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Netbook, or Mickey Mouse laptop going Eee?

Would you buy a Mickey Mouse computer? If you're a kid, then Disney thinks you will; it's badged a netbook with its logo. But it seems there's no need to get too excited: Disney UK says it hasn't even heard of it – and anyway, it's just an Asus Eee.. . with the smart name of Netpal.

What else does the Disney name add? Software! What Disney calls "widgets" - a stopwatch, digital memo pad and reminder notes. There's also a 2D "gadget tray" an extra launch bar, effectively with "bold visual icons" that represent different applications, described by one reviewer as "kind of like the Little Mermaid version of the Windows Start menu."

And several pre-loaded Disney-developed applications are there at switch-on, including Disney Mix for music and Disney Pix for photo storage and "customization"

You'll struggle to find any official information about the branded Netpal machines, because unless you acces the Internet through a computer in America, Disney won't let you into its headquarter web site. Yes, www.disney.com exists! But no, if you try to connect, it just links you to the UK site and if you search for "netpal", it says "we can't find that page."

Staff at the Disney UK store told us: "Sorry, we don't have any information, and if we try to log onto the US site, we get referred back here just like you." They gave us a number for Disney HQ – which is unobtainable. Great commercial sense, Walt!

Is it exciting? Well, kids might think so, because you can get one that really won't look like their father's computer. Colours include Mickey Mouse's "Magic Blue" or Ariel's flowery "Princess Pink". Themes include several well-known movies.

Then again, you can ignore the enthusiastic vapourings of some US commentators who have suggested that the pink version will attract gurly hackers. This machine comes complete with parental controls set up, and will only allow browsing of web sites they approve. Hackers will want the real Asus Eee, and none of this widget stuff.

But for beginners, it might well be attractive. No, it's no Macbook! But it isn't intended to be one; it's just a standard XP sub-notebook with 1G of memory, and a decent sized hard disk option as well as a solid state flash disk version. And you won't be able to "see" XP even; the Disney overlay hides the normal Windows.

Distribution is through Amazon or Toys R Us; priced at $350, shipping "late July" say some.

There will be two separate models that are basically identical, apart from the disk. The Disney Netpal MK90 will be sold exclusively in Toys "R" Us and that's the flash machine with a 16GB SSD. The Disney Netpal MK90H will ship with a 160GB rotating disk. Both laptops will come equipped with 1GB of memory, the standard (old) Intel ATOM N270 processor, built-in Wi-Fi and three USB sockets.

There's no socket for a mobile broadband SIM, sadly, making this rather out-dated by comparison with the machines that AT&T and Verizon are pushing out through phone stores.