Trouble with Leap Pad

The Leap Pad series is very dissapointing. I have a bunch of leap
frog/pad blah blah blah junk. None of the Leap??? works with any of the
other stuff. I'm very disappointed in this company for making equipment
that doesn't integrate from one version to the next. The company seems
to use that old "let's change it just enough so that they have to buy
all new stuff to use it" business practice. I'm throwing all of this
junk out; I don't even want to give it away and frustrate another
parent.

"leapPadwoes" wrote in
oups.com:

The Leap Pad series is very dissapointing. I have a bunch
of leap frog/pad blah blah blah junk. None of the Leap???
works with any of the other stuff. I'm very disappointed in
this company for making equipment that doesn't integrate
from one version to the next. The company seems to use that
old "let's change it just enough so that they have to buy
all new stuff to use it" business practice. I'm throwing
all of this junk out; I don't even want to give it away and
frustrate another parent.

Boo has had a LeapPad since he was 18 months (not the My
First, a regular one). he's now 4.5 years & still plays with
it. he has a lot of fun with it & the books span several age
groups. we are thinking of upgrading it to the LeapPad plus
writing since he's now learning to write, but all the books he
already has (17 or so) will work with that system as well. he
just got a Leapster for the winter holidays & that is one of
his favorite toys. it's great for car trips!
he also has a LeapFrog phonics desk that i originally bought
9 years ago for his cousin. while there are a few design
changes in the newer version, this old one works just fine.
if you are having issues with upgrades/incompatability, i'd
say it's more due to yourself not researching the toys you
purchased rather than the company making them "incompatable
with each other". personally, i didn't buy a My First LeapPad
*because* it was intended to be a limited use "baby toy". i
purchased a LeapPad because it would grow with the child.
lee

leapPadwoes wrote:
The Leap Pad series is very dissapointing. I have a bunch of leap
frog/pad blah blah blah junk. None of the Leap??? works with any of the
other stuff. I'm very disappointed in this company for making equipment
that doesn't integrate from one version to the next. The company seems
to use that old "let's change it just enough so that they have to buy
all new stuff to use it" business practice. I'm throwing all of this
junk out; I don't even want to give it away and frustrate another
parent.

Which products specifically?

Compatibility has never been an issue for me. Product strategy
and compatibility between the LeapPad Jr and LeapPad is obvious
enough. Perhaps shopping on Amazon/Internet would be misleading
as to the actual size of the books.

And likewise, the Leapster is a big change in technology and
approach for the company. But again, maybe this would be
hidden depending on how you bought it.

There's no planned deception there that I can see.

LeapFrog does have a ton of reliability issues. (The talking
globe and Mr Microphone thing come to mind).

They also lack originality in the product line. All the products
talk. And all the voices are grating (to me).

And buying a Leapster is a bit like saying, "It's better than
a gameboy." I'm not sure it's a terrific educational tool.

But anyway...

"Jason" wrote in message
...
leapPadwoes wrote:
The Leap Pad series is very dissapointing. I have a bunch of leap
frog/pad blah blah blah junk. None of the Leap??? works with any of the
other stuff. I'm very disappointed in this company for making equipment
that doesn't integrate from one version to the next. The company seems
to use that old "let's change it just enough so that they have to buy
all new stuff to use it" business practice. I'm throwing all of this
junk out; I don't even want to give it away and frustrate another
parent.

Which products specifically?

Compatibility has never been an issue for me. Product strategy
and compatibility between the LeapPad Jr and LeapPad is obvious
enough. Perhaps shopping on Amazon/Internet would be misleading
as to the actual size of the books.

And likewise, the Leapster is a big change in technology and
approach for the company. But again, maybe this would be
hidden depending on how you bought it.

There's no planned deception there that I can see.

LeapFrog does have a ton of reliability issues. (The talking
globe and Mr Microphone thing come to mind).

They also lack originality in the product line. All the products
talk. And all the voices are grating (to me).

And buying a Leapster is a bit like saying, "It's better than
a gameboy." I'm not sure it's a terrific educational tool.

My child had the Leap Pad Jr. -- all good, except the cord was
pulled a bit too much, so a new one was needed at one point,
and it was amazing how the new one just *felt* cheaper. Anyway...
we went to look for the regular Leap Pad and in our local store,
they've been off the shelf for months, while various other Leap Pad
products are in there that I've not seen before. Lots more electronic
games, probably the Leapster mentioned above.

I like the Pads -- the array of titles is good. But I do wonder
if the company is going in a different direction.


P.
Tierney

I thought Leap Pad was supposed to be one of the best! Any parents
interested in writing an informative article about using Leap Pad (or
other parenting issues), please feel free to share them at
http://www.askblax.com.

Thanks

leapPadwoes wrote:
The Leap Pad series is very dissapointing. I have a bunch of leap
frog/pad blah blah blah junk. None of the Leap??? works with any of
the
other stuff. I'm very disappointed in this company for making
equipment
that doesn't integrate from one version to the next. The company
seems
to use that old "let's change it just enough so that they have to buy
all new stuff to use it" business practice. I'm throwing all of this
junk out; I don't even want to give it away and frustrate another
parent.

We bought the My First Leap Pad and it is okay. I do wish now that we
had bought a higher level one, as the books are certainly not cheap!
The only problem I had with it is that you have to touch the green go
circle in the blue border of the page. So of course, a 12 month old
has their hands all over the page all the time and manages to hit the
spot for a new page so that when they press on the duck, it moos like a
cow for example.

At 18 months old she knows how to use it a lot better.

KR