Disney launches Mickey Mouse PC

Entertainment giant Disney has moved into the hardware business with the launch of a new PC inspired by its most famous rodent - complete with ears.

The Disney Dream Desk PC has a 2.6GHz Celeron processor and comes with a CD-RW/DVD optical drive, a mouse (with ears) and a keyboard and digital pen. Priced at $599, the PC will be available from the company's website from 12 August.

Best of all, the matching 14.1in LCD monitor, priced at $299, sports a pair of traditional Mickey Mouse ears, which double as built-in speakers. A matching printer will also be made available.

"We've travelled a long way since that first Mickey writing tablet hit the market in 1929," said Bob Iger, president of the company, in a statement.

"With the launch of the Disney Dream Desk, a computer designed with kids in mind, we've developed a tool box for children to unleash their imaginations and expand their minds."

The PC is loaded with Disney software, including games and applications. It also comes with user protection software: ContentProtect (for content filtering), EmailProtect (for e-mail filtering and spam blocking), and PopupProtect (for blocking pop-up ads).