The Best Netbooks for Kids
Adults aren’t the only ones online on this day and age. There are probably more kids on the Internet than adults considering how more computer-savy children are nowadays. Netbooks, with their tiny keyboards and great portability, are actually perfect for kids. But while size does matter, which netbooks are really perfect for your children? Good thing that Dell and Asus have come up with kid-friendly netbooks that would cut a parent’s worry (hardware-, and Internet-wise) in half, if not more. Let’s take a look at some really good choices for your kids.
Things to Consider
First up, you have to consider several things when you’re thinking of getting the little one a netbook of his or her own.
1. Internet Security
The Internet can be a scary place to be especially for a child. There are a lot of people who can take advantage (not just of children) and you don’t want your baby to get mixed up with the wrong sort.
Windows has parental controls. This way, you’re able to limit the websites your kids will be able to visit, the programs they can run, and games they can play on a computer. Windows 7 is a very good OS for a netbook, and you can easily set up parental controls for a Windows 7 netbook.
2. Durability
Take a good look at your child. Will he/she be able to take care of a netbook? Or will it most likely end up covered in cookie crumbs or flying several feet into the air? Or will it last him/her several years? Look for a tough and durable netbook that can withstand anything from serious play to temper tantrums.
At this point, your main concern would be more on a netbook’s physical durability rather than how much RAM it has or how long the battery life lasts. Pick a netbook that’s tough. What comes to mind is the Samsung Go. It has a tough, rubberized lid plus it has a germ-free keyboard 
Point of fact, your child can probably use it straight into high school.
3. Size
How big a netbook do you want to give your kid? Netbooks come in several sizes. The smaller ones have 7- to 8-inch screens with others coming in with 12″ screens. Your child might be more comfortable starting with 8.9″-screened netbooks, of which there are a lot of awesome choices.
4. Price
How much are you willing to pay for your little one’s netbook? $300? $400? There are a lot of good options out there that are not very expensive. There are smaller netbooks that are perfect for little hands. They’re also usually cheaper than the bigger, newer netbooks, but they work pretty well. So well, in fact, that even you can use them.
With those in mind, let’s take a look at the Top 5 Netbooks that are Perfect for Kids.
1. The Disney Netpal
The new Disney Netpal is an 8.9″ netbook with all the bells and whistles an Eee PC has to offer with additional Disney perks such as screensavers, widgets, games and programs. It comes with Windows XP Home, a spill-proof keyboard and ShockShield data protection that ensures the safety of your child’s netbook even if he/she has butterfingers. This comes in Magic Blue and Princess Pink and is priced at $349.99 from Amazon.com.
2. Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition
The Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition is Dell and Nickelodeon’s answer to the Disney/Asus Netpal. This is an Inspiron Mini 10v netbook that can be customized with characters from iCarly and Spongebob Squarepants, and also allows customization when it comes to games and TV programs they can watch from Nick.com. There are also parental controls and the like. Price has not been announced for this netbook as of this writing.
3. Samsung Go
As I mentioned above, the Samsung Go is pretty much one of the toughest netbooks out in the market today. It’s definitely kid-friendly if we’re talking about durability, but it’s also a great netbook for you if you want to share netbooks with your kids. It’s definitely good enough to handle both your needs. Just don’t forget to set up parental controls, and you’re all set. The Samsung Go is a little more expensive at $447.76 from Amazon.com. You definitely might want to share this one.
4. Acer Aspire One
Acer also has an 8.9″ netbook, the Acer Aspire One AOA110-1588. The Sapphire Blue option is $319.99 from Amazon (the Black one is a whopping $599.99). It comes with 16 GB storage, 1GB RAM, and a 2.5-hour battery. It’s also rates fairly well on Amazon and comes from one of the top netbook makers in the world.
5. Asus Eee PC 900
The Asus Eee PC 900 is a 16GB, 8.9″ netbook that’s the perfect size for a child. It has pretty much everything a netbook user needs whether a child or an adult. It’s not as fun as the Netpal but you can customize it on your own. And since it’s Windows-run, you can easily set up parental controls on it, too. Remember, Asus comes up with the most highly rated netbooks so you don’t have to worry about performance or durability. What’s more, the Eee PC 900 is only $279.00 from Amazon.
Whichever netbook you get your little one, the best, and most important, thing to keep in mind is “what will benefit my child the most?” Think about which programs you would install, how much or how little your child will be able to access online, who will he/she be able to communicate with. Will your child learn? Will your child be happy? Think about what’s best for him/her and whichever netbook you choose, you can’t go wrong 
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