Kano knowing for its Raspberry Pi boards. Today, the company is announcing a partnership with Microsoft and unveiling its first build-it-yourself computer that officially runs Windows 10. The aptly-named Kano PC is housed in a central unit that is visually similar to its ‘complete’ Computer Kit Touch.
The Kano PC will have plenty of ports, too, including HDMI, two USB ports one 2.0, the other 3.0 and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It will also come with a keyboard cover which, at first blush, looks like a massive improvement over the plastic keyboard that shipped with previous Kano computers. When all of the pieces come together, the Kano PC looks like a kid-proof Surface Go. That, I suspect, was absolutely intentional. You still have to build the computer, which Kano explains through a LEGO-inspired ‘storybook.’ Some of the parts are replaceable, too, so teachers don’t have to buy a whole new system once the battery and speaker finally perish.
The Kano PC is up for pre-order now at $299.99 and £299.99 on Kano.me and the Microsoft Store, to ship in October. It will also go on sale at selected retailers in the US, Canada, and the UK starting October 21, 2019.
Alex Klein, Kano’s founder and CEO, said that while Kano will continue to support its Raspberry Pi-powered devices, it has yet to determine what its roadmap will be in terms of launching new hardware on this processor:
“The Raspberry Pi devices remain in the portfolio at good price points, but this machine is designed for a much broader age set. It’s a proper Windows PC” Klein said, pointing to the Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Quad core 1.44 GHz processor, the 4GB of memory, and 64GB of storage “and a powerful machine for the price point.”
While the Kano line up to now has largely been used and tracked by 6-13 year-olds, Klein describes the Kano PC as a “K-12 device,” acknowledging that “branding might take more time to unfold” to connect with the younger and older ends of that range.
“We’re very excited to partner with Kano for the launch of the Kano PC. We align with Kano’s goal of making classroom experiences more inclusive for teachers and students, empowering them to build the future, not just imagine it’” said Anthony Salcito, VP of Education at Microsoft, in a statement.
The Microsoft deal will bring it a higher profile among a wider set of consumers beyond early adopters, and likely a new entry point into selling into educational environments, where Microsoft has been making a big push.
