Planet Toys Planet Earth Digital Microscope Kit
by Planet Toys
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List Price: Our Price: $33.99 You Save: $16.00 (32%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $20.00 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of Planet Toys Planet Earth Digital Microscope Kit
Customer Review: Can't beat it for the price - how to make the web cam work
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great tool/toy for kids FOR THE PRICE. It is an introduction to microscopes for my 8 and 3 year old boys - they want to put everything under the lens - food, clothes, and themselves. The microscope allows them to understand how a light microscope works (i.e. if light can't pass through the item, you can't see anything) and that there is a whole world of textures and colors all around them that they never knew existed. I would not recommend this for a high school student - the magnification is not good enough to see on a cellular level.
When I first used the web cam, I was very disappointed because the image was too blurry to make out anything. However, I found that by unscrewing the cover just a bit, the images were much better and I could see as well as most inexpensive web cams allow (it is a lot like focusing a camera lens). Since you can attach the web cam to the microscope, everyone can see the slide at once and no one has to squint into the tiny little eye hole. The software is very easy to use and allows you to record snapshots and videos.
The focus is good on 100x and a little trickier on 300x and 900x. (My 8 year old is still able to focus it, though.) The 900x is hard to see - I think the light is not strong enough. It works best on thin, flat specimens. Some of the things we saw were paper and clothes fibers (and ink patterns), feathers, hair, fingernails, salt and sugar plus the slides it came with which are leaf, petal, ostrich and goose feathers, aloe gel, tree bark, cotton, and celery.
The slides are flexible plastic and probably the part that will last the longest in our house. The microscope itself is mostly plastic and would probably not hold up long if tossed in a toy box. The microscope tilts on its base, which is really nice for short scientists.
I did not give this a five for fun because it is not roller coaster ride fun, but this is one toy that my children are truly enthusiastic about playing with. I gave it a 3 for durability because it is mostly made of plastic. On the positive side, the base is heavy enough to keep it from toppling easily. As long as it is properly stored, I expect it to last until my children are ready for the next step up.
Bottom line: I doubt you can find a better deal for an new entry level microscope (I paid $15). Adjust the web cam and you have an enriching toy for kids ages 3-12.
Customer Review: Microscope works, Webcam doesn't.
Summary: 3 Stars
"Did I buy a dud?" I keep asking myself that question.
I actually bought two of the Planet Toys Planet Earth Digital Microscope Kits and I'm wondering if I should break into the second one to see if I just have a bad webcam or if the webcam is just the weak link in this set.
First the pro's:
1. The microscope is easy to use.
2. The microscope has adequate lighting after you put in the required 3 AA batteries. You'll need a very small phillips screwdriver for this part.
3. The microscope tilts for easier viewing angles.
4. Slides are included; some prepared and some not.
5. The instruction booklet has some basic setup info and suggestions for activities. Easy to read.
6. Nice magnification for a plastic microscope that's really a toy.
Now the con's:
1. The webcam is awful! *See my uploaded picture of the webcam and the uploaded image.
I tried several different items at distances ranging from 2' to 2cm and NOTHING seemed to make the difference. Vista recognized the camera and gave me an image, while XP installed the camera, but gave me no images. The camera doesn't have any adjustments on it; it's simply a plug and play usb type with a very, very low resolution.
2.Without the webcam function, you really can't enjoy the software that comes with the microscope.
3. If you pay more than $15 for it (luckily I didn't...) you are not going to get your money's worth. I think the microscope and slides are probably worth the 15, but the webcam and tweezers are not.
4. The plastic body of the microscope isn't heavy-duty and when changing magnifications it feels as though that part might break if not treated gingerly.
My conclusion... if you want a simple to use, kid-friendly microscope for under $15 - buy it. But if you want to use the webcam to take photos of what you see under the microscope, don't bother getting this kit.
Customer Review: Don't Hesitate - this is a Great little product!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great little product that kids and adults will enjoy! Both my husband and self had microscopes as kids - the little kit with a mirror - but both wished this had been around back then. FAR superior and a great price.
First of all, this is a sturdy little unit built with kids in mind. The chrome base is solid and keeps everything steady. The microscope itself is a plastic but solid and perfect for young hands [also easy to keep clean as budding scientists are likely to get icky stuff involved]. The slides are either clear [to make your own preparations] or have titles - plus they are not sharp [although caution is still advised]. There is a built in light [no mirrors!] that provides decent illumination. Power is sufficient to get a good look. As you might expect, this is not a professional scope so don't expect an image like that of an electron microscope - but on the other hand, it certainly provides a decent view of the world around us.
The book provides some great - easy to read age appropriate suggestions on more activities for kids that are old enough to go it alone. The box and entire kit are attractive and if you haven't bought the video set it is a wonderful way to get kids excited about what they see on the series [wonderful series].
Where this REALLY excels is the handheld camera. Just plug it in and go. I've not used this enough to put a full review because the software requires online access and the computer we had in that room doesn't connect to the internet [we keep that one in another area].
All in all - an EXCELLENT product, great for homeschoolers or those that want to share the excitement of life with kids.
Customer Review: Camera woes with Vista
Summary: 1 Stars
Not expecting this to be anything other than a basic toy with variable results, we got this for our son for Christmas so he could display close-ups of whatever he's investigating on a nice big screen using the camera. The microscope would be a bonus for when he's ready to use it. Expectations weren't high, but an unusable Christmas day gift makes for a sad child.
Anyway, on to the camera problem. If you're running Vista you may have problems getting the camera to work. The camera itself is the Chinese ZSMC ZS0211. Do a search on it and marvel at all the hits, hits for people looking for drivers! From which we can conclude it's a bargain basement generic webcam. The packaging states "Windows 98/ME/200/XP or above", I guess that statement was written before Jan 2007 and the public release of Vista.
Strangely, the driver on the disk is dated early 2008, but being unsigned means Vista doesn't want to use it. I'm not going to do the kernel debug dance to run it, assuming that actually works these days. The driver on their non-public searchable web page also fails to work. It's V1.0 dated Aug 2008, well, the page has that date on it. It looks like they did the minimum to get this working and then ceased development and support. Vista has been around for almost two years, so we're looking at an old product here, despite these driver dates.
We didn't test the software - no point with an unusable camera. The 'scope itself is rather cheap plastic. I doubt it would have a long life expectancy in kidland. Amazon will be getting this product back.
Customer Review: No Software or activity book included! Where is this comnpany located?
Summary: 1 Stars
My daughter got this toy for Christmas from Santa. Upon opening I see we have no Activity book or software to use it. I tried contacting the company using the number on the bottom of the box and it is some phone sex number. I also tried going to the website on the box.
That site no longer exist. I then Googled planet toys inc, NY,NY and I see they have been sued for releasing a microscope to the public (CSI version) that may contain asbestos! They declared bankruptcy and went out of business last year! I have contacted the seller on AMAZON and I am sure we may never be able to use this unit.
It comes with several slides which now make me question if this was the orginal CSI units repackaged for suckers like me and my daughter for Christmas.
Does anyone have a copy of the software or book I could get via mail? I would like to see what a failure or success the product is...aside from the sham of marketing and all i see behind it. It's what i get for purchasing a product made in China from a start up in New York with no substance behind the product I guess.
Buyer beware!