Leapster or L-max??

[DonaldDuckFan]

I'm thinking of getting my 5 year old son a portable leap frog system for Easter since he loves the leap frog videos and it would be perfect for him to take when we go to Disney. Can anyone tell me the difference between the regular leapster and the L-max? I've tried looking at the descriptions on the websites and the only thing I can come up with is that the L-max can also be plugged into the tv for use on your tv screen... any other differences? TIA, Amy

 

[Minnie824]

I posted this exact question on the community board the other day and got 0 responses. So, I did a search on the boards. What I found was, that the only difference is that the LMax can plug into the tv (which we wouldn't use) and the screen is slightly smaller on the LMax. SO...I ended up w/the regular Leapster for my DDs as an Easter gift as well! I bought them both one, then 3 games to share (hopefully the sharing part will work). Toys R Us has a sale on the games right now.

 

[DonaldDuckFan]

Awesome!!! Thanks for your quick response! We wouldn't use the plug in feature either since we have a V-Smile, I just wanted something portable and wanted to go with Leapfrog this time. I think I'm gonna go with the regular version also!

 

[jennifer293]

The Lmax can be plugged in your tv, but other than that it is the same. I think the screen sizes have a little difference..nothing major, and they all play the same games...I just bought DD2 a regular leapster for her b-day at target for $49.99..games were all $19.99 marked down

 

[jayhawkmouse]

My daughter has the L-max & you can play both Leapster games & L-max games on it, but we did discover that when you play an L-max game while having it plugged into the tv it actually gives you 1 extra game. She doesn't really care & will very rarely plug it in to the tv.

 

[rgribik]

I just got my twin ds's the regular leapster for their 4th birthday next week. Both target and toys r us are having a sale on the leapster stuff. At our Target store the games were on sale for 19.99 plus I got a five dollar gift card for each game. The games for the l-max are alot more than the regular leapster games, that was one of my reasons(especially since I'm buying 2 of everything) for buying the regular one. We wouldn't use the tv feature either. My boys love their sister's old pixter, so I hope these go over as well.

 

[susykt4]

I bought both of my kids regular Leapsters for Christmas. They love them and would almost never have plugged them into the tv. They rarely use the Vsmile I bought the previous Christmas, but play with the Leapsters regularly- especially in the car. Also, I'm pleased at how long the batteries last. A good purchase.

 

[design_mom]

My DS (6) has the L-Max. He got it as a gift from his grandparents for Christmas. He really enjoys it but we've never plugged it into the TV. I think I'd get the regular one and use the money I saved to buy an extra game.

 

[DonaldDuckFan]

Thanks for all of your replies!!!! I decided to go with the regular leapster and went out and bought it tonight... anyone have any favorite games?? Anything Pre-K to K since he starts Kindergarten in the fall.

 

[jayhawkmouse]

My DD6 has Mr. Pencil's Learn to Draw & Write & I think it is one of her favorites. It has a lot of different drawing exercises & games & it keeps her busy most of all.

 

[DonaldDuckFan]

Jayhawkmouse- That's the one I was thinking of getting him since he LOVES to draw, good to hear that it's a good one!

 

[tea4sanity]

I bought the Lmax for Christmas. It plugs into the tv & the DVD player in the car. She doesn't use it on the tv often but likes to be like her brothers who play the Xbox & PS2 on the tv.

Both the Leapster & Lmax games work on it. Emily LOVES the Dora Pinata Party & the Deigo game. They do #s & letters.

I definately suggest the charger. We went through a ton of batteries the first 2 months.

 

[Pineymom2]

my son also received the L-Max for Christmas. We bought him three games:Cars, number blaster and the letter factory. he plays Cars non-stop! Doesn't really care for the letter factory(to slow moving). Number Blaster is very hard! It says Pre-K-K but takes a lot of coordination (like astroids-am I dating myself? ) my husband and I have fun with the number blasters and are currently in a heated competition! So we are really getting our money's worth! The L-Max can play all games but the Leapster can only play Leapster games. WE also have the charger-a must! and the backpack. As a teacher I'd much rather him play either of these games than Gameboy, nintendo etc.

 

[Rustysmom]

If you don't plan on plugging it into the TV, the regular Leapster is great and it's usually cheaper. I got a good deal online at Christmas. My DD likes to play "my gameboy" when her older brother is playing his Nintendo DS. It plays the L Max games too because one game I wanted for her was an L-Max game and it works great. I think it was Letters on the Loose. She loves it!

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I bought my dd a L-Max at our local Wal Mart two weeks ago and it was on clearance for $45. (The regular leapsters were more than that!) The sticker showed the regular price of $89.99 and then when the cashier rung it up it was 1/2 off.

 

[Denine]

We bought DD the regular Leapster and the Kindergarten cartridge. She loves it and plays it ALL the time. I bought her a Cars game to put in her Easter basket. I have one other that I will give her for our Diseny trip in 3 weeks.

DD is 4-1/2.

 

[tigger813]

We bought our DD 1 the L-Max for Christmas this year along with the Madagascar game. She loves it. Then two weeks before our trip to my parents it stopped working. We called the company and they said to send it to them and it would either be fixed or they'd send us a new one. They ended up sending us a new one.
My child care provider for DD 2 let us borrow her daughter's regular one for the trips along with the games she had. She really liked on game in particular that was for grades 3-5 and she's only in 1st grade. It was the Bratz game.
I personally don't like Bratz but this game was very very educational. She learned a whole bunch about fractions, decimals and grammar. I am currently a 5th grade teacher (leaving teaching to spend more time with my family in June) and I was extremely impressed so we got the game for her upon our return. She's played it a lot. We also like the ISpy game though the buttons moving side to side don't seem to work all that well.
Hope this helps with choosing games!

Tracey