Dell's slime-covered Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition primed for kids, nostalgic adults
By Ross Miller 
posted Aug 11th 2009 6:58PM
posted Aug 11th 2009 6:58PM
Dell's New Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition Takes Personalization to New Heights With 'Slime' Motif and Unique Entertainment, Educational Content
· Design Motifs Based on Nickelodeon's Signature Slime and Hit Shows Like SpongeBob SquarePants and iCarly
· Easy, Safe Online Access Plus the Best Entertainment and Educational Content
· Dell's First Product Specifically Geared Toward Kids Will Be Available Exclusively Through Dell.com and Walmart
ROUND ROCK, Texas and NEW YORK – August 11, 2009 – Proving fun and education can mix, Dell and Nickelodeon today announced the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition, a cool new netbook computer that represents the ultimate in personalization. Designed specifically for kids, the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition sports Nickelodeon's trademark green slime yet is loaded with entertaining and educational content that will also appeal to moms and dads.
The News
• The Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition opens a window to entertainment and education that parents can easily monitor and control as children grow more Internet savvy. It's a durable and highly portable netbook that joins together excellent technology, content, parental controls and shopping security from the trusted names of Dell and Nickelodeon.
• Designed with kids in mind, the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition is wrapped in an eye-catching, Nickelodeon-inspired "slime" artwork scheme.
• Additional designs based on Nickelodeon hit properties of iCarly and SpongeBob SquarePants, will also be available at Dell.com's Design Studio.
• Weighing less than 3 pounds, the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition can be easily carried by kids from room to room, house to house or on the road. Based on Dell's popular Inspiron Mini 10v netbook, it features a bright 10.1-inch color LCD display and built-in wireless Internet access.
• Dell's first kids-focused product, the Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition will be available online in the United States at Dell.com and on Walmart store shelves and Walmart.com in October, just in time for the holidays. Pricing and other details will be announced prior to first shipments.
"Moms insisted that we deliver on three things when it comes to a computer for their children," said Michael Tatelman, vice president, Dell Global Consumer Sales and Marketing. "First, help provide a safe computing experience. Second, provide superior educational content as well as a world-class entertainment experience. Third, partner with trusted brands. The Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition passes with flying colors on all counts."
"We are thrilled to enter the Netbook space with a technology leader like Dell," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products. "With the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition, we want to provide today's tech-savvy kids with a creative, fun tool to help kids excel while learning and entertaining themselves on the computer. Simultaneously, we want to give parents features to help ensure their kids are safe online. The Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition encompasses all of these things with the additive element of bringing Nickelodeon's trademark slime to life in a new, unique way."
Personalized, Unique Content
It's easy and safe for kids to send and receive e-mail, chat with new friends, challenge SpongeBob SquarePants in an online game, listen to their favorite tunes, watch their favorite programs or join a fun-filled virtual world that challenges them to expand their learning horizons.
Each Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition features an easily personalized user interface -- developed exclusively for Dell by Stardock Systems Inc. -- with Nickelodeon-branded desktop wallpaper and icons that give a truly unique, kid-friendly experience. The Nickelodeon-themed interface provides fast, easy and direct access to dedicated Web portals that serve up dynamically updated content at dedicated Dell "landing zones" at Nick.com. A special Dell-exclusive "Just for You" widget on the Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition lets kids select their own dynamically updated content from Nick.com including the latest games and TV programs.
In addition, the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition will include a desktop animaticon linked to educational content from Whyville.net, where kids can actively participate in educational activities and games sponsored by authoritative organizations such as NASA, Scholastic Publishing, the Centers for Disease Control and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. For example, in one project sponsored by the University of Texas System and the School Nutrition Association, Whyville's citizens elect to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, and a nutrition calculator then determines their state of health.
The system comes with easy set-up directions and includes a 15-month subscription to McAfee Family Security, which provides comprehensive parental controls to carefully direct and monitor kids' online activities. As kids grow, parents can relax the controls at their own pace. And if it's lost or stolen, the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition can report its location on the Internet with its built-in LoJack for Laptops anti-theft program.
DELL
People worldwide can buy Dell products online, by phone and through more than 30,000 stores.
NICKELODEON
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products manages the world's third largest licensing business, representing leading properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, and managing merchandising for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.
Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 99 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
WHYVILLE
Launched in 1999, by Numedeon Inc, Whyville.net is an educational site geared toward preteens and children, and was one of the first virtual worlds for children. Numedeon was founded by Dr. James M. Bower, his students and collaborators at the California Institute of Technology interested in ways the Internet and simulation-based gaming could change education.
WALMART
Walmart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,000 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2009 sales of $401 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.1 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine's 2009 Most Admired Companies survey.
I dont need to pay to get "slime" on my laptop ;)
I don't care that these are aimed towards kids, I want one of these laptops.
@KNG:
If it's green, you should probably see a urologist.
Remind me never to borrow your laptop.
I love its understated elegance.
i love icarly!! =)
does anybody else watch it too?
You are fearless, aren't you
@guy943: Agreed... just not that custom software. I'd probably mac os it anyway. But, the slime does look cool.
*googles*
Explans the average intelligence of an engadget comment.
Disgrace to humanity...
This is pretty awesome.
thats what i said when i saw your icon.
The laptop- heck ya- install windows 7 on that thing with a nice green theme and your set.
The slime looks better than the other dell colors IMO. It would be cool to have it against a black background.
If it's within $30 of a normal 10v, it's a day one buy for me to put Leopard on. :) I love the slime design on the back.
Looks like Dell is about to compete with Toys-R-Us and entering the toys business! It makes sense since Dell can't continue to stay in the PC business for long! :)
Who the heck would want one of these things? I don't know,
*ducks falling slime*
When you duck falling slime, doesn't it still fall on you?
Looks like you need some WATER to rinse off!
anyone got a towel?
THAT, was an awesome show.
I dig the slime, not the Spongebob.
Want.
i'm in the market for a new computer
If this were aimed at kids, you would think that the keyboard would be neon green or a bit more colorful as well.
you'd also think the bezel would have a little more color to it.
This isn't much use for my grand kids as there's no internal dvd
drive. My grand kids can't keep track of their DS or Wii Controllers so how are they
going to remember where they left the external dvd drive. Besides,
for another $30 I can buy a 14" notebook with a better processor,
more memory & an internal dvd drive. Screw the slime, I can do that
myself very easily..
SpongeBob you say? I think... I think I'm in!
Peter Griffin impression : He He He.................Spongebob.
I love the design.
The design of the Dell definitely beats the design of Nick's new logo. I despise that mixed-case 'K'.
Stupid. This is what happens when a product like the pc is overproduced and saturates the market.
ah ... diddie geddup onda wong side udda bed? It's called choice. As in capital "I" get to choose, not as in little iBuy what's chosen for me.
i like the green XP theme:)
Finally! a netbook that'll match my bathroom, one of my bedrooms, and my office at work.
You can always spray paint your pc just like you have done to your bedrooms and office! And the spray paint won't cost you $30! :)
Oooo.... this actually looks nice :) But black and green would have looked better.
Ho, cool!!!
Please please, where can i find the theme please?
ARE YOU READY KIDS !!??
AYE AYE CAPTAIN !!
I CANNNT HEARRR YOUUUU !!
I love it and I want the spongebob one !!