V-Tech Cyber Pocket vs Leapster 2

[DVCinderella]

We’re driving from NJ to WDW with 4yr DS & DD. I wanted to get each of them a portable game player.

For Christmas, their aunt gave them the V-Tech “V.Smile Motion”:

http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm/V.Smile_Motion_Active_Learning_System/635/

So initially, I was going to get them the “V.Smile Cyber Pockets” (one pink, one blue), so they could use the cartridges.

http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm/V.Smile_Cyber_Pocket/636/
http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm/V.Smile_Cyber_Pocket_Pink/666/

Recently, the pink one was on sale at Toys R Us for $24.99 (half price), so I picked it up.

Much to my dismay, I just learned our “V.Smile Motion” cartridges don’t play in the Cyber Pockets…only the regular “V.Smile” cartridges are compatible with the Cyber Pockets.

I’m debating returning the Cyber Pocket and getting a Leapster 2.

http://www.leapfrog.com/en/shop/Leapster2.html

Toys ‘R Us currently has Leapster 2 on sale for $49.99, and $5 off the $24.99 cartridges.

I’d love input on both pocket systems. I asked at TRU, and they told me Leapster is the better seller, and has more titles to choose from.

Also, anyone have the Tag Reader? Would love input on that as well.

http://www.leapfrog.com/en/shop/tag_library.html

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

 

[tweedlemom]

We have the Cyber Pocket and the regular Leapster. My kids love both equally. I will say that some people have found the LEapster and some of its cartridges clearanced at Kmart this week (they're having a 50% off all clearance merchandise sale) and I saw several leapster and Vsmile games clearanced at Target today. Five Below also has Vsmile and Leapster games for $5 sometimes. For me, I'd say they're both good. Both systems have decently priced games. I have no experience with the Tag system. Good luck!

 

[teachallday]

Go to the local stores around you (Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, etc.) that sells toys and see what they have for cartridge. I have been debating the same thing. My little princess has a Cyber Pocket, which I got her last Christmas since she had a V.Smile console with some game cartridges already. I wish I had not given into the pressure of (it will work with what she already has). I really wish I had just gotten her the Leapster like I had really wanted to in the first place.

When I did the store test recently, I found very few V.Smile games that were not the motion ones, on the shelves and a nice collection of the Leapster products. If I had not already gone over budget for various trip items, I would have bought a leapster this summer for the long airplane trip across country. Even with this said, I am tempted to borrow a leapster from a friend for the trip.

If you are going to be buying one and cartridges, you need to also consider how long it will last you. What age range are the games designed for?

 

[Sam's_Mom]

We like the Leapster better. They have games in a wider age range and the games seem to have more to do than the V-smile. The Leapster games have 3 levels and usually at least 5 different games to play on each one. I saw the Leapster 1 on sale several places this summer cheap, cheap. The games work on both styles. You may want to check Ebay. I have bought lots of games there before.

 

[kaismahma]

We have a Vpocket (not cyber) and it is good for my 4 year old. The vmotion cartridges do work in the one we have. I have toyed with getting her the leapster because it does have more game offerings. My thought though is she will be 5 in December and will soon be ready for a DS. Which has many more options. I think it is better for us right now to buy a few limited games and get thru until she is ready for a DS. I do feel that leapster does offer more titles for games though. On a side note do not spend the $15-20 dollars on a leapster or vpocket case. Go to the lunchbox isle and pick up a cute insillated bag. I found one with tink on the front the front top fits the pocket perfectly and there is another zipper compartment at the bottom to store the games in. It was seven something at Target.

As for the tag reader. My daughter loves hers. She has almost every book from the first releases. (Her great uncle, my uncle spoils her just like he did to me when I was young.) I am glad new ones are coming out. She loves to read. The only thing I do not like is that the reader only holds 5 books. (You have to download the stories to the reader.) She has I think 10 books right now and I rotate them. Besides reading it is also interactive. Some of the first release titles have been on clearance at Target recently. If you sign up at leapfrog.com they will occasionally send you coupons you can print off and redeem at the store.

