Kano, best-known for its Raspberry Pi computer kits, has teamed up with Microsoft to launch a build-your-own Windows computer for creative learning: the Kano PC.
Designed for education, the 11.6in touch-enabled, Intel Atom-powered tablet/laptop hybrid comes with a suite of easy-to-learn creative and coding tools.
Users follow a step-by-step storybook to connect the replaceable parts. LEDs on the printed circuit board light up as it is being built.
Preloaded with Windows 10 in S mode, the Kano PV is compatible with the powerful Office Suite, and comes with optimized software and parent/teacher dashboards.
Kano PC release date and price
The Kano PC is available for pre-order now, for £299.99 or US$299.99 on Kano.me and Microsoft Store. The kit will go on sale worldwide at Kano.me, education resellers and selected retailers in the UK, United States and Canada starting October 21st, 2019.
Kano PC specifications
Processor: Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Quad core 1.44 GHz
Memory: 4GB RAM DDR3L
Storage: 64GB (eMMC) – Upgradable via Micro SD slot
Connectivity: 2x USB ports (1x 3.0, 1x 2.0), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Dual Band 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, Bluetooth 4.2 (low energy)
Video: 11.6” touchscreen. 1x HDMI port
Audio: 3.5mm Headphone Jack, 3.5mm Speaker Level Jack, 1x Microphone
Software: Windows 10 in S mode, How Computers Work, Make Art, Kano App, Paint 3D, Microsoft Teams, Kano Projects
Accessories: Keyboard, Cover
The Kano PC also comes with:
Make Art: Learn to code high-quality images in Coffeescript
Kano App: Make almost anything, including magic effects and adventurous worlds, with simple steps and programming fundamentals
Paint 3D: Make and share 3D models and send them out for printing
Microsoft Teams: To get new projects and content, and share your work
Kano Projects: Personalized projects on coding and creativity delivered directly to your dashboard
Minecraft: Education Edition: Creative game-based learning platform.
Kids to learn how computers work
Before attaching the transparent case back and the full-sized keyboard cover, Kano encourages young people to explore the labelled components with a magnifying glass, helping them understand exactly how computers work.
Kano and Microsoft support the PC’s content experience with hundreds of hours of curriculum, which lets anyone introduce computer science in the classroom in a simple and fun way.
The Kano PC connects you to a free, online community, Kano World, where users can make, share, and play, in a safe space with makers in 150 countries, who have posted more than a million real applications, and written over 70 million lines of code.
“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.
Author: Simon Jary, Contributing writer
Simon was Editor of Macworld from the dark days of 1995 to the triumphant return of Steve Jobs and the launch of the iPhone. His desk is a test bench for tech accessories, from USB-C and Thunderbolt docks to chargers, batteries, Powerline adaptors and Fitbits.