If you are trying to decide between this and the L-Max, I'd save your money for extra games and buy the Leapster all the L-max games work perfectly fine on the regular leapster and the tv functions of the L-max really aren't all that great (it's strength is still as a hand-held system). And it your leapster is the new sleeker model the battery pack in the back takes the l-max charger not the leapster charger.
If you are trying to decide between this and v-smile, get the Leapster the v-smile seems tempting because the games are cheaper, but their software isn't very original, it's educational, but the different titles just seem to repeat -as if they pasted the different characters into the same game senarios. The leapster games are alot richer (for example in the spongebob game when the user has to count coins if they don't have the correct amount they can hit a button to "make change" from a larger coin, v-smile games don't give you that kind of flexibility in the game play) and they feel more like games (the sidescrolling worlds in Numbers on the Loose has zero jumping and rolling and bouncing that is enough like nintendo type games to let them feel they are playing and not just learning) & the tutorials/helps are very good at explaining what the user needs to do to complete the task.
When we first bought our Leapster we took it out of the box carefully and tested it when our child wasn't around so we could take it back if we didn't like it but we were pleasantly pleased & if you are looking for educational gaming that will grow with your kids (or can go with your kids, if you are out and about much) you'll love this too. If you buy this be sure to invest in a charger or simply some rechargeable AA batteries and a quick charger (a cheaper option if you aren't going to use the ac adapter that comes in the charging kit). My only other comment,an probably biggest complaint would be to watch out for the built in software that comes on the new sleeker Leapsters it comes with an advertising commercial to introduce your child to all the wonderful titles available that they may not know about -and it's built in, you can't get rid of it! Very annoying leapster! Very annoying!
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The new pink/purple leapster has a nicer design than the old version. I like the new pen holder on the front. The arrow dial on the left side is better than the older (round)version, too. HOWEVER, we are exchanging it for the older version. The reason: THE SCREEN! The new leapster's screen measures only 5.4 cm the old version screen measures 7 cm. Also, the pen on the new leapster is smaller. Customer service said everything on the new design is smaller "to accomodate smaller hands"...that's nice, but it also requires better fine motor skills which smaller hands do not necessarily have. For those of you who purchase this and are considering the recharging kit I was told that this design needs the L-max recharger.Best Deals for LeapFrog Leapster Learning Game System - Pink
I have two of these, one Leapster and one L-max that I got for my twins for their 4th Birthday a few days ago.I let them play with their games for the entire day on their birthday, without restriction...all with a plan in mind...
The PROS:
Once the kids found out how much fun the games are and how easy it is to learn while playing, they won't put them down...you may not feel like this is a 'pro' except that now, I make them earn time on the games. They get 10 minutes for putting their toys away; 10 minutes for making their beds; 10 minutes for helping with laundry, etc...up to 1 hour of play a day...I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MUCH HELP AROUND THE HOUSE! As Dr. Phil says, "Find their currancy". Well, I have found it. They are doing what I ask, when I ask...if they don't, time gets taken away. I wish I had thought of this while they were potty training! This is working much better than the 'marbles' for allowance system...they have no concept of money yet. Great toy with lots of variations and levels of play. Good Job LEAPFROG!
THE CONS:
I went through 4 sets of batteries (for the entire day) before I sped out the door for a rechargable battery system. I'm going back again today for another recharging system. I've called Leapfrog and they said that the battery packs, themselves, cost as much as the entire recharging kit, so they do not offer additional battery packs for purchase. You can play with just the AC Adapter that comes with the recharging system, but that has been a pain so far, since one Leapster has a battery pack and the other has to be played off the AC Adapter, and then plugged back in to the recharging unit at night to recharge the L-max. I have forgotten to plug it back in a few times and had problems explaining that Mommy's memory is fading and that they will have to wait to play again until the batteries are recharged.
Overall, I love the product. I haven't had any problems so far, but the units are only a week old. We will have to see. I just love how orderly my house is now that I have found a way to tempt them into picking up their toys. And the tantrums are down as well. If they start screaming over anything, they lose time...my house has NEVER been so quiet since the day they were born! YEE HA!
UPDATE 7/23/2008
Both the leapster and the Lmax are still going strong, however the units are looking very, very worn, scratched and beaten because they are loved. We have an immense library of cartridges...19 at last count....everyone very unique, educational and entertaining. It's been about 2 1/2 to 3 years now and the rechargable battery packs are finally giving out. They just don't hold the charge like they used to. I have also bought the new Didj (see that review) and am never disappointed by Leapfrog.
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I was so disappointed when I go this Leapster home from the store. I bought it for my 5 y.o. after she had played with her cousin's older version. When I got the new one home I was frustrated to see that not only is the screen quite a bit smaller, but there are only two games on the new version! The older one has a chicken matching game and shape game that are not on this new version. The new one only comes with the coloring game and rabbit river game, and one really tacky game icon that advertises all the other games available for the leapster. Luckily, I was still able to buy the older version at the store.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for LeapFrog Leapster Learning Game System - Pink
Both of my daughters received Leapsters from Santa last year. My older one wanted a red one and my younger a pink one. The red one was an L-Max and this was the only pink one. I believe they now have a pink L-Max, but in my opinion spending the extra money on the L-Max isn't worth it. The only difference is you can hook it up to the tv, which we've never done because the whole fun of the Leapster for my girls is that they can take it anywhere. I was worried that the L-Max games wouldn't work on the "plain" Leapster, but that is not the case. All of the games are interchangable. However, you can't play a non-L-Max game on the tv, which again, doesn't matter to us anyway.Also, I wouldn't bother buying the recharging station. We just use rechargable batteries and they work just fine.
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