Kano wants kids to build their own laptop computers

British company Kano has got plenty of press for its computer kit of the same name, which children build themselves and plug in to a monitor or TV. They can use it to learn programming, create music, make games and control other devices. It’s great.

Now the company has a new thing: a build-it-yourself laptop for children. Announced this week, it’s called the Computer Kit Complete, and will go on sale later this year.

Like the original Kano, this is powered by the Raspberry Pi computer, although the big change (obviously!) is that this time it comes with a screen and a battery for use on the go. Also like that first device, before children can use the new laptop, they have to assemble it, getting a proper look at its innards as they do.

Kano has also added a USB hub to make it easier to control other devices with the computer; a power circuit with pluggable pins; a sound sensor to detect voices and record sounds; and revamped software and apps for children to explore.

The Computer Kit Complete will cost £229.99 here in the UK (that translates to $249.99 in the US. That’s quite expensive if you compare it to, say, a cheap laptop running Google’s ChromeBook software: you can get one of those for £160-£170 that’s fine for a child.

Then again, the appeal of Kano isn’t that it competes with that kind of laptop: it’s as much about building the computer and getting to grips with its ability to connect to things and control them with code.

I’ll be interested to see whether parents see this (and just as importantly, whether they can afford it) as a ‘second’ computer for their children alongside a more powerful tablet or laptop. We’ll find out when it goes on sale, although early adopters can pre-order it now. Find out more at the official website.