Netbook Market Goes Kid-Friendly
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A new category of computers aimed specifically at kids is ready to hit the market this fall. NY1's Adam Balkin filed the following report.The hot new category of consumer electronics is suddenly making a big push, trying to convince kids it's the new must-have piece of consumer electronics. Netbooks -- those ultra-compact, stripped down computers designed primarily for just surfing the web, are now popping up in children's flavors like the Asus Disney Netpal hitting shelves this month for about $350.
"The difference is really that it's fun safe and easy so it's designed for children ages 5 to 11, it has a lot of parental controls in it to help protect children from cyber crime and different types of activities parents don't want their kids getting in to," said Ben Thacker of Asus. "It also has a ton of specialties around the Disney theme so games, background settings, connections into different Disney events and portals."
This comes a week after Dell announced a line of kid-geared netbooks, including a a slime covered Inspiron Nickelodeon Edition which comes loaded with tons of Nickelodeon content. It also offers tools designed to keep kids from wandering off into the more mature areas of the World Wide Web. ICarly and Spongebob versions will also be available when it launches in October. Pricing for these netbooks have not yet been announced.
So what's behind this sudden surge in netbooks for kids? Those who follow these trends will probably tell you there are two motivations -- price and form factor.
"Now that the price of a legitimate PC has come down so that you could give one to kids without having to worry about they destroying a ridiculously expensive piece of equipment is seems to make sense to give them their own laptop," said Terrence O'Brien of Switched.com. "I don't want to say they're toy, like necessarily but they're small enough to where a kid isn't necessarily going to risk dropping it because it's too heavy, fits into a little kid's hands."
And to answer maybe the first question parents have before plunking down any amount of money on technology for kids -- yes, manufacturers say these new netbooks are being built to withstand a bit more of the bumps, bruises and juice spillage than your average netbook.