Good Luck!

 

[Kims09]

We bought our 4 year old the Leapster2 for Christmas. She loves it!
We're going in October and I plan on giving her a few new games for the road trip.
I found the best deal on the leapfrog website. However, it was a bundle pack where I got the game unit, a game, a hard case and the charger (a definate must) at a cheaper price then if I would have purchased them separately. When I was scoping out the site, they seemed to change what items they were having specials on weekly. If you're not leaving for a couple of months, I would definately check out the site for awhile and find out their sale patterns.
However, this was in early December; near Christmas. Their sales might be different in the middle of July.
My in-laws gave my daughter the Tag unit for Christmas. Don't ask me how this happened, but the unit was wedged under her bed unopened. I recently discovered it and am hiding it until the vacation ( I feel a bit guilty).
Also, if you have a Kohls in your area, they carry some Leapster games as well as Tag. They have occasional sales on those products. Just as nice, if you carry the Kohls credit card, you get the occasional 15, 20 or 30% off (which they seem to be offering more frequent credit card discounts this year).

Good luck!

 

[MomoAries]

My two sons ages 4.5 and 6 love there leapster handhelds.
They used to have a vsmile tv unit but the level of game play left something to be desired.
I love the leapster, they have so many games and it makes for easy, relatively inexpensive gift giving for other family members. My boys get cartridges for birthdays, Christmas, graduation, etc. And leapfrog is always coming out with new games for the system.
The only thing is I wish that LeapFrog would make a tv unit that plays leapster cartridges so that my boys could play together sometimes.
Well that's my opinion...

 

[mdsouth]

I bought my DD then 4 a Leapster 2 and she only used it when I did it with her. She is 6 and still doesn't use it. She really doesn't need it.

Why not just take a stack of books, sticker books, pad of paper and markers with you instead. Kids can spend hours with these supplies and have fun as well.

You could always check out Ebay and see if there are any selling cheap with the system and games included.

 

[jen22984]

I just bought my DD (2.5 yr) a regular V.Pocket. She got a V.Motion for Christmas last year so she already had games. Both the Motion and Regular games work in hers.

That being said, I also bought her a regular Leapster and 3 games on clearance at KMart last week. $18.50 for teh game console, and between $5.50 and $7 for 3 games (after coupons & discounts).

 

[Tink_fanatic]

We’re driving from NJ to WDW with 4yr DS & DD. I wanted to get each of them a portable game player.

For Christmas, their aunt gave them the V-Tech “V.Smile Motion”:

http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm/V.Smile_Motion_Active_Learning_System/635/

So initially, I was going to get them the “V.Smile Cyber Pockets” (one pink, one blue), so they could use the cartridges.

http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm/V.Smile_Cyber_Pocket/636/
http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm/V.Smile_Cyber_Pocket_Pink/666/

Recently, the pink one was on sale at Toys R Us for $24.99 (half price), so I picked it up.

Much to my dismay, I just learned our “V.Smile Motion” cartridges don’t play in the Cyber Pockets…only the regular “V.Smile” cartridges are compatible with the Cyber Pockets.

I’m debating returning the Cyber Pocket and getting a Leapster 2.

http://www.leapfrog.com/en/shop/Leapster2.html

Toys ‘R Us currently has Leapster 2 on sale for $49.99, and $5 off the $24.99 cartridges.

I’d love input on both pocket systems. I asked at TRU, and they told me Leapster is the better seller, and has more titles to choose from.

Also, anyone have the Tag Reader? Would love input on that as well.

http://www.leapfrog.com/en/shop/tag_library.html

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

I got the Pink Leapfrog Tag for my daughter last Christmas and have already picked up the Pink Leapster 2 for this Christmas. She loves her TAG! She likes that she can "read" by herself and play games. The only thing I suggest is get some rechargeable batteries for both systems. Her TAG drains regular batteries in about a week or so depending on how often she plays with it.

