LeapFrog Clickstart My First Computer
by LeapFrog
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List Price: Our Price: $44.28 You Save: $0.71 (2%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $14.81 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of LeapFrog Clickstart My First Computer
Customer Review: Kids adore it, easy to use & a great value
Summary: 4 Stars
I was wary about a toy that would have my kids sitting in front of a TV. When my daughter began to learn "keyboarding" in kindergarten, I decided to compare child-oriented computers so she could continue to learn at home. The ClickStart My First Computer was a lot of "real" computer for the price.
It plugs into a TV and creates a computer from the TV rather than it being a child-friendly keyboard that gets online. It teaches the same keyboarding and mouse skills that my daughter was learning in school. My three year old son also took to the ClickStart. It does keep him away from the real computers so if that's a reason you're considering a preschooler computer, this one will alleviate (if not solve) that problem.
They drop the keyboard (mouse and mousepad are attached) quite frequently and there's been no damage. The mousepad may be mounted easily on either side of the keyboard. It's a red laser mouse and can be used off of the mousepad as well.
The graphics are good. We run ours on a larger screen than is recommended and the kids have no complaint about the graphics. The games are set up so that reading is not required to enjoy play. Games we have can be either goal-oriented (you "win") or simple play (exploration, developing keyboarding skills, etc.). The software that goes with this system is reasonably priced and fairly easy to find, both considerations when I compared products.
I highly recommend purchasing the LeapFrog ClickStart My First Computer Adapter at the same time as the computer. It will save a fortune in batteries from the beginning.
My only complaint about the ClickStart is that the receiver and the keyboard must be fairly close to each other to function/receive signal. If that's not a problem for where you intend to us the computer, it should be good as gold for you.
BTW: The games are fun even if you're older than 6 ;)
Customer Review: Great supplemental teaching aid especially for computer use
Summary: 4 Stars
My daughter (3) received this game for Christmas. She had already been using our PC and laptop to play internet games. But I wanted something that would teach her the QWERTY keyboard and learn things at the same time. The product offers 2 game levels dependent on your child's age and skill level.
The graphics are not outstanding on the games, but I think it is fine for preschool use. The game console comes with preloaded games. Each time she plays a game, the software "remembers" what level she is at and then it increases the difficulty each time she comes back. The first level of all games are fairly easy but as she gets farther, it gets a little more difficult. She can't play Level 2 on most games yet because they use math concepts and she isn't ready for the addition/subtraction just yet.
We have had no problems described by other reviewers, other than 1 time the mouse icon seemed to not cooperate with directions. As long as you have the keyboard pointed toward the infrared receiver on the console, it will work just fine.
I'm happy that it has gotten her away from using the laptop so much for the internet games only because sometimes she would hit a combination of keys that would lock it up.Although we are very computer savvy, we had a hard time getting it to unlock. Now we don't have to worry about it as much. Plus she doesn't get bombarded with the ads on the webpages.
I highly recommend that you purchase the AC adaptor for the console so you don't have to worry about batteries as much. We've only had the game for a couple of weeks so I don't know how long the batteries will last in the keyboard, but so far we're happy with it.
For the price, I think it is a good value. I think the extra cartridges could be lesser in price.
Overall a good product for children for the this price range.
Customer Review: A Surprise and a Half.
Summary: 5 Stars
While looking for the perfect Christmas gift, I had my sights focused on finding an educational toy for my 3 year old step-son. I was browsing toys and came across this computer and after reading the reviews, I decided to purchase it.
My step son is quite rambuncteous and incredibly hyper. I haven't had much experience with him with educational toys, so I thought this would be interesting to try. He is usually into movies and switches his interest quite quickly, wanting to watch another movie while we're in the middle of a movie, etc. I was a little worried this toy would lose his attention, as a lot of things seem too, and that he might not be very interested in learning how to use a computer. I got him lots of games for Christmas to start with, just incase he decided he was bored of a game quickly. I discussed this w/ his father and we hoped that he'd be entertain but didn't have high hopes.
I was pleasantly surprised after all he got for christmas in the way of things he enjoys currently, movies, toy guns, etc. He asked me right away to open his computer. We set everything up and he focused on coordinating the mouse movement on the TV screen. It was wonderful. He'd play a few games and decide to take a break, but he always came back to it. Every day he asked to play his games. He loves this! I was so surprised and happy since I wasn't sure if it would hold his attention since sometimes he can be all over the place with his energy. This is a great toy for any kid, whether they're mellow or extremely hyperactive.
It is also a great learning tool. I noticed after playing the game once or twice, he had remembered how to play them. He associated the colors on the keyboard with which buttons you should push in the game. It's fantastic. I definitely recommend this for any growing child.
Customer Review: BEST TOY EVER FOR A PRESCHOOL!
Summary: 4 Stars
My 2 AND 3 year old daughters *love* this "computer"! Both of them always want to play on my "big computer" but there are so many buttons and my mouse has numerous quick keys that they get confused and lost...that and they screw up the computer settings. So when I saw this easy keyboard and one click mouse it was instantly in my cart.
It hooks up to your TV with an audio and video cable. You insert a cartridge (mine came with the Nemo game, I got it at BJs on sale for $49)and turn on the unit. Turn on your tv and switch the audio/video link and you are at the main screen. You enter your child's name once and level 1 or level 2 (depending on their skill level). Every time thereafter it will automatically open up to a list of all users and you click on teh child who is using the game. Then it takes you to the main screen where you can click on "inbox" or "ABC Tree" or several other games (the inbox is a game where postcards get sent to you from around the world and you click on parts of the postcard). The games are simple too. For level 1 you don't have to click on specific keys...just the right color key (all numbers are one color, top row of letters another, etc) so it isn't hard to play. Games that require a mouse are fairly simple too. I had to help my 2yo a little but my 3yo picked up on it right away.
My only complaint is that the sound isn't in stereo and it is "tinny" and I would love for the graphics to be a little "clearer"...they were slightly fuzzy. But I think leapfrog has the right idea when it comes to this "first computer". They just need to work out some kinks.
GREAT DEAL...GREAT BUY...WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!!!
NOTE: Be sure to purchase the AC adapter or you will be going through batteries like crazy~
Customer Review: Will Frustrate your child
Summary: 1 Stars
We've had the Click Start for over a year now. My Daughter is nearly 4 and she's been able to play it by herself for a year now. My main complaint is that the paw mouse pad isn't big enough for the mouse and cursor to travel across the entire screen. This frustrates my child to no end because she can't collect the stars (the rewards for completing a level). The mouse pad also has ridges on it that prevents the mouse from staying flat on the pad, so even when it can reach something, it can lose its location because the ridges lift it off the pad. Having to pick up the mouse to reposition it constantly is extremely annoying and not something a child really gets.
The games are also way too short. It takes just a few minutes to finish the two levels and they really need to be longer to keep the kids occupied. The games are extremely simplistic and barely educational. If you're child can move a mouse and work the click start, chances are they already know what the color red is, or what a triangle is.
Instead of a flawed simplistic click start computer, I'd recommend other games on a real computer for the kids. Reader Rabbit is very good and our daughter can spend hours playing it. Its more interactive, simple to use, and has many more game options to play.
For Christmas, we got a Wii and at nearly 4 years old, my daughter can do some of the games. The Outdoor Adventure is great for kids and adults. She's not quite ready for Wii Sports. She can do and likes Mario Cart. I know a Wii is expensive compared to this, but the click-start games are expensive too once you've made the investment and you get so much more fun and options. So don't waste your money on this faux computer.