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And So It Begins

Toys R Us Moves Into The Competitive World Of Tablets With $150 Tabeo For Kids

by Jill Pantozzi | 2:49 pm, September 10th, 2012


We know Toys ‘R’ Us does toys – heck, it’s right there in the name – but today they’re venturing into uncharted territory. The retail chain will soon be selling their very own tablet created especially for kids. So instead of breaking your expensive technological device, they can break their own! 

In all honesty, it’s probably a genius idea. Parents love buying their offspring the children’s version of adult products.

The Wall Street Journal writes, “The $149.99 Tabeo will be available only at Toys “R” Us, so shoppers won’t be able to try it out in a store and then purchase it for less on a rival retailer’s website. The tablet goes on sale Oct. 21, and pre-orders are now available online at Toysrus.com.”

But besides items like the iPad, the Tabeo isn’t the only kid-friendly tablet on the market.

“The retailer priced its tablet significantly lower than the three similar child-oriented, Wi-Fi-equipped tablets already on the chain’s shelves,” writes WSJ, “but the makers of the Kurio 7, Meep and Lexibook quickly matched its $149.99 price tag, even though the Tabeo won’t be available until late October.”

“Toys ‘R’ Us is in a really hard place,” said M. Eric Johnson, associate dean of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. “The toy business is becoming a tougher game, and the Web is slowly killing off the big-box phenomenon.”

So what does the Tabeo offer?

“The Toys “R” Us tablet, which uses Google Inc.’s Android mobile operating system, more closely resembles an adult tablet; it comes loaded with 50 free game applications, including popular titles such as ‘Angry Birds,’ and the retailer has developed its own app store with 7,000 titles,” writes WSJ. “Focus groups of parents and children prompted the company to include features that allow parents to control what websites their children visit and how much time they spend playing with the tablet.”

Here are the features via the Toys ‘R’ Us website:

  • 7″ Tablet
  • Parental Controls block inappropriate content to surf the web safely
  • Front-facing camera to capture and share special moments
  • HDMI output to enjoy photos, videos, and more on your TV
  • Child-friendly interface
  • 1.0 Ghz processor makes gaming fast and fun!
  • Capacitive multi-touch screen makes usage simple
  • Enjoy books, games, music, videos, and photos everywhere
  • 4 GB Storage, but is expandable via micro SDHC slot (up to 32 GB)
  • 50 pre-loaded games, books, and educational apps
  • Over 6,000 free downloadable apps available in the Tabeo Store
  • Drop-safe bumper included
  • Full internet experience with Flash support
  • WIFI

The Tabeo hits Toys R Us stores and online October 21. Would you buy one?

(via Wall Street Journal)

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  • http://twitter.com/joshura Joshua Whitman

    This is a genius move on the part of Toys R’ Us. The only truly “kid” branded tablet out there is the rather low-performance LeapPad, which carries none of the benefits of Android. At $150, the Tabeo is highly competitive, and will likely find a huge market among parents looking for kid-friendly tech.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000500177841 Rachel Banzhaf

    My daughter’s still a few years off from this but it sounds interesting. I know a lot of parents surrender their iphones and ipads to the little ones all the time so this seems like a good idea for them. Having its own app store is a comfort, since none of the inappropriate apps should be accessible.

  • Adam R. Charpentier

    Make your kids read for chrissake. That’s what we did, isn’t it? (That’s what I did.) I read, I drew, I used my imagination. How fast do your kids have to start absorbing radiation?

  • http://twitter.com/SarahARoyce SarahAndrea Royce

    Uhm, I have one. But its called Arnova 7dG3, is black instead and has a full rooted Android 4.0.3 – its really the same built, from the optic (beside the color) to the specifications. Yet it did cost just 2/3rds of that. Which means it will share the one bad thing about it: Low battery life. Otherwise I would recommend it.

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