Leapster verses Cyber pocket

[jenseib]

My DD has a Leapster (1st addition) we have about 5 games for it and she really enjoys it. Her couson got a Nintendo DSi recently and she thinks she wants that, but I think it's way too much money and too advanced for her at this point and time. (she is 5 1/2). Yesterday I went to K-mart for the 50% off clearance sale and bought a cyber pocket for $26 and got 6 games for $7.50 apeice. Is there a big diffference in these gaming systems? Is one better than the other. I figured for the price I couldn't go too wrong, but I hope it isn't like the leapster, but still just as easy.
What is the difference between the 2?

 

[jagafen]

I've never heard of the cyber pocket, but for long-term use, I think the DS might be the better option. We got DS a leapster when he was 4, and by 6, he was outgrowing it. He got a DS last year for Christmas, and plays that 75% of the time. We won't let the DS go to the sitters house, becasue of the other kids, so he takes his leapster instead.

 

[Madison'smommy]

My DD has a Leapster (1st addition) we have about 5 games for it and she really enjoys it. Her couson got a Nintendo DSi recently and she thinks she wants that, but I think it's way too much money and too advanced for her at this point and time. (she is 5 1/2). Yesterday I went to K-mart for the 50% off clearance sale and bought a cyber pocket for $26 and got 6 games for $7.50 apeice. Is there a big diffference in these gaming systems? Is one better than the other. I figured for the price I couldn't go too wrong, but I hope it isn't like the leapster, but still just as easy.
What is the difference between the 2?

I have never heard of the Cyber pocket... My DD just turned 5, has had the leapster for about 2.5 yrs... she loves that. But, at this age, if I was buying something new, it would be a DS.

 

[gatormom2tots]

Never heard of it either. My son is 5 and will be getting the DS for Christmas. He enjoys the leapster but will outgrow the games soon- we are already having some trouble with some of the games too easy for him.

unfortunately, DS is not nearly as "educational" as leapster and is more like Wii or any other gaming system.

 

[richmond282]

My DD had a VSmile Pocket which is an earlier version of the Cyberpocket. It is VERY comparable to the Leapster. The games are about the same level as the Leapster. I would not buy a Cyberpocket as a step up from a Leapster. They are basically the same toy just different brand names.

Honestly, I'd buy the DS. My DD (5 1/2) recieved a DS for Christmas. There are plenty of games that are easy enough for a 5 year old to play. Just check the back of the game to make sure it doesn't require reading. I agree a DS is more expensive, but I think we will get far more use out of it than we did the Vsmile (which she had all but outgrown).

 

[jenseib]

Yes, what I got is the Vsmile cyber pocket.
Buying the DS is not an option at this point. I refuse to buy one, even if she wants one. I have already bought the cyber pocket, as I said, it was only $26. So I guess it will be about the same, but something new to her at least with different games. Only in the last few months has she really learned how to use the leapfrog games very well. Some had easy games, but some were a bit harder for her and required me to help her. Now that she is more familiar with the sight of numbers and letters she is doing better with the games. So I think this will still bring joy to her. And got the cyber pocket and 6 games for about $70 verses the $170 the DSi cost. This is all being saved for her b-day/Christmas presents. If she got a DS, she wouldn't get anything else. And she is too young yet to understand that for the most part. Wel lsome kids might, but I know she wouldn't.
Also a nice thought is when we travel sometimes (everything is far from our house, we live in the country) we take a friend alot of times and she likes to play with her leapster, now she wil lahve a second system to share out with a friend so no arguing. LOL!

 

[tcmata]

My son is the same age and right now a DS is not an option here either. We have had the Cyber Pocket for awhile with quite a few games. A few months ago he got a Leapster 2 with a few games. He really prefers the Cyber Pocket and will play that over the Leapster. One thing he likes on it is that the screen tilts and it is much easier to see in different lighting. There are different level games- some are easy for him, but he still finds quite a bit to be a challenge.

 

[nunzia]

Anyone know anything about the Didj? I got one for DGS for Christmas since Leapfrog had a killer sale and I got it and some Clone Wars games cheap.

