The mini computer that I said feels more like a toy than a computing device is heading to a Toys ‘R’ Us store near you. 

The Eee PC is one of the cheapest computers available. And it was one of the first with an ultraportable computer. There are now more than a dozen companies, including big brands Dell and HP, that are offering a netbook.

These PCs are smaller, lighter and less powerful. They typically weigh under 3 pounds, have screens between 7 to 10 inches and cost less than $500. They also have a less-powerful processor, the Intel Atom, which should suffice for users who just want to surf the Web.

Asus launched the Eee PC brand last year for $199. The models that will be available in Toys “R” Us include the $269 Linux and the $299 Windows XP versions in black and white. Every store will carry all four options by early November, according to the company.

More specifically, the models that will sell at Toys “R” Us weigh 2 pounds, have a 7-inch screen, 512 MB of memory and have 8 GB of storage. There’s also Wi-Fi, a built-in card reader, speakers, web cam and microphone.

Nice bonus: The Window XP version comes with Microsoft Office. The Linux version has OpenOffice 2.0.

More on netbook PCs:

• Samsung enters PC world with 4 laptops, plus netbook
• eMachines finally comes out with sub-$300 computer
• Toshiba won’t release netbooks in the U.S. — for now
• OC’s Averatec offers twist on computers
• A netbook with an 18-inch monitor
• Dell jumps into netbooks with $399 PC
• Acer cuts price of its 2-month old ‘netbook’ PC
• Will crazy colors spur interest in new netbooks?
• Another PC company to launch cheap ‘netbook’
• Mini PCs you may have missed
• Netbooks everywhere. Do people really want them?

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