Dell Latitude 2100 the "business-class" netbook for kids

The netbook, designed to compete with the likes of OLPC's XO laptop and Intel's Classmate PC, is packed with many features, including a resistive touch-screen for learning games and a rugged, rubberized exterior that is impervious to scratches and bumps and makes it easier to grip (but becomes slippery when held with sweaty palms).

The colorful netbook is powered by an Intel Atom N270 processor, supports OS like Vista, XP or Ubuntu 8.10 and comes with wi-fi connectivity, a 10.1" LCD display, a Network Activity Light on the netbook lid (which glows when the netbook is connected to the internet and allows teachers to monitor network activity and identify students who might be surfing in cyberspace instead of paying attention in the class), three-in-one Media Card Reader, optional external DVD+/-RW via USB, VGA port, large anti-microbial keyboard (95 percent the size of a full-size keyboard), a carrying handle and shoulder strap.

Measuring 10.4x7.4x0.9-1.6 inches, the Dell latitude 2100 is bulkier and heavier (with its six-cell battery, the Latitude 2100 weighs 1.6 kg, and increases to 2 kg when you include its AC adapterwhich is the size of a normal charger, rather than the compact adapter, typical of most netbooks) than most other 10-inch netbooks, including the Samsung N110 and ASUS Eee PC 1000HE.

The netbook comes in five colors - School Bus Gold, Chalkboard Black, Ball Field Green, Blue Ribbon, and School House Red and the entry level netbook, which is equipped with Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB RAM, an 80GB hard drive, 802.11n wireless, gigabit Ethernet, a three-cell battery (that last for about 3.5 hours) and Ubuntu Linux pre-installed, retails at $369.

Upgrade options include up to 250GB of hard drive space, solid-state drives, 2GB RAM, a webcam, a six-cell battery pack (that lasts for about 7 hours), a resistive touchscreen LCD, anti-microbial keyboard, OS such as Windows XP Home and Windows Vista Home Basic version and a Dell Mobile Computing Station docking cart (which can manage, store and network up to 24 netbooks with a single Ethernet cable and single power cord).