Hello Kitty Laptop “Proof the PC Generation is Getting Younger Everyday”

This year three companies have launched a Hello Kitty Laptop. In October, NEC launched a Vista notebook featuring the Hello Kitty design. In November, Onkyo Japan introduced the Sotec C1 Hello Kitty “netbook”. December 10, Epson will distribute their Hello Kitty Laptop with an Intel Celeron CPU, 1GB memory, 80GB hard drive, and a 15.4 inch WXGA screen. It is also equipped with WiFi capability, Windows Vista, a DVD drive, and is modified with Hello Kitty wallpaper, screensavers, and icons. This design definitely makes a statement about what age group they are marketing.

As the world becomes more automated, and the internet becomes a larger part of our society, it makes sense to design laptops for children. Toy manufacturers have produced learning tools that are similar to laptops in design and style but were not fully functional. Japan took the step of putting actual computers into the hands of preschoolers. The software available for preschoolers is enormous, the amount of pre-education children can get from a computer is endless, this idea turns an awesome piece of technology into a fun toy.

With the technology of a pc and the marketing strategy for children we could see an increase in our children’s overall education. If children start school already computer literate it would help schools integrate computer lab programs for younger students. There are better job opportunities for those with technological knowledge, especially computer literacy. If we start teaching children about computers at the preschool level we can only improve their chances later in life.