Disney Netpal hands-on (with video!)

UpdatedMon, June 22, 2009 at 7:28 PM UTC

We got a quick look Disney's little Netpal Eee PC rebadge, and found our not-too-high expectations slightly exceeded by the fairly slick skin Disney has slapped on top of XP. The Netpal platform is really Disney's primary contribution here, since the computer underneath is vanilla Eee PC other than the fairly stylish "boy" and "girl" skinning job. The shell, however, is a locked down environment that allows parents to white list web sites and email addresses for kids to access, along with a list of allowable apps -- kids aren't restricted to just Disney's set of experiences, little Bobby can master PowerPoint in between play dates if his parents don't mind. Standard netbook sluggishness is of course a drawback, but the extensive parental controls, kid-friendly interface and $350 retail price are all good omens for rising above the general shoddiness and usual misnomer of "kid tech." Video is after the break.

"Sex: Male Race: Human Ethnicity: Caucasian Age: 35 Profession: Doctor, Followers of the Apocalypse New Vegas Chapter Perk: Better Healing – While Arcade is a companion, the player regains more health from all sources. Description: Arcade is highly ethical and moral, but he understands the post apocalyptic world is one in which sometimes, people just have to be shot in the head. Most of Arcade’s concerns about the world around him have to do with large-scale issues rather than the needs of individuals. While he appreciates what individual people go through, he firmly believes that it’s more important to affect large-scale societal change than fix problems little by little."

"Sex: Male Race: Human Ethnicity: Caucasian Age: 26 Profession: Town guard, Novac Perk: Spotter – While Boone is a companion, hostile targets are highlighted whenever the player is actively aiming. Description: Boone is a town guard and former NCR sharpshooter, bitterly whittling away the hours until he can find out who’s responsible for his wife’s death — and kill them. Hardened and psychologically troubled from his time in the NCR military, Boone vacillates between being a stone-cold killer and a decent human being. Venturing out from the relative safety of Novac brings Boone into close contact with his old life until he is forced to deal with the tragic events that caused him to leave the military."

"Sex: Female Race: Human Ethnicity: Caucasian Age: 37 Profession: Water merchant, owner of Cassidy Caravans Perk: Whiskey Rose – While Cass is a companion, she and the player gain Damage Threshold when they drink Whiskey. Additionally, the player does not suffer intelligence loss from consuming alcohol and ignores the negative effects of alcohol addiction. Description: Worn down by years of hard luck and a recent rash of terrible misfortunes, Cass is a despondent merchant who’s about to get out of the caravan business. She’s smart, tough, and steady with a gun, but she hasn’t been savvy enough to survive the ruthless caravan wars that have flared up in Nevada since NCR’s expansion. Though she’s quick to join up with the player for some easy money, she’s still interested in finding out if she’s been suffering from bad luck or something more sinister."

"Sex: N/A Age: 6 Ethnicity: N/A Profession: Shop Security, Primm Perk: Enhanced Sensors – while ED-E is a companion, the player can detect enemies at an increased range. Additionally, enemies will appear on the player’s compass and can be targeted in V.A.T.S. even when cloaked. Description: Unlike standard eyebots, ED-E is a highly customized “duraframe” model with hardened armor and specialized weapons. It was an eyebot on an incredible journey, carrying an enormous amount of valuable data when it was badly damaged and taken in by a Primm shop owner. Though ED-E still retains all of its data and an understanding of its mission, its internal positioning hardware is badly damaged. The only reason it has not been seized by interested parties is because ED-E has not communicated its special mission to anyone."

"Sex: Super Mutant Race: Nightkin Super Mutant Age: 203 Ethnicity: African Profession: Farmer, Jacobstown Perk: Stealth Girl – While Lily is a companion, the duration of Stealth Boys is increased by 200% and all Sneak Attack Critical Hits do an additional 10% damage. Description: Though she now lives a peaceful life tending to Bighorners in the community of Jacobstown, Lily was once a Nightkin in The Master’s army. Before that, she was an elderly grandmother enjoying a simple life in Vault 17. Heavily medicated, Lily struggles with her dangerous schizophrenia and distant memories of her old life."

"Sex: Male Race: Ghoul Ethnicity: Meztiso Age: 230 Profession: Repairman (Black Mountain), Vaquero (pre-war) Perk: Regular Maintenance – While Raul is a companion, the Condition of weapons and armor decays 50% slower. Description: Raul is an old Mexican ghoul who has had a long and storied history. After living the life of a wild gunslinger, Raul took up the trade of a simple repairman in Nevada. While traveling to New Vegas, he was swiped by Nightkin from Black Mountain and imprisoned by their leader, Tabitha. After being freed from captivity, he will join the player out of gratitude. A new taste of adventure reminds Raul of his tumultuous past, prompting him to consider if he should embrace his old gunslinging ways."

"Sex: N/A Age: 209 Ethnicity: N/A Profession: Sidekick to The King Perk: Search and Mark – While Rex is a companion, unequipped chems, firearms, and ammunition within a short distance are highlighted when you zoom the camera. Description: Rex is a cybernetic dog that has been around since pre-war times. He was used by the Denver Police Department and Caesar’s Legion before being mostly blown up during the Battle of Hoover Dam. Since then, he’s been the loyal pet of The King of The Kings in Freeside. Capable of sniffing out loot and taking a large amount of punishment, he only has one (big) problem: his brain is starting to deteriorate."

"Sex: Female Age: 27 Ethnicity: Caucasian Profession: Journeyman Scribe, Procurement Specialist, Brotherhood of Steel, Hidden Valley Bunker Perk: Scribe Assistant – while Veronica is a companion, the player can craft Workbench items through Veronica’s dialogue. Description: Veronica is a Brotherhood of Steel journeyman scribe who has been indefinitely assigned to the role of “procurement specialist”, responsible for venturing out of the Brotherhood bunker to find and acquire resources that the Brotherhood cannot create on its own. Irritated by what she sees as the Brotherhood’s unrealistic and uninformed views of themselves and the world, Veronica is a perpetual outsider caught between her loyalty to the Brotherhood and troubling doubts about the validity of their current course."

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Arcade Israel Gannon

"Sex: Male Race: Human Ethnicity: Caucasian Age: 35 Profession: Doctor, Followers of the Apocalypse New Vegas Chapter Perk: Better Healing – While Arcade is a companion, the player regains more health from all sources. Description: Arcade is highly ethical and moral, but he understands the post apocalyptic world is one in which sometimes, people just have to be shot in the head. Most of Arcade’s concerns about the world around him have to do with large-scale issues rather than the needs of individuals. While he appreciates what individual people go through, he firmly believes that it’s more important to affect large-scale societal change than fix problems little by little."

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Disney Netpal hands-on (with video!)

Arcade Israel Gannon

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