Customer Reviews

Easy PCng - Toddler's PC Learning System

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Our daughter is 16 months old and she loves this.

We got it because she saw us use the computer and wanted to use (bang on) the computer too. Note, you almost definitely will want to buy some of the add on software to go with this. The software that comes with the keyboard is intentionally quite simple. We got "My Home" and that has much longer and varied animations.

Another nice feature is that all of the software comes with many different languages. So we could, for example, switch it to Spanish mode to help her learn Spanish.

We are so happy with this product that we are thinking of buying up a lot more of their software titles.

I got this product for my 2 year old granddaughter for Christmas.She had a lot of fun with it while I let her play with it. However, as soon as I heard thewords "MOVE" instead of excuse me please, and the sun calling the moon "DUMMY". That was it. We have taught our granddaughter to be polite. She says please, thank you, and excuse me. I think this toy is teaching the wrong things to small children. They will learn rudeness soon enough at school, they don't need to learn it at home.

Purchased for 19 month who is fasinated by computers. She went through the program that came with in in 1 day and became bored with it. Put the My Home on, and it has lasted over a week now, but I can see she will need some variety. She interacts with the program and has greatly increased her talking skills. "Knock, knock what's in the box" is a big favorite and she has even learned to say the phrase. Level 2 of this program has the same things, but the child is expected to press the same key multiple times (cued by the program) to make things work. Have not tried level 3.

The overlay for the keyboard was a problem for several days. She would even sit on it so I could not put it back on the keyboard. However, she learned that the pictures on the overlay help her to get the right scene that she wants and now (after 1 week) leaves it on the keyboard. The keyboard makes a regular computer usable by a very young child and that is what really makes this work! We are using it on a laptop, but a desktop computer would be better, so the child could touch the screen (and show where Boo is hiding).

I do agree that the software could be better, but then so could most things. So far, have not found any offensive language, but have only used the 2 programs. I also looked for contact information on this company, but only found an email link - very poor customer relations!

************************UPDATE**********************************
After 2 months of on and off use, it was sort of retired. It was great to get grandaughter started on computer, but she did grow tired of it. Never went on to the advanced levels. They seemed to be the same stuff, just more key strokes. Once she could use a mouse, I found numerous FREE games online (try any kids shows, networks with a lot of kid's shows or even some toys (Thomas for ex.) PBS Kids are great. At age four, she is very adept at finding her way around the PBS Kids website.

Daughter now has identical triplets, and the system is being re-used with the boys. The keyboard is great for kids not old enough to use a mouse.

Unfortunately I did not read the reviews before I got this; I have to say I agree with the issues other reviewers have raised. The characters are dull, the interactions are too simple, and what's taught in some cases is exactly what you don't want (the name-calling others have mentioned).

On top of that, there is an annoying copy-protection scheme that everyone else in the world has abandoned, requiring CD to be in drive. Bizarre since the software is useless without their special keyboard. I have a notebook computer with no CD drive - I install software over home network and run it off hard disk - and when trying to set this up I spent an hour trying to figure out a way, before concluding that it's not possible. It's just as well since I'll be throwing this item away anyway (don't want even to donate it and subject another family to it) but I wish I hadn't wasted the time.

We attached the Imaginative Minds keyboard to an extra computer we had and put it in the children's playroom. They love it! Teaches them colors, what color combinations make (red & yellow make orange!), shapes and they love the music. The initial software is a bit limited for older children (we have a 1, 2 and 4 year old that use this)but just fine for the younger one. The buttons are nice and large for little hands to manipulate but I think the children were a little disappointed that the phone didn't work and I fear it will be lost quickly since it is not attached. All in all a little pricey but a very solid and entertaining product. Definitely a plus that you can switch to other language as well!

My two-year-old daughter loves her computer! We started with the 1-3 software- the one that came with it, Let's Imagine and Home Hunt. Those are more interactive it seems than the 3-5 software, but she really enjoys World of Colors anyway. She thinks it's funny to make a purple banana.

The only negatives about the older software is the use of the word "dummy" and "move" as another review mentioned. Also, the World of Colors just has one level. The younger software provides more variety with the levels. The software that comes with the overlay can be frustrating to you and your toddler at first. My daughter wouldn't leave it on the keyboard at first but after a couple of times learned to accept it and use it appropriately. Now she knows which overlay she needs with which game.

All the software is easy to change into another language which has been a great reinforcer for her Spanish class as well.

The rude comments on the software has actually opened up a discussion with her about what would be better to say or what's nice and what's not.

My daughter spends at least an hour with it each time she sits down to it which is about once a week (I don't allow her to use it more than twice a week).

The main thing is that it reinforces colors and shapes and creates a fun environment that holds her attention. Plus, she loves being in control of the happenings. I don't feel guilty setting her in front of it while I try to get something else done because it does provide some learning.

It's better than just watching a TV show, but of course will never compare with human interaction.

I heard about Comfy Easy PC from a friend and purchased one for my 18 month-old nephew, Jack. There are times when reading and pointing to pictures is great and times when watching Sesame Street is good too. But the Comfy Easy PC is perfect for all the other times as it lets us work together in an interactive way. He is learning so much and knows all his colors and shapes,is counting to four and already puts together meaningful sentences.

I wonder about Stephanie's review and am curious as to why she kept purchasing software titles if she was so unhappy. It's difficult to understand how anyone could have a bad experience with this innovative product. We are raising the computer generation and there is no question that without computer literacy our little ones will not prosper. The Comfy Easy PC starts them off young, but starts them off in the right direction. Jack sits on my lap and we work together, learning, laughing and having fun....What better way to teach our young??

My son is 22 month old and he absolutely loves it. He literally does not want to go to bed and wants to play in the morning as soon as he wakes up. We set his computer and his desk in our office, and now mom, dad, and son play/work in the computers together.

He finds it amazing that this "big TV" actually responds to him when he hits the keyboard. Right away he started repeating the words, and became more interested in expanding his vocabulary by watching our every move too. I bought Let's Imagine and Birthday Party. Some of the cds have a choice for Portuguese, which is my first language. He is speaking both English and Portuguese, and the softwares are helping in his language development. He does not stay in front of the computer for too long, as he is very active and needs to be always moving. But he is having a lot of fun for the 10-15 minutes a time he plays with it.

I strongly recommend for younger toddlers.

the product must be hooked up to a computer. since we only have laptops, my son has access to their keyboards when he plays with this... we've already lost a few letters for typing, and they can't be put back. don't want to think what would have happened if he would have swallowed the keys.
my son is 13 months. he can activate the controls and all, but gets bored very quickly - and then goes straight for the laptop.
i think it would be even more boring for an older child. I only have the first disk that comes with the controls, so maybe other disks are more interesting (I should hope).
it's good for 5-10 minutes of activity, but the damage to the laptops is not worth it.

For Christmas, my mother bought this keyboard for my son. He was just a few days shy if his first birthday. Since he is always fascinated by Mommy and Daddy on their computers we all thought this would be a good idea. He absolutely was fascinated the first time we put this in front of him. I completely agree with previous people that the software that comes with this is basic. It is completely age appropriate for him since he's 1, but I couldn't imagine in 6 months this software keeping him interested in the slightest. For now though, it does. We do have the additional software as well and my only complaint is for the ones with an overlay I have to physically tape them to the keyboard for him to play with them. Once he's older that shouldn't be necessary but try to explain the logic of an overlay to a 1 year old is not really an option.