FIRST SPARK™ kids PC -- requested by parents, just for kids

We are a selfish family when it comes to computers: Alfie and I each own a laptop, and we have upstairs and downstairs desktops, yet we always seem to be fighting for a computer. Our desktops are pretty old, so they're not very good for playing games or watching videos over the internet, and there's no way we're letting our messy (but lovable) little monsters near our laptops to play their games. Besides, the kids, especially 9 year-old Pea, are getting to the age where they're needing their own laptop for school. So getting an offer to review a kids' laptop was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time! I was recently contacted by Technorati and Best Buy to review the new FIRST SPARK™ Kids PC featuring the Toshiba L635 laptop.


Here's the rundown on the FIRST SPARK™ kids PC:
Introducing the FIRST SPARK™ kids PC line exclusively at Best Buy®. Featuring the Toshiba L635.

This full-sized laptop was made specifically for kids and their parents. Get peace of mind with hardware features like a wipe-able keyboard, and software to help you keep your kids secure while playing games or browsing the Internet.

The FIRST SPARK features
• Hardware suite featuring 13” screen, full-size, wipe-able keyboard, and DVD drive
• Powerful enough for games and with rounded corners for durability
• A preloaded software suite that delivers parents safety and control; plus entertainment for the kids
• Parental Control: 1 year of Net Nanny (parental control and internet filtering service) and 1 year of KidZui (kids internet browser) pre-loaded
• Entertainment - 2 Disney movies (“Princess and the Frog” and “Toy Story 2”) and Lego Batman game pre-loaded on hard drive



We received the laptop on Tuesday evening and spent a few hours making backup disks and creating accounts for each kid. You don't need to play with it for very long to appreciate the kid-friendly features, like the pre-loaded pre-loaded Net Nanny software and KidZui browser. I love with the wipeable keyboard at first sight; it's a single solid layer without any cracks for crumbs or liquid to fall into. It's also really sturdy, with rubber corners and anti-jog features that protect the hard drive from shocks and bumps. In fact, the very first laptop I bought with my own money was a Toshiba, and I chose the brand because of its reputation for sturdiness and the great value for money -- two features that make it a great first PC for kids!

We presented the laptop to the kids last night, and they were absolutely delighted! They've had it for less than 24 hours, and already they have good things to say about it:



Stay tuned for more posts on how my kids are liking their new FIRST SPARK™ laptop... written by the kids themselves!

Disclosure: I received First Spark kids laptop courtesy of Technorati and Best Buy, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by Technorati and Best Buy, and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.