71176
0
2
html
<p><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5292959/disney-partners-with-asus-on-netpal-eee-netbook-for-kids">The announcement</a> that Disney and Asus have teamed up to produce a Disney-branded netbook dubbed Netpal hints at the possibility.</p>
<p>The netbook, which is designed for kids between the ages of 6 and 12, will not only feature two Disney-themed cases but a Windows XP OS customized specifically for Disney-loving kids. Amongst the features: desktop themes built around popular Disney characters and movies, a Disney browser and a Radio Disney widget that streams Disney music. Parents are provided with a suite of parental controls to monitor and restrict usage.</p>
<p>The Netpal, which will apparently be sold through Toys R Us and Amazon.com, is expected to retail for $350.</p>
<p>This isn't the first computer with branding and there are laptops and PCs that are designed to provide their owners a sense of identity. Disney <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1683621,00.asp">Dream Desk PC</a>, released in 2004, was actually the iconic brand's first foray into this area. And there are customization options for adults too. Dell, for instance, has a <a href="http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/design_studio/en/us/design_studio?c=us&l=en&cs=19">Design Studio</a> offering that enables customers to choose from over 200 case designs.</p>
<p>But when it comes to branding deals and customization offerings, netbooks have two distinct advantages:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>They're cheap.</strong> That means netbooks have a larger consumer market than high-end laptops and PCs. Consider that it costs $85 to add a Design Studio case to a Dell
Studio 15 laptop; that alone is almost a third of the cost of a low-end
netbook. Lower costs make netbooks perfect for kids and younger cost-conscious consumers who are more likely to be interested in their personal identities and brand associations.</li>
<li><strong>They're portable.</strong> I'd argue the fashionability of mobile phones is partly due to their portability. People carry them around a lot and they're highly-visible; they're almost a part of your wardrobe. Since netbooks are sort of like a middle ground between mobiles and laptops, they might be portable enough to be seen as a fashion accessory too.</li>
</ul>
<p>Bottom line: Disney is smart to target the netbook market with a branded offering and don't be surprised if more brands follow suit.</p>
<p><em>Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymundopelayo/">Raymond Brown</a> via Flickr.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5292959/disney-partners-with-asus-on-netpal-eee-netbook-for-kids">The announcement</a> that Disney and Asus have teamed up to produce a Disney-branded netbook dubbed Netpal hints at the possibility.</p>
<p>The netbook, which is designed for kids between the ages of 6 and 12, will not only feature two Disney-themed cases but a Windows XP OS customized specifically for Disney-loving kids. Amongst the features: desktop themes built around popular Disney characters and movies, a Disney browser and a Radio Disney widget that streams Disney music. Parents are provided with a suite of parental controls to monitor and restrict usage.</p>
<p>The Netpal, which will apparently be sold through Toys R Us and Amazon.com, is expected to retail for $350.</p>
<p>This isn't the first computer with branding and there are laptops and PCs that are designed to provide their owners a sense of identity. Disney <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1683621,00.asp">Dream Desk PC</a>, released in 2004, was actually the iconic brand's first foray into this area. And there are customization options for adults too. Dell, for instance, has a <a href="http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/design_studio/en/us/design_studio?c=us&l=en&cs=19">Design Studio</a> offering that enables customers to choose from over 200 case designs.</p>
<p>But when it comes to branding deals and customization offerings, netbooks have two distinct advantages:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>They're cheap.</strong> That means netbooks have a larger consumer market than high-end laptops and PCs. Consider that it costs $85 to add a Design Studio case to a Dell
Studio 15 laptop; that alone is almost a third of the cost of a low-end
netbook. Lower costs make netbooks perfect for kids and younger cost-conscious consumers who are more likely to be interested in their personal identities and brand associations.</li>
<li><strong>They're portable.</strong> I'd argue the fashionability of mobile phones is partly due to their portability. People carry them around a lot and they're highly-visible; they're almost a part of your wardrobe. Since netbooks are sort of like a middle ground between mobiles and laptops, they might be portable enough to be seen as a fashion accessory too.</li>
</ul>
<p>Bottom line: Disney is smart to target the netbook market with a branded offering and don't be surprised if more brands follow suit.</p>
<p><em>Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymundopelayo/">Raymond Brown</a> via Flickr.</em></p>
2009-06-17T07:40:07+01:00
0
1
html
<p><strong><img alt="" height="100" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2572235902_e111dfd051_t.jpg" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" width="81" />We all know that mobile phones have become a fashion item. Not only do people customize and accessorize them, we've even seen <a href="http://papierblog.papierdoll.net/2008/01/07/the-giorgio-armani-cell-phone/">branded</a> <a href="http://riveraveblues.com/2009/04/who-wants-a-yankees-branded-cell-phone-9741/">mobile phones</a>.<br /></strong></p>
<p>Could the same thing happen with increasingly popular netbooks?</p>
<p><strong><img style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2572235902_e111dfd051_t.jpg" alt="" width="81" height="100" />We all know that mobile phones have become a fashion item. Not only do people customize and accessorize them, we've even seen <a href="http://papierblog.papierdoll.net/2008/01/07/the-giorgio-armani-cell-phone/">branded</a> <a href="http://riveraveblues.com/2009/04/who-wants-a-yankees-branded-cell-phone-9741/">mobile phones</a>.<br /></strong></p>
<p>Could the same thing happen with increasingly popular netbooks?</p>
false
4042
<p>Econsultancy has published a <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/crm-2-0-report">CRM 2.0 Report</a></strong> which examines the extent to which organisations are able to integrate online and offline data to provide a more relevant and personalised customer experience, and drive better business performance.</p>
<p>Econsultancy has published a <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/crm-2-0-report">CRM 2.0 Report</a></strong> which examines the extent to which organisations are able to integrate online and offline data to provide a more relevant and personalised customer experience, and drive better business performance.</p>
The rise of the branded netbook?
false
2009-06-17T09:00:00+01:00
the-rise-of-the-branded-netbook
2009-10-13T10:19:53+01:00
1080