On Wednesday, Disney announced a partnership with ASUSTeK Computer to develop the Disney Netpal, a netbook computer for children designed to be Web-safe and user-friendly. ASUS makes the Eee PC netbook and leveraged its industry experience to help Disney develop the Netpal with parents and kids in mind. The netbook will list for $350 at retailers like Toys "R" Us and Amazon.com and will be available in late July.

"Today's kids are a digital generation," said Chris Heatherly, head of Disney's Toymorrow team and vice president 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 Ultimate in Parental Controls

Heatherly said the Disney Netpal is a "no-compromise" collaboration between ASUS and the Disney Toymorrow team with features and applications designed just for kids. However, he stressed that parents have the ultimate control over the experience, with the power to set limits on how their kids are using the netbook.

Netpal offers 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. Browsers and e-mail have extra filters that allow parents to control online safety and content. For example, parents can select who their children can correspond with via e-mail.

Parents can also select browsers, the Web sites their kids visit, and the programs they use. These permissions can be scheduled on a calendar, providing parents with an automated means of granting access on the days and times they choose. Parents can even review where children spent time online and for how long.

Kid-Friendly Apps

"We're proud to be involved in the creation of this very unique netbook for kids," said Eric Chen, vice president of the 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."

Kids can dress their desktops with more than 10 customizable Disney-inspired themes, including Cars, Club Penguin, Disney Classic Characters, Vintage Mickey Mouse, Toy Story and WALL-E, Hannah Montana, and Jonas Brothers. Favorite character icons can be attached to e-mail addresses. (continued...)

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