 

[grado]

compared with V-tech and leapfrog leapster, they are totally different learning concept. V-tech is new and cheap, but learning is quite computer idea. Leapster serious is easy to carry on ,and let our son and daughter learn it at any where any time. You don't like carry on a v-tech notebook to teach your children right. However, the price is the advantage of leapfrog leapster.

Sometimes, we like to compare V-tech with Fisher Price, but seldom compare with Leapfrog Leapster.

 

[maurene]

I can't compare it to the V-tech, but DS (4 yo) loves his Leapster2 that he got for xmas. We've got quite a few games (Batman, Pet Pals, Nemo - and for Easter - Thomas and Deigo). I got Batman for $7 on Amazon got the lastest 2 for buy on get one 50% off at ToysRus. So there are deals to be had on the games.

We have TAG too and DS loves that too. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find the reader (wand) for a few months now. Its never left the house but we can't find it anywhere. I've been tempted to buy a second one because we have several books that are just going to waste now. But now that we have the Leapster, I'm wondering if he'll still be interested in the TAG.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

The Tag reader is available in three versions:
- a 16 MB one that comes with Ozzie and Mack--it holds 5 books at a time and is the older one (I wouldn't recommend this one since the 32 MB is the same price)

- a 32 MB one that comes with The Cat in the Hat--it holds 10 books at a time

- an orange School Tag reader that holds 25 books at a time

The orange School Tag reader is designed for school use, but it will work with the regular Tag books from the store (sometimes there is a lag in when they put the new books on School Tag). The School Tag will also work with books that aren't available for the regular Tag. There is one about Pluto going to the Vet and Mickey going on vacation that only work on School Tag, as well as some other books. School Tag is more expensive, but it does come with really nice headphones. Here is the school one

http://store.leapfrogschoolhouse.co...ellers/PRD_TSRK/Tag+School+Reading+System.jsp

I recommend the National Geographic activity cards. I like all of the books except Olivia (the characters in Olivia don't talk when you touch their pictures, they just make nonsense noises). There is also a Super Speller board and a Silly Sentences board in addition to books. We don't really use those yet (my DD is 3)

We have had all three versions (actually, all four since I have Tag Jr. too). I have a School Tag for at home and a 32 MB (sold our 16MB to get 32 MB instead) for traveling that stays in the car with extra copies of her favorite books. If you can afford the extra $20 (more if the 32 MB is on sale), I would get the School Tag. All three versions will also read the Tag Jr. books. The Tag Jr. books don't take as much room on the reader, so you can get more of them on at once, but they are not as elaborate as the regular Tag books. It does not take long to change out the titles, but I prefer the ease of knowing she can read whatever she wants independently without having to have the reader reloaded. We actually have more books than will fit on School Tag at once.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

We have the originally v.Smile Pocket and our v.Smile Motion game works in it. Your motion games should work in the Cyber Pocket. Our Pocket was a hand me down from my sister along with the original v.Smile gaming system. The motion game works in that as well.

That being said I was thinking about getting Chaeli a Leapster 2 for our trip to Disney in Sept, but not 100% sure yet.

I also recommend the Tag Reading System. We have the Tag Junior one and it is awesome! Chaeli loves it and uses it all the time. We plan to bring that with us too. Also the Tag Junior books work with the regular Tag pen but I wouldn't recommend the regular pen for a little one like Chaeli's age. She isn't exactly gentle with her Tag so I would be afraid she would break the regular one, but I definietly will get it for her in a year or so.

You could also get the Crayola ColorWonder markets and pads. Those are great for traveling and another hit in our house.

 

[SFRN97]

DS has VSmile console and Cyber Pocket and the VSmile motion games to work on both the regular VSmile console and CyberPocket. On the back of the VSmile motion game packages it staes works with VSmile Pocket. Hope this helps.