we have both the leapster and v-smile. I got the v-smile because the younger kids were after the older one's nintendo's and there really weren't many games they could play on them. Ours has lasted about 5 yrs, I think. I had it replaced once when it wouldn't read the cartridges, it's been fine ever since. We started with the original, then added v-smile pocket when it came out so the game could join us in the car. My older dd's are 9 and played with it up until last yr when santa brought them ds lites. The kids prefer the v-smile because it's more like a real video game. I bought the leapster last year in an attempt to end some of the fighting over the v-smile. The v-smile cartridges are about $5 cheaper, and the same games play in the base and the pocket.