NEC Crystalizes Hello Kitty Notebook

By Geoff Duncan Published June 7, 2007

Aiming to appeal to professional women, Japan’s NEC has started selling a pink, Swarovski crystal-encrusted, Hello Kitty-themed La Vie G notebook computer in Japan. Developed in partnership with Sanrio, Co.—the controllers of the well-known Hello Kitty franchise—the notebook features 299 Swarovski crystals defining four hearts and, of course, the iconic Hello Kitty feline head, complete with bow and crown.

NEC doesn’t expect the model to be a tremendous seller, but is nonetheless hoping to move several hundred of the units in the next few months, as many Japanese professionals receive one of their twice-a-year salary bonuses. The notebook was introduced Wednesday, and an NEC spokesperson in Tokyo told the AP sales were off to a good start, though declined to give numbers.

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The notebook runs Windows Vista Home Premium, offers a 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 graphics, a 15.40inch 1,280 by 800 LCD display, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, four USB 2.0 ports, a four-pin FireWire port, and supports PCMCIA Type II, PC Card, and CardBus peripherals, and a dual-layer DVD burner. The Hello Kitty LaVie G is available via online ordering for about $1,650—and doesn’t that just make you smile?

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