Leapfrog Leapster Explorer Learning Console (Pink)
Feature
- Create your own spelling lists, Explore tailored learning recommendations
- Build letter-writing skill, step by step, Suitable for children between 4-9years
- Find help with hundreds of tutorials
- Nurture life skills and passion topics
- Increase the challenge-skill levels adjust to your child
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Leapster Explorer system, By
John Clarke - See all my reviews
= Durability: = Fun: = Educational:
= Fun: = Educational: This review is from: Leapfrog Leapster Explorer Learning Console (Pink) (Toy)
My little girls (4 and 2 years old) have got one of these, and they absolutely love it. The graphics are much better than I expected, and it already has a decent library of games. A lot of people (here and the leapfrog forums) seem to have had problems connecting it to their computer, but they work fine on my new PC and my 3yr old laptop. I suppose people are just far more likely to write reviews if things don't work than if they do. Just be warned it could take some time to set up, so don't leave it until the night before their birthday/christmas!My eldest daughter loves the Princess and (especially) Dora games. They are challenging but fun and I'd say she's already got our money's worth out of them. She hasn't really touched Tangled, but that might change when she's seen the film. They got Toy Story and Mr Pencil for Christmas. Not much interest in Toy Story, but Mr Pencil is a HUGE hit! It's by far my 2 year old's favourite game and teaches fine motor control, aswell as numbers/letters. I can see this game helping her a lot as she starts school.
There are leaplets (apps) they can download from the leapfrog website. At the moment there are around 20 but I'm sure there will be more added soon. You get a code for a free leaplet with the system and they wanted "Jewel Train", a logic puzzle game. They got the hang of it straight away and it seems fun as well as educational. You can put each app you buy on 2 systems, so they work out even better value if you have two leapsters in the house. Also preloaded is a pet game. They have to wash, feed and play with her pet, and they can buy more supplies with tokens received for gameplay. It's great that there is plenty to do without even having to put a cartridge in.
This is a great toy for parents as well as kids. You can connect it to your computer and see what they've been learning, how many questions they've got right, and get suggestions for games that could help fill gaps in their progress. Some games have a skill selector to adjust the game to the level your child is at. Tangled, for example, has spelling lists you can create for them to play in the game. They have words for up to 12 year olds so it can grow with your child.
I can't comment on battery life yet as we are using a multivoltage adapter (leapfrog haven't released an official one), but from what I've read it can drain 4 AA's in a day. There should be a docking station released soon (it's out in the US), so that will be a godsend. One annoying thing I've found is that it turns itself off fairly quickly if left alone. That would be understandable on battery power but when plugged in you would think it would have a screensaver so they can start where they left off. She doesn't seem to mind though.
There is also a camera attachment which is good value for £15, the picture quality isn't great (as you'd expect really), but they have a lot of fun editing them.
Overall I'm very, very happy with the system, and I can only see it getting better as more games and leaplets are released. Well done Leapfrog!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
fab fab fab, By
Penech - See all my reviews
= Durability: = Fun: = Educational:
= Fun: = Educational: This review is from: Leapfrog Leapster Explorer Learning Console (Pink) (Toy)
I dont usually do reviews - but have to for this. My 4 year old twins got these for Christmas -we had thought re a DS but thought there was a lot of reading for them which they couldnt manage. I love them. They work so independently on them and are learning loads. Mr Pencil is great fun - lots of colouring etc. we also have toy story and dora - both very good. We do have to limit how much they use them - but at the mo they prefer these to TV which im more than happy with. Excellent graphics and v v easy to use. Also v v durable. Would def recommend setting up before you give it to them on the computer as it did take re an hour on xmas eve. Also probably worth investing in a battery charger as they do use quite a bit.A definite investment for your kids education ( and ease of entertainment for you!!)
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
great gadget - software support stinks, By
Glos_cheese - See all my reviews
= Durability:
= Fun:
= Educational:
= Fun: = Educational: This review is from: Leapfrog Leapster Explorer Learning Console (Pink) (Toy)
If all you want to do is play the plug in games then seems to be fine.We bought 2 of these for the kid's christmas and all was fine until they were 'connected' to the PC to register the item and collect replacement food/shampoo for the pet apps game.
It took more than 10 attempts to get the software utility to connect and recognise the handheld, once connected it then tried to upload an update that it thought was necessary before proceeding [this took at least 7 attempts]. By late evening, by which time the kids had lost interest, we had managed to create a profile and sign up for 'monthly updates on our child's progress' the experience so far is that this seems to be the only purpose of Leapfrog connect. [ie to secure your email address and contact details]
It seems that the bit of the software you need to get to in order to do anything sensible and educational is Leap World, which is as accessible as getting into a disco in trainers. We've grown thoroughly sick of seeing a well-dressed cartoon man running around a stylised cartoon world, which for hours on end is the only distraction on the page from the static progress bar.........
The Leapfrog forum indicates that we're the lucky ones, we managed to get our explorers to connect to the software. Most others seem to have either given up or spent all their Christmasses trying to make the handheld connect to their pc's and roundly cursing Leap Pad.
The idea of this toy sounds great and the item really is good when your using the game cartridges, but dont be fooled into thinking that this is going to be an interactive learning experience for child and parent. You will learn to hate the Leapworld weblink which seems to promise much but as long as you cant connect to it, delivers nothing. Maybe the US weather is preventing access, but somehow I suspect its more likely to be shoddy software development - I guess we'll be in for a few weeks wait until the bugs get fixed and I reckon this product is best avoided for the time being
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