Barbie and Hotwheels PCs for Kids

Teflon writes "Patriot Computer Corp has just launched two styled/themed PCs (for kids) -- The Hotwheels PC and the Barbie PC. These two PCs seem to be targeted at kids. I'd have liked to have had the Hotwheels PC as a 10-year-old." A Hot Wheels PC is surely better for a kid than hotwiring a kiddie car, but I find the sexulal differentiation a little depressing, even though I know that's how toys are sold - and that there are strong sexual differentiations in toy preferences. (sigh) I suppose this was inevitable.

Comments

Re:hot wheels and barbie computers

[jflynn]

Well, naturally speaking, we're predators too. Perhaps we need better rituals to blood the children. Or maybe reason should prevail over instinct in rational beings?

I really don't see how you can consider males' attraction to cars intrinsic. I mean, there weren't a lot of cars around when we were evolving, you know. Nor many mechanical devices of any kind. It is just as bad to program little boys to love cars as it is to program little girls to be homemakers or fashion accessories. This is done by thousands of little signals of approval or disapproval by adults and peers that children are extremely sensitive to -- and which influence their choice of toys and careers.

Do we need computers for different races and gays too? Then what's so special about the differences between boys and girls?

The truth is that parents buy these computers, and that is where the gender bias is present and well formed. There was a study about Christmas toys about 10 years back that was quite interesting. They put a group of children in a room with several boxes containing all the greatest toys that year. After a few hours all the children, boys and girls, were having a blast with the boxes the toys came in and ignoring the toys completely. So much for the children's choice.

Mr. Potato-head puter

[froz]

Hopefully someone will release a kiddie puter with a Mr. Potato-head theme so the ankle-biters can learn how to connect their hardware.
Just watch out for the kids who tend to make a picasso of the normal Mr. Potato-head: "No billy, the coax doesn't connect directly to the main power output..."

What a kid's PC should be....

[blogan]

• Comes in gender neutral colors (no pink or black) like blue, red, and yellow.
• Typing software
• Option of either picking a modem and NetNanny or proxy software and ethernet card. Proxy software would be for Win9X and it would take care of filtering content. If you have Linux, then you can get proxy software for free.
• Kesington Lock compatible, so they don't open it up and damage it. If you think your kids are smart enough to play inside, and won't hurt themselves, have no lock.
• Full Armor. Basically so they don't screw up the OS. Once again, if they know better, disable it.
• Perhaps a program that limits the amount of time they spend online.
• Option of TV Tuner card. If they have a small room and you don't want them to have a TV and computer in there.
• Non-integrated parts. Maybe components, like video and sound, but not the speakers, CD-ROM, floppy, and monitor all in one piece.

And the not so good ideas:

• Has BackOrifice, so you can monitor your kids.
• Ergonomic Dvorak keyboard.
• gcc. No programs included because you can make your own.
• Digital camera, so the pedophile in the chat room can say, "Hey, send me a picture of yourself."
• Processor serial number, modem serial number, video card serial number, keyboard serial number. Remember, young people have no rights.

censorpc.com

[Hobbex]

Both come with Cyberpatrol software installed, to keep your poor child safe from all the horrible terrophiles on the net.

I wonder if they want to make a freethinkerpc.com for those of us who wish to teach the next generations the true values of freedom.

And to think: they probably only need one version of such a computer...

-
/. is like a steer's horns, a point here, a point there and a lot of bull in between.