Customer Reviews

Fisher Price Dora Knows Your Name Cell Phone

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a more-than-moderately experienced computer user, but despite several efforts (install, uninstall, repeat, troubleshoot, repeat, etc.) I was unable to personalize this thing with my granddaughter's name. It continues to say "Hola" to Emily, the default name. The web site offers no troubleshooting help, no customer support option. Life is too short. I would say that unless you're buying this for the Emily in your life, you should not waste your time -- especially if you would also have to go out and buy the Mini 5-pin USB cable it requires. A useless waste of money and of grandpa's precious time and patience, with absolutely no regard or consideration on the part of Fisher-Price for its customers. TWO HOURS LATER: But wait, it gets better. I find a customer service link buried at the bottom of the site and call them. A pleasant young woman listens, then asks if I have taken the toy out of the box and removed the "Try Me" tag at the back of the toy, then changed the batteries (because the ones it ships with are too low powered to support the programming)? No, I say. Well, do that and you'll be able to program it. And this is not on the web site or the box why? She doesn't know. Thank her kindly and proceed to try to remove toy from box. In process discover a set of instructions taped securely into a hidden compartment in the base of the package; it does say to remove "Try Me" tag, but nothing about changing the batteries. Toy so firmly taped and wired into the package that I have to cut package apart and snip plastic-coated-wire twist ties. Trusty Leatherman serves for this. Throughout process toy repeatedly shouts, "HOLA, Emily! Want to go on an ADVENTURE with me?" Such fun to hear over and over. (I've got your adventure right here, you little...) Anyway, packaging now ruined, will have to be glued and taped back together for delivery to kid. There is no "Try Me" tag. Remove and replace batteries, reconnect toy to computer, run updater, push button. Toy now shouts granddaughter's name. Hallelujah. Laboriously reconstruct package for shipping. Suggest testily to grandma that she should next time ship the G.D. toy directly to the G.D. parents and let THEM deal with this G.D. bleep. "Don't be such a grouch," I am told, "It's Christmas."

Easy to program as long as you have the correct cord (not included). Our 1 year loves pushing the buttons and dancing to the ring tone music. Pretty durable, it's taken a beating being dropped from the high chair, stroller, etc on virtually a daily basis and keeps working so far, but we've only had the toy for over a little over a month.

For an educational perspective, it's nice that Dora teaches the numbers in both English and Spanish. Although, its a bit odd that they are grouped together -- as in Dora says 1,2,3 in both languages when you push any one of those buttons. The same for 4,5,6 and 7,8,9.

Overall, good fun and some learning thrown in.

Very durable and easy to program. No volume control and a little bit on the quiet side. I would recomend this for ages 2-3.

Wasn't able to download name with Windows Vista (and Fisher Price customer service was basically nonexistent), but it worked fine at my work computer (not Windows Vista). Name is used often, and always brings a smile. Number pad appears to have individual buttons, but they work as rows (depressing 1 activates 1,2, & 3), but not a big deal for the target age range. Not a bad toy considering the low price.

I bought this item for my two year old little girl and she loves it, the only issue I have is that it did not come with the usb cord. Luckily I had one for my camera and we didnt have to buy one, But just know if you buy this product you also have to buy the right cord to download the information. For the price they really should include the cable with the toy.

My daughter fell in love with this phone! We had a very hard time programming it, but once it was done, we couldn't be happier!

i bought this for my daughters first birthday. she loves it, plays with it just about every single day. the only thing i didnt like about this toy is that it didnt come with the cord to connect to the computer, so i wasnt really sure how we were supposed to personalize the phone. but she doesnt know the difference.

First, I have to address the consistent reviews on the phone not programming to a specific name. Apparently, you people did not read the instructions that pop out of the bottom of the box. It clearly states you must remove the try me tab before it will program. However, you can also just download the info from the computer to the phone and once the try me tab is pulled later, Dora will then automatically start saying your child's name. This box is very easy to remove phone to program before giving as a gift. If you pull off the tape tabs on the top front you can slide out the blue background with the Dora phone. The bottom of the phone has a sliding panel that allows access to the mini USB port. Once the phone is out you can either leave in the Try Me tab (it is a piece of clear plastic panel wrapped around the back of the Dora phone and the tab is on the back, lower, right- a small piece that sticks into the actual phone; just yank on it and it pulls out. To get to the tab, you can remove one of the twist ties or pull at the plastic on the bottom right). As mentioned, you can also leave in the tab and when your child opens the gift and rips off the plastic, Dora will automatically begin to say your child's name as long as you pre-programmed it (just follow the normal steps, you wont get any different notification though). Programming takes less than 10minutes, took me 5.

To me, the directions are VERY clear! So, I don't understand why some people would give a bad review on a toy when THEY didn't even read the directions. Makes no sense and really is just like rating their own stupidity rather than the function and play of the phone.

Anyway, back to the toy review.... my son loved his Elmo phone and I purchased Dora for a niece. I love that they are personalized and a fun alternative to playing with a real phone. Still works when drooled on, bashed on the floor etc. Our Elmo had scuff marks and scratched paint but he was loved, abused, with the typical kid toy use. I would highly recommend as a present. Oh, and there is an on/off switch in the back of the phone so no need to rip out the batteries if your head's about to explode.

This is easily my 3-year old daughter's favorite Christmas present. She's taken it with her everywhere. She loves how the phone says her name. It was also very easy to program - literally took me 2 minutes. Just make sure you actually remove the toy from the box and remove the strip in the back prior to programming.

I just bought this for my 19 month old for Christmas. We played with it in the store and she seemed very interested in it despite the fact that it was programmed to say "Emily". The instructions are very easy to follow, yet initially the phone would not update with my daughter's name. Instructions that came with the phone mentioned removing a try me tab. This is a clear piece of plastic between the plactic tray the phone is in and the cardborad backing...it is stuck in the small slit on the back of the phone toward the bottom. Someone stated previously that this doesn't work with Vista, but I can attest that it does.