Doraemon netbook has all the American kids perplexed

Not sure what exactly Doraemon is? Haven't heard all the rage over it in Japan? Fret not, as this here netbook is definitely none of your concern. If you just so happen to be in the opposite camp, you'll certainly take interest in knowing that this Doraemon-splashed rig has been spotted in Taiwan, and so far as we can tell, it's just a beautified version of the Classmate PC. Regrettably, there's no word on actual specifications, and we're hoping and praying the ¥48,000 ($497) price tag we're seeing is a horrific typographical error. Even if not, we're still tempted -- just don't tell anyone.

[Via PortableMonkey, thanks Peter]

[Leo @ Mar 12th 2009 6:11PM]

Saying "horrific typographical error" you mean "x-gadget" instead of "engadget"?

[The WC @ Mar 12th 2009 6:19PM]

You guys should add a tag called "Sanrio" for all the cutesy stuff that comes out of Japan.

And while we're at it, we all should get a million. In dollars or euros, whichever's higher.

[Paul W. @ Mar 12th 2009 8:20PM]

Do NOT relate Doraemon to sanrio! I'll skin you alive...

Anyways.. I need this more than I need to be 12 years younger...

[r3loaded @ Mar 13th 2009 5:57AM]

Doraemon? Is that some sort of Pokemon/Digimon thingy?

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 12th 2009 7:16PM]

Wow, I need it! It will be perfect with my doraemon guitar;

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/112391675_c296a9ff3c.jpg?v=0

[Brian @ Mar 12th 2009 7:20PM]

Kuro Kids? Black Kids?

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 12th 2009 7:33PM]

Yep, its the hot new toy in deep Shibuya ganguro ghetto where the kids love to than their skin way too much!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganguro

[sam @ Mar 12th 2009 7:35PM]

Don't know why the name, but http://www.kurokids.com.tw/en/information/information-01.html has information about their computer (sans Doraemon).

[XXVII @ Mar 12th 2009 9:13PM]

kuro kids sounds like a japanese pop/hip-hop group.

[kylehase @ Mar 13th 2009 12:38AM]

Kuro could also be short for kurouto 玄人 (professional/expert).

[paperless @ Mar 12th 2009 7:21PM]

Better than Magalhães ._.

[sacapuntas @ Mar 12th 2009 7:42PM]

Yeah man remember the Doraemon show... good times.

I wanna be the very best
like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause

I will travel across the land
searching far and wide
Each Doraemon to understand
the power that's inside

Doraemon ! its you and me
I know its my destiny,
Doraemon ! Oh you're my best friend
in a world we must defend
Doraemon ! a heart so true
Our courage will pull us through,

You teach me and I'll teach you,
Doraemon ! gotto catch'em all

Every challenge allong the way
with courage I will face.
I will battle every day
to claim my rightful place.
Come with me,
the time is right,
there's no better team.
Arm in arm we'll win the fight!
It's always been our dream!

Doraemon ! its you and me
I know its my destiny,
Doraemon ! Oh you're my best friend
in a world we must defend
Doraemon ! a heart so true
Our courage will pull us through,

You teach me and I'll teach you,
Doraemon ! gotto catch'em all

[Freestyle Farfetchd @ Mar 12th 2009 8:15PM]

I do hope you're being sarcastic, sacapuntas.

[DarkPrince @ Mar 12th 2009 8:30PM]

@sacapuntas:

Isnt that the pokemon song! I'm all confused here, what does pokemon have to do with this dore-thingy and since when did we start classifying anything as a netbook because it has atom in it!!!

[Carlos Browne @ Mar 12th 2009 7:22PM]

Aren't the specs on the pic? Intel Atom N270, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 8.9 inch LCD, 30 (can't read that very well) GB HDD?

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 12th 2009 7:23PM]

aaaargh, you beat me Carlos!

[Carlos Browne @ Mar 12th 2009 7:24PM]

Sorry xD.

[Cosmo @ Mar 12th 2009 7:27PM]

Yeah, looks like it only has a 30gb HDD. : ?

[Carlos Browne @ Mar 12th 2009 7:32PM]

Yep, 30GB HDD: http://shopping.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DHAC0R-A37014638&SR_NO=DHAC0R&ROWNO=2

[ScooterDe @ Mar 13th 2009 4:10AM]

all for 16,800 yen. Where'd you get your 'facts' Darren?

[ScooterDe @ Mar 13th 2009 4:11AM]

..er, Won. So why convert Won to Yen then Dollars?

[ScooterDe @ Mar 13th 2009 4:12AM]

oh what a fool I look, without comment editing.
Taiwanese Dollars, Korean Won, Japanese Yen, US Dollars.
Back to bed for me.

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 12th 2009 7:22PM]

heu... no word on actual specifications? The specs are right under the price of the netbook.

