kurio-smart-kidsTablets for kids seem to be a new big thing, what with Amazon coming out with its Fire HD Kids Edition. Gizmag has a story about the new Kurio Smart, a Surface-like 8.9” Windows tablet with detachable keyboard designed to help kids do their homework as well as just game.

The Smart will come with Windows 8.1, upgradeable to 10, and a year’s subscription to Office 365, which will be a big advantage over Android or Fire tablets right there. It also has the ability for parents to set restrictions and time limits on the kinds of activities kids are permitted to do, including adding Internet filtering. But it’s not all serious stuff. Kids will have games available, including games that work with the Kinect-like Kurio Motion Technology camera.

Tablet specs include a 1280×800 pixel screen, Intel Atom Z3735G quad-core processor, 1 GB RAM, and 32 GB of storage, plus an up-to-32GB microSD card slot. It also includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a micro HDMI connector to hook up to external displays. 0.3 MP and 2 MP front and rear cameras and a five-hour battery round out the selection. Estimated price will be $200 in the US.

While the overall specs on the tablet don’t seem fantastic, they do seem in line with the purchase price and they have the power a kid would need to do his schoolwork. As a Windows tablet, it will be great for that—not to mention e-reading, with all the Windows-compatible e-book readers available.I know a lot of parents prefer to buy the cheapest thing they can in case their kid breaks it, but this one looks rugged enough to stand up to a little abuse.

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