My 9-month old daughter is already obsessed with my laptop, so I can certainly understand that there is a good market out there for computers that cater to the pre-teen crowd. Tapping into that demand, this week PeeWee PC announced the availability of the PeeWee Pivot Tablet Laptop. Targeted at children ages 3 to 10, it’s spill and drop resistant, has a built-in handle, and weighs in at 3 pounds. From a hardware perspective, it features netbook-level hardware (1.6 GHz Atom processor, 1 GB memory, and 60 GB HDD) and a 9-inch, rotating touch screen. Software features include a Walt Disney Windows XP theme, educational software, games, and a security suite that provides parental control options.
The PeeWee PC retails for $599, and includes a six-cell battery (so it should have decent battery life) and 3-year warranty. The press release and full specifications are included below.
San Francisco, CA – April 29, 2009 – PeeWee PC (www.peeweepc.com), the leading manufacturer of computer products and accessories for children, is excited to announce the availability of the PeeWee Pivot Tablet Laptop. Weighing in at just 3 pounds, this tiny yet rugged, spill and drop resistant notebook is perfect for children aged 3-10. The laptop features the Intel® Atom™ Processor, a convertible rotating screen and touch tablet with stylus, a free Walt Disney Windows XP Theme, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam that rotates 180 degrees and is perfect for video chatting with moms and dads who have to travel.
PeeWee PC loads each Pivot Tablet Laptop with 10 age appropriate software and game titles for Pre-K, Early Elementary, or Upper Elementary students. PeeWee also includes its proprietary security suite on each laptop, giving parents full control of how and when their children use the laptop.
“We design all our computers to meet the needs of both our young end users and their parents,” said Oscar Ferreria. “This means creating products that are both fun and durable, but most importantly, safe. We all understand the drawbacks associated with giving children internet access, and there is no way any child should be browsing the internet without advanced security software.”
The PeeWee security software allows parents to limit how much time their children spend browsing the internet (on a daily or weekly basis), block inappropriate sites with any version of any web browser, take screen shots, view browsing history, and even control the laptop remotely. Additionally, the PeeWee security suite also allows parents limit the amount of time children spend gaming and protects the laptop by preventing children from changing system settings.
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU & PLATFORM
Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 1.6GHz
Intel 945GSE Chipset
UTILITIES
Tablet Sensor: When switching from clamshell to tablet mode, display rotates 180-degrees
Accelerometer: Display rotates as device is rotated
CARRYING HANDLE
Carrying handle is easily removable. Just remove the battery, remove the 4 screws that affix the handle, remove the handle and replace the battery.
STORAGE
60GB 1.8″ PATA HDD
2-in-1 SD/MMC memory card reader
Supports boot from card reader and USB
USB 2.0 Interface for external storage. INPUT
Water Resistant Physical Keyboard – when screen is rotated in clamshell mode
Touch pad (Mouse)
Touch Screen accepts handwriting recongnition and virtual on-screen keyboard
I/O PORTS
2 USB 2.0 Ports
1 x RJ-45 10/100 LAN
1/8″ External Microphone-in jack
1/8″ External headphone jack
2-in-1 SD/MMC memory card reader
Kensington Lock Ready.
VGA Port (15 Pin VGA)
MEMORY
1GB Standard (Upgradeable to 2GB)
NETWORK
10/100M Ethernet
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with open mesh support (Linux Only)
Mini-card form factor, single antenna
Security: WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, WPA2-PSK
DIMENSIONS AND POWER
Size: 9.5″ (W) x 7.5″ (H) x 1.5″ (D)
Weight: < 3 lbs
6-cell Li lon Battery
Battery life aprox 5hrs+ typical usage time
AUDIO, SPEAKER, MICROPHONE
Integrated 2 channel audio w/ 1W speakers
Built-in speaker and microphone
VIDEO
8.9′ LCD, 1024 x 600 Touch Screen
Color LCD TFT, LED Backlight
Digital LVDS Interface
Integrated camera
Driver / AP support Windows XP
WEB CAM
Integrated 1.3MP webcam which rotates 180 degrees to allow creative interaction
OPERATING SYSTEM
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home – Installed
Supports Linux (ETA April 2009)
WARRANTY
1 Year Depot/Mail-in Parts and Labor Warranty
OTHER
Resisitive Touch Input
Includes stylus/pen for resistive touch input
Built-in accelerometer senses orientation and automatically switches screen between portrait and landscape modes
DROP TEST
Ruggedized: Tested with 50cm Drop Test
