Barbie PC and Hot Wheels PC

Barbie PC and Hot Wheels PC
ManufacturerPatriot Computers Corporation
TypeDesktop computer
ReleasedSeptember 1999
Microsoft Windows
CPUIntel Celeron at 333 MHz
Storage3 GB HDD
Display15 in (38 cm)
InputKeyboard
CD drive

The Barbie PC and the Hot Wheels PC were a pair of branded desktop computers manufactured by Patriot Computers Corporation in partnership with Mattel and officially released in September 1999 in the US and Canada. Branded after the Barbie and Hot Wheels toy lines, the Barbie version was advertised for girls, the Hot Wheels version for boys.[1][2] The Barbie PC was bundled with 20 software programs, including numerous Barbie titles like Barbie Riding Club and Detective Barbie in the Mystery of the Carnival Caper and the Barbie digital camera. The Barbie PC's appearance was silver with "pink and purple floral accents". The Hot Wheels PC featured a similar assortment of software, including Hot Wheels Stunt Track Driver and a racing wheel. The Hot Wheels PC's appearance was blue with flame-shaped decals. Both featured an Intel Celeron processor clocked at 333 MHz, a 3 GB hard disk drive, and a 15-inch monitor.[3][4][5]

Mattel faced criticism for the software they decided to bundle with the Barbie PC, because the similar Hot Wheels PC for boys had more educational titles. Critics argued that Mattel was playing into the stereotype that girls were not interested in intellectual activities. Pamela Haag from the American Association of University Women also said there was no need to make games specifically targeting girls in the first place, because "girls' and boys' interests in software tend to converge a great deal".[6] Dana Henry, a spokesperson from Mattel, responded that both PCs had almost the same number of programs, but the girls' PC had to make room for all of the popular Barbie titles.[6]

Originally scheduled to go out before the 1999 Christmas season, the manufacturer had to delay shipments due to defective power supplies.[3][4][5] Many customers also canceled their orders, and those who received the defective part returned their PC.[1] Under financial pressure from the faulty part, increased returns, and order cancellations, Patriot Computers Corporation filed for bankruptcy a year later in December 2000, having failed to deliver 3,100 Barbie and Hot Wheels PCs. Mattel gave buyers a $100 giftcard for the trouble.[2][7][1]

See also

  • Fuhu, a mobile computing company acquired by Mattel

References

  1. 1 2 3 CBC News (January 9, 2001). "News not good for Patriot Computer customers". Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Robertson, Adi (March 10, 2016). "The Hot Wheels PC was bad, but watching a restored model run in 2016 is great". The Verge. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Miles, Stephanie (August 3, 1999). "Mattel dolls up PCs with Barbie, Hot Wheels touches". CNET. Archived from the original on April 20, 2001 – via Archive.org.
  4. 1 2 "Canadian-made Mattel PCs delayed by parts problem; Disappointed kids will get free gift packages". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. December 18, 1999. ProQuest 438034134. Faulty power supplies ... forced Mattel licensee Patriot Computers Corp. of Markham to delay the shipment ... The pink-and-silver Barbie PCs come with a Barbie digital camera, Barbie game software, such as Detective Barbie...
  5. 1 2 Olenick, Doug (August 23, 1999). "'Legacy-free' development cuts costs, boosts features". TWICE: This Week in Consumer Electronics. Vol. 14, no. 19. p. 24 – via The Wikipedia Library.
  6. 1 2 Headlam, Bruce (January 20, 2000). "Barbie PC: Fashion Over Logic". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ Goldman, Abigail (December 23, 2000). "Hot Wheels, Barbie PCs Missing Under Trees This Holiday". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016.
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