Atom n270 1.6ghz,
1gb, max 2gb
Lcd 8.9
30gb
1.42kg
Win me, XP or Vista
blablabla...

[The Dude @ Mar 12th 2009 7:31PM]

My Doraemans. Let me show you them.

[H @ Mar 12th 2009 7:33PM]

Did I miss something or does that have the price at 16,800? Where do you see 48,000?

[sam @ Mar 12th 2009 7:39PM]

Don't know what the number is about, but it's hardly going to be 16,800 - that's well below feasible netbook prices. If you figure netbooks are usually ~$400, this also has the 'rugged' design, kid-friendly features, and branded characters, all of which I would assume will push the price up to somewhere around, say, 48,000.

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 12th 2009 7:40PM]

It think its taiwanese price, not Yen. It would too good a deal.

[sam @ Mar 12th 2009 7:42PM]

duh - answering own stupid response - this is Taiwanese, not Japanese, despite the name.

16,800 Taiwanese New Dollars = $488 ~ 48,000 yen.

[jsim77 @ Mar 12th 2009 7:37PM]

haha look at the bottom of the image,

its a kuro!

[rento @ Mar 12th 2009 8:13PM]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I would have loved this when I was 10

[Rockley @ Mar 12th 2009 8:27PM]

16,800 Yuan, or 48,000 Yen. Its on the Japanese site. You think there is a demand for a netbook for children?

[Deoki @ Mar 12th 2009 10:10PM]

This IS Magalhães, the pseudo-netbook from Portugal, but with a picture of Doraemon.
Check out "Magalhães" on Google, Engadget!

[Ivo Gomes @ Mar 13th 2009 10:28AM]

No, this is the Classmate PC (http://www.classmatepc.com/)
"Magalhães" is just the name adopted in Portugal for the same computer...

[Deoki @ Mar 12th 2009 10:14PM]

Here, I'll save you the hard work:
http://www.portatilmagalhaes.com/

[nik.nac.dude @ Mar 12th 2009 11:21PM]

awesome! but 10 years too late. can't imagine using it on campus or any other public area, lol.

unless i was a kindergarten teacher or something.

[Techkwandos @ Mar 12th 2009 11:30PM]

Doraemon is a very old Japanese series. I read it when I was 10-ish, so it must be at least 30+ years old.

Doraemon itself is a robot cat. It came from the future to help a young boy (a lazy slacker) with his daily life. The primary assistance came in the form of imperfect gadgets stored in a dimensional pouch on the its tummy. Among the re-curring gadgets are a dimensional door that can open to any door in the world, a time machine-carpet, etc. Recurring characters include the boy's parents, his bully classmates, a female classmate he likes, etc. Each comic story or TV episode usually revolves around a mundane problem, when he tries to use the gadget to take the easy way out, it usually messed things up and make it worse.

There had been a few long stories that had been made into movies.

[Johann @ Mar 13th 2009 2:14AM]

WOW, you don't see Daeremon stuff around these days.

My family still has 4 - 5 VHS tapes... very funny stuff and perfect for multilingual 2 - 8 year olds!
We still watch 'em a coupla times a month. Not too bad storyline and no bad stuff in them.

If the price was right, I'd make it the "kid's first computer".

[Adam Williamson @ Mar 13th 2009 12:23PM]

They're still making Doraemon movies, at the rate of about one a year. As you say, they tend to be based on old multi-episode stories from the TV series, though.

I think Darren should be banned from writing any stories in which he's required to display any kind of knowledge of the culture, economy or history of any country in Asia, because let's face it, it's just embarrassing when he tries...

[erufiku @ Mar 12th 2009 11:34PM]

Do want.

[kylehase @ Mar 13th 2009 12:43AM]

I want to see Ben Heck cram some stupid fast hardware in this thing. Then whoever buys it can go to Starbucks, get laughed at, then put everyone to shame.

[tiga2001 @ Mar 13th 2009 4:32AM]

Wow, this would actually work great for me, considering I already have a Doraemon external hard drive :-P.

[darkpros @ Mar 13th 2009 5:27AM]

We made a handson Video at their booth on the cebit. Didn´t have that ding dong cat logo on there though yet :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdM-Vbswrsg it's in german right now, english will be up soon too

[Javanese @ Mar 13th 2009 9:57AM]

I dont care if the damn thing got a maximum age purchase restriction, I want one!!!

[ran @ Mar 14th 2009 7:53PM]

I used to love watching Doraemon as a kid.

[sariqkhan2008 @ Mar 29th 2009 10:28AM]

i love doraemon!!!!!!!!! he is the best cat in the world. JUST THINK THAT IF UR CAT GIVE U GADGETS LIKE HIM HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[SARIQKHAN2008 @ Mar 29th 2009 10:27AM]

WE LUV DORAEMON HE IS THE BEST CAT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD MAN

[sariqkhan2008 @ Mar 29th 2009 10:26AM]

i luv doraemon