powered off the USB port) it travels easy. It has a thin profile and is super light. It's a little bigger than three CD cases stacked together. That's small.

One time I took the ASUS and my little USB powered DVD player on a trip. I was able to lay in bed with my girl and we watched a movie late night. It was totally cool and way cheaper than playing a movie on the hotel's system.

Remember when external DVD drives were about $200?

And this little setup pretty much makes dedicated DVD players obsolete.

So not only does the ASUS work great as a travel PC, but it also makes a great travel DVD movie player. (Another cool thing, extended 12 cell batteries for the ASUS are only about $50 on eBay! That gives you about 8 to 12 hours use.)

[bobmarleypeople]

"There are girl hackers, right?"

Just like Ed in Cowboy Bebop. Made of rubber and win!

[shanmoon]

Yes, there are girl hackers... but we want don't want no stinkin' pink! Chrome and black all the way, baby! Drimmel out an apple logo on the case and add a backlight led!