Let’s first admit that most consumer electronics out there aren’t as pleasing to the eye as we would like them to be. (That’s why we all agree Apple’s products are groundbreaking—if at least for their impeccable industrial design.) Rarely, too, do we see tech products designed for the female taste. It’s not just splashing a coat of pink paint on an iPod or a mobile phone. But does it also mean slapping the Hello Kitty motif onto every nook and cranny of a laptop?
I wouldn’t really say that, but what’s the harm in bringing this pop culture icon into the computer gadget industry? This cute cat already has, actually. Looking at three Hello Kitty themed laptops shouldn’t be so bad.
Pink Hello Kitty Laptop
Back story: the PHKL (it’s probably pronounced “fuckle”
) is inspired by a Fujitsu Hello Kitty Laptop the modders knew about but couldn’t buy (so that would be four Hello Kitty laptops we know of, actually). But I don’t think it’s unfortunate at all. This custom-built notebook has got the most character—how many times have you seen a laptop (and accompanying mouse) with pink fur all around?
No known specs on this one. I don’t think the modders cared! (But it does look like a subnotebook.)
Epson Hello Kitty Laptop
This time it’s a joint effort between Epson and Sanrio. Produced last year, this Epson Hello Kitty Laptop does pretty well: 12″ screen, 1.06 Ghz Celeron M 42 processor, 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB RAM, Windows XP Home Edition OS.
Not quite the eye-popper in terms of design, but the good news is you can buy it with a pink iPod Nano, which they call the “Hello Kitty Angel” edition for 248,000 Yen (or $2,100).
La Vie G Hello Kitty NEC Laptop
Here’s saving the best for last: the La Vie G Hello Kitty Laptop by NEC came out not too long ago, featuring fairly impressive specs: 15″ screen, 1.4 GHZ AMD Mobile Sempron 3400 processor, 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM, Windows Vista Home Premium OS.
But that’s not the selling point of this notebook. It’s the 299 Swarovski crystals on the laptop lid—shaped in four hearts in the corners and a princess Hello Kitty in the middle. And let’s not forget the six free wallpapers featuring singer, actress, and model Rio Matsumoto. The La View G Hello Kitty laptop is worth 199,500 Yen (or $1,600).
Three laptops will hardly satisfy the truly obsessed Hello Kitty otaku, but I think three’s all we can handle right now. It could be worse. Could definitely be worse.
