It’s a Netbook World After All: Hands-On with Disney’s Netpal by ASUS

ASUS intended its original Eee PC 701 to be for kids so it is only fitting that the company has teamed up with Disney to bring the ultimate children’s netbook to market.

Expected to hit stores (yes, Toys R Us) by August the companies have worked together to create a compelling $350 8.9-inch netbook for children ages 6 through 10. We got to see the mini-notebook in action today and though it sports the same specs as parent netbooks (an Intel Atom N270 processor and 1GB or RAM), its durable features and child friendly interface will make it a hit on the playground.

The overall build of the Disney Netpal by ASUS is extremely reminiscent of the Eee PC 1008HA  (Seashell). However, what makes this far from an adult system is the colorful, decorated lids which are available in both in Princess Pink or Magic Blue. Oh and of course, there is the Mikey Mouse shaped webcam on the top bezel which screams goofy.

According to Disney, they worked with ASUS to make the netbook more durable than the manufacturer’s regular line. The keyboard, which is similar in size to the one on the Eee PC 1008HA is spill-proof and there will be a 16GB SSD option.

What makes the Netpal more than just another ruggedized netbook for children (don’t forget the Dell Latitude 2100 ($379.00) that came along last month) is its Disney Magic Desktop software interface. A complete skin over Windows XP, the Disney Magic software allows parents to restrict kids from getting into the full XP operating system, control usage time and block Web sites. Sorry kids, but apparently there are 40 parental control options.

The user interface is sweet on the eyes. A gadget tray lines the bottom of the screen and contains fun applications, including tic-tac-toe, a stopwatch and puzzle games, which when clicked open on the Desktop. Speaking of the Desktop, you can change the theme and wallpaper to one of the many options, including Club Penguin, Hannah Montana, Toy Story, the Jonas Brothers, etc.

Parents can set access to applications, including the specially designed browser which only gives kids access to kid-friendly Disney sites. Other Disney applications include Disney Pix which allows you to insert images of faces on top of dancing bodies and create videos that can then be sent to friends. Disney Mix software is for listening to and managing music.

Check out the video below and see why we think the kids will get to have all the fun!