 

[jenseib]

Anyone know anything about the Didj? I got one for DGS for Christmas since Leapfrog had a killer sale and I got it and some Clone Wars games cheap.

no, I was wondering about those too. They look to be a little bit older than what my DD is, like the next strop up from leapster. I was actually hoping to find one of those on clearance, but didn't. If I find an excellent buy on one, I may get one and stash it away.

 

[MomofM&M]

Unfortunately, Leapfrog ditched the didj and has now come out with a newer version that is not backwards compatible with the Leapster. The new version is called the Leapster Explorer. I was burned by Leapfrog as I bought the didj for my 8yo DD to upgrade from the Leapster. Well, Leapfrog abandoned it after only a 1 1/2 yr on the market. I unfortunately, paid full retail for it and 5 games. The didj is buggy and doesn't always connect, sometimes crashes. It won't have any product support after the Explorer is released this month. That's why you can find all the games really cheap now. You can read all about the problems with the didj by going to leapfrog's website and looking at the parent forums.

 

[jenseib]

My son is the same age and right now a DS is not an option here either. We have had the Cyber Pocket for awhile with quite a few games. A few months ago he got a Leapster 2 with a few games. He really prefers the Cyber Pocket and will play that over the Leapster. One thing he likes on it is that the screen tilts and it is much easier to see in different lighting. There are different level games- some are easy for him, but he still finds quite a bit to be a challenge.

Thanks for that info. I never thgought about the screeen tilting till you metioned it. Yes that is a big problem with the leapster. When outside in bright liight or in the car, she sometimes complains about not being able to see the game.

 

[nunzia]

Unfortunately, Leapfrog ditched the didj and has now come out with a newer version that is not backwards compatible with the Leapster. The new version is called the Leapster Explorer. I was burned by Leapfrog as I bought the didj for my 8yo DD to upgrade from the Leapster. Well, Leapfrog abandoned it after only a 1 1/2 yr on the market. I unfortunately, paid full retail for it and 5 games. The didj is buggy and doesn't always connect, sometimes crashes. It won't have any product support after the Explorer is released this month. That's why you can find all the games really cheap now. You can read all about the problems with the didj by going to leapfrog's website and looking at the parent forums.

Well...super

 

[Bren's Mom]

My ds has had a V.smile since he turned 2. He's got lots of games for it. And my uncle just bought a Cyber Pocket for him (at the Kmart clearance) because ds is asking for it, he wants the stylus to be like his big brother with the Nintendo. Ds is going to be 5 this coming birthday. We've also gotten some new games on sale that he'll be getting with it. What's nice is all of the games will play in the Cyber Pocket AND the original one. (So a friend could play too potentially since he'll have 2 systems now.) And also, you can hook the Cyber Pocket up to the TV and play through that as well. My ds still finds some of the games plenty challenging, and he doesn't even have the 5-7 age games yet, just the 3-5 and 4-6 ones.

 

[Riviera510]

You can buy a regular DS for $129. The DSi is the one that can connect to the internet and has a camera attached I think. I dont think a 5 yr old needs that.

I bought my twins a DS for their 5th birthday. I got the DS plus 2 games plus a case for $129 from walmart.com.

For my older daughters 5th birthday I bought her a Leapster...well 2 months later it was Christmas and I got a DS for myself that she took over and never looked at the Leapster again. The twins were able to play some games on the DS at age 3/4.

Yes, what I got is the Vsmile cyber pocket.
Buying the DS is not an option at this point. I refuse to buy one, even if she wants one. I have already bought the cyber pocket, as I said, it was only $26.And got the cyber pocket and 6 games for about $70 verses the $170 the DSi cost.

 

[jenseib]

Sadly, it's the camera option that she's crazy over. Her cousin showed her how to use it and then they would add silly stuff to the picture, so that is the main draw to her right now. I just don't think she will take care of it as well either.
My sister was dead set against letting my niece get one too. All her friends at daycare/school had them, and my niece wanted one so bad. My sister finally told her to save any money she got and she could get one. In about 5 months time she had enough saved. She REALLY wanted one. I told my DD that too, but she can't seem to save as well. LOL! She gets 2 dollars and wants to go buy something.
At this point I will probably make her wait at least a year before getting one. Thats just me though. My son (who's 21 now) was so hooked on those games when he was young and I just don't want her to fall into that pattern. She now only plays the leapster in the car, or sometimes before bed, or brings it on vacation.