Teach the kids how to build a PC with the Kano Computer Kit Complete

By Jon Martindale Published September 26, 2017

The Kano Computer Kit Complete is designed to offer children and families an affordable way to get some hands-on experience building a computer. Available to pre-order now with a price tag of $250, the kit offers a Raspberry Pi-based laptop kit that you build yourself.

One of the best ways to learn about some of the technology we take for granted is to build it yourself. But unless you already have a decent knowledge of how a system goes together, the process isn’t exactly easy. That’s what Kano is trying to fix with its kit bundles, which walk new PC builders, young and old, through the process, step by step. It even teaches them unique ways to play around with the device after it’s built, too.

Recommended Videos

Based on the already popular Computer and Screen kits it sells, Kanos’ new Computer Kit Complete comes with a Raspberry Pi 3, a power board, a 10.1-inch HD screen, a rechargeable battery, DIY speaker kit, keyboard with touchpad, and a storybook to help you put it all together. There are also additional bits like an SD card, HDMI cable, power board, and stickers for customizing your Computer Kit Complete.

When put together, all of that hardware powers Kano OS, the company’s proprietary operating system which encourages interaction and investigation from the user. It comes with coding tests and guides, artistic challenges, support for games like Minecraft and Terminal Quest, and the ability to program your own musical tracks.

That’s not to say that the Kano system can’t be used as a standard laptop, too. It comes with its own web browser based on Chromium, a YouTube app, Wikipedia access and a whole suite of parental locks and controls, so parents can keep an eye on what their children are up to online.

You get all of that for $250. All it lacks from Kano’s standard Computer Kit is the programmable light ring.

Bear in mind, however, that this kit is only up for pre-order right now. Kano has slated its shipping date as November 20, so the wait isn’t horrendous and it will arrive in time for Christmas, but know that there is a short wait.

For those of you who want to really to delve into building a PC, we have a great guide to get you started.

Former Evergreen writer

Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…

Topics

Computing

How to build a PC for Starfield

The Hyte Y40 PC case sitting on a coffee table.

Starfield is among the most anticipated games of the year, or perhaps even the last few years, and it's only available on PC and Xbox Series X|S. It's no wonder that it's got people turning to PC gaming in droves. Whether you're looking to upgrade or buy a new computer entirely, you'll be pleased to know that now is a good time to shop, as the prices of components are quite low.

It's a pretty demanding title, though, so not just any gaming PC will do -- you'll need a top-notch computer that ticks a few boxes. It's possible to get by with a lower-end PC due to the game's support for FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 (FSR 2), but we're focused on machines that will provide the optimal experience in the game.
The bare minimum

Computing

Is your PC acting up? Here’s how to fix it

A PC gaming desktop setup with two monitors and a gaming chair.

Whether you have one of the best desktop computers or a 10-year-old PC, things can go wrong sometimes. Freezes, crashes, overheating, or even the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) -- there are plenty of issues that sometimes plague PC users, and when it happens to you, you might feel at a loss as to what to do.

Good news -- not every malfunction requires taking the PC to a professional repair service (although some of them definitely do). If you're unhappy with the way your PC performs, start by checking out our comprehensive guide to troubleshooting a PC, because it might turn out to be the only thing you need to get it all fixed. On the other hand, if your computer won't turn on at all, we have a separate guide for you.
PC issues? Start here

Computing

How Immortals of Aveum wants to rethink PC optimization with Unreal Engine 5

Jak winds up his magic fist in Immortals of Aveum.

Immortals of Aveum is introducing a new way to think about optimizing your games on PC. It's called the Performance Budget Tool, and it's meant to help guide players through the dense graphics menu to understand how settings impact their performance.

Games have hinted at this type of feature in the past, offering a general sense of how each setting impacts your GPU and CPU with a slider (Resident Evil 4 and The Last of Us Part One, for example). Immortals of Aveum assigns a CPU and GPU number to each setting that increases as you turn the option up.