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Neither computing product has been successful in gaining the sort of widespread appeal among the kids demographic that Nintendo and Apple have achieved with handheld entertainment devices, such as Gameboy, Nintendo DS and of course the iPod.
In what may prove to be a game changing marketing move, Asus has enlisted the help of Disney to develop the sort of computer product that may finally get kids' attention.
The Disney Netpal, a Windows XP Home based machine, is described by its makers as a netbook computer for children that’s fun, web-safe and easy to use.
The interface has been designed by Disney, a company which specialises in making things visually appealing for children, in stark contrast to scientists in computer labs at universities and in large technology corporations.
According to Asus and Disney, the Netpal is developed with parents and kids in mind, being durable, with a reinforced mechanical design, and offering "a truly magical and engaging computing experience with a unique Disney user interface".
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Features include more than 40 parental control options, an 8.9-inch LCD display, Wi-Fi capabilities, Windows XP Home, and kid-friendly software featuring Disney characters and icons with Disney-designed visual environments.
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The system includes Disney Magic Desktop “gadget tray”, a 2D menu displaying Disney-themed email, Disney-themed browser and a suite of Disney-themed parental control options.
The Disney Netpal will be available in lthe US ate July (the rest of the world has yet to be mentioned) in two models starting at US$349. The two retailers initially carrying the new product will beToys“R”Us and Amazon.com.
“Today’s kids are a digital generation,” said Chris Heatherly, head of Disney’s Toymorrow team and VP of Toys and Consumer Electronics for Disney Consumer Products.
“Parents are comfortable with their kids using the Internet, but they want to be assured that their kids are having a safe online experience. The Disney Netpal, designed together by ASUS and our Disney Toymorrow team, is a no-compromise device. There are plenty of terrific features and fun applications designed just for kids, but parents have ultimate control over the experience, with the power to set limits on how their kids are using the PC.”
“We’re proud to be involved in the creation of this very unique netbook for kids,” said Eric Chen, Vice President of ASUS' Systems Business Group.
“The Disney Netpal is creatively designed in a way that truly keeps the Disney magic alive, and its state-of-the-art features make it an excellent choice for kids and families.”
As is the style of Disney, there are separate models for girls and boys defined by colour and design.
Disney Princess Pink has pink florals and Disney Magic Blue has rows of miniature Mickey Mouse icons.
Kids can also dress their desktops with more than 10 customizable themes inspired by popular characters from Disney’s and DisneyâˆPixar’s most popular franchises, including Cars, Club Penguin, Disney Classic Characters, Disney Fairies, Disney Princess, Vintage Mickey Mouse, Toy Story and WALL-E. Themes that appeal to slightly older kids, such as the popular Disney Channel series Hannah Montana and JONAS styles, are also available. Favorite character icons can be attached to email addresses.
Additional Disney-developed applications include Disney Mix for music and media management, and Disney Pix for photo customization and organization.
The Disney Pix application features Disney Bobblehead software, which lets kids insert images of their faces on top of bodies, download them into videos and postcards and play wacky moving dance scenes. The Radio Disney widget streams real-time music and lets kids simultaneously submit song requests, if they wish. The Disney Netpal by ASUS also includes a driving game, number game, memory game and photo scrapbook.
The Disney Netpal is also touted as being durable, with a spill-proof keyboard. The new netbook also claims data protection guards against data loss when the computer is subject to impact.
Parents can pre-select email correspondence options, browsers, the websites their kids visit and the programs they use. These permissions can also be scheduled on a calendar, providing parents with a convenient, automated means of granting access on the days and times that they choose. Parents can also pull up data to determine where children spent time, and for how long. Additional websites can be added for access, but only if the parent approves and submits the request within the password-protected system.
This appears to be clever move by both Asus and Disney to capture what is remarkably still a largely untapped market with a product that is appropriately designed and just as importantly appropriately priced. Specs are below.
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Model |
Disney Netpal by ASUS MK90 –
exclusively at Toys“R”Us |
Disney Netpal by ASUS MK90H | |||
| Operating System | Genuine Windows® XP Home | Genuine Windows® XP Home | |||
| Display | 8.9” LED-backlit WSVGA screen (1024x600) | 8.9” LED-backlit WSVGA screen (1024x600) | |||
| CPU | Intel® ATOM N270 | Intel® ATOM N270 | |||
| WLAN | 802.11 b/g/n | 802.11 b/g/n | |||
| Memory | DDR2 SO-DIMM 1GB | DDR2 SO-DIMM 1GB | |||
| Storage | 16GB SSD | 160GB HDD | |||
| Interface |
1 x VGA port (D-sub 15-pin for external monitor)
3 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x LAN RJ-45 2 x audio jacks: Headphone / Mic-in |
1 x VGA port (D-sub 15-pin for external monitor)
3 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x LAN RJ-45 2 x audio jacks: Headphone / Mic-in |
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| Camera | 0.3 M Pixel | 0.3 M Pixel | |||
| Reader | MMC and SD (SDHC supported) | MMC and SD (SDHC supported) | |||
| Audio |
Hi-definition audio CODEC Built-in stereo speakers Analog Mic |
Hi-definition audio CODEC Built-in stereo speakers Analog Mic |
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| Battery | 4200mAh Polymer, 5hrs* | 4200mAh Polymer, 5hrs* | |||
| Dimensions | 248mm (W) x 173mm (D) x 28.7mm (H) | 248mm (W) x 173mm (D) x 28.7mm (H) | |||
| Weight | 1kg with battery | 1.2kg with battery | |||
| Casing Colors | Princess Pink, Magic Blue | Princess Pink, Magic Blue |
