Customer Reviews

V.Smile Interactive Learning Handheld Game

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(34)

 

 

My kids love the V Smile system, so when I saw the V Smile Pocket and knew we were going to be taking a long car trip to Canada - I knew this would be a worthwhile investment! Using the A/V jacks in our entertainment system in the car, the kids were able to play using the 10 inch screen in the car with sound from the car stereo system. We've got about a dozen cartridges at this point, so there is something for everyone. Even the not-quite-two year old enjoys watching the screen as her 4 older siblings play! We're still waiting for the AC adapter to become available, but the batteries seem to be working fine for now. The screen is crystal clear, and the colors are great. Since my kids are new to the hand-held game experience, it took a little practice to get used to the joystick/thumb control - but even the 5 year old had it down in no time! Enthusiastically recommended!

Update: The above was written on August 9, 2005, and someone wanted to know if I still felt the same way now that some time has passed - glad to respond! We did have a problem with a second unit that we purchased (with 5 kids, 1 unit wasn't going to cut it!), but the company was quick to replace the faulty unit with a brand new one. Today is March 4, 2007, and our V.smile Pockets are still going! Occasionally they will not start up, but usually pressing the reset in the back takes care of it. Another thing my kids discovered is that sometimes blowing some air into the cartridge or into the slot in the machine where the cartridge goes will make everything function normally. Can't explain why - can only guess that perhaps a bit of dust might be removed by the blowing. And we get plenty of use out of the AC adapter that did eventually become available. Hope this will satisfy your curiosity - and yes, we are still happy!

I'd written a review for the original V smile, and was unimpressed with the unit, which seemed to break easily and not work on a whim. NOT SO with this portable version! If you're planning to purchase a Vsmile for the first time, forgo the original and buy this; though costly, it is worth the additional $30.

OTOH, if you are like I was, and had nothing but trouble with the original, and SWORE you'd never buy VTech anything ever again--then I think you will be pleasantly surprised by this portable version. Just when I thought my investment in all those costly Smartridges was a complete waste, I find that my son will not put this down. It has even trumped Power Rangers for the time being!

PROS
(1.) The picture and sound quality are quite good. The toy hasn't lost anything in this respect by going smaller.

(2.) While this may seem like an obvious pro, it takes the same Smartridges as the original (else I never would have bought it).

(3.) You can adjust not only the light and sound volume, as you might expect, but the control buttons as well. On one side of the unit is the button representling the joystick; on the other is the Enter button. And on the back in a lever allowing you to reverse their sides according to preference.

(4.) It's a great travel toy! Not only does it have the option of plugging into your car for long trips (accessory not included), but it can be plugged into a regular television when you reach your destination)--very nice when visiting grandparents who think an old Barbie with non-bendable legs and a handful of Lincoln Logs will keep the little darlins happy for a week!!!

CONS
(1.) Price. Having already forked over $50 for the original, and being sorely disappointed with it in many respects, I thought hard about investing another $80 in this toy. But the reviews were so great and I already had over $150 in Smartridges. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money on the original and waited to let VTech iron out the toy's kinks, as they did with this version!

(2.) It's a battery hog. I bought the chargeable docking station with a rechargeable battery pack for around $24.

SUM
This is a great educational toy. If you get it, though, I strongly recommend a case. Just know that the case that VTech sells desined to hold this toy only holds 2 Smartrides. --HTH

I just purchased this item for my 5 year old son's birthday. Someone else bought him the leapster. At first I liked the Leapster as it felt a bit sturdier and the graphics seem a bit better. I let him play with each product and after playing with each myself, flip a coin. The TV plug, cheaper accessories and game cartridges, and overall simpler cartridges won me over to the vsmile. I know the Lmax is coming out to compete with the v-pocket but all of the prior released leapster games may not work on the TV with the LMax. The LMax games are also going to go up to 29.99 where the Leapster games were 24.99. The vsmile games are the same 19.99 for the pocket and original. The vsmile also recently added 11 games to its library and you can see the new ones coming in July at [...]. The games are overall a bit simpler with vsmile vs leapster and that works better for my child.He is not one of these kids who knows his letters by age 3 and he needs to know them for Kindergarten this fall. He is a very bight child, just not interested yet which seems to be common with boys. The Bob The Builder game has already helped him begin to recognize his letters and get the ball rolling. My plan is to let him use the vsmile for a year and get the basics without the frustrations. He sat here yesterday angry at the leapster but had no trouble with the vsmile. His little brother has also dropped both a few times and they are both fine. As I see it, his little brother will probably inherit the vsmile and he may graduate to the leapster max in a year or so. Maybe not. The lower cost of the vsmile will make this much easier as the vsmile pocket plus 6 games will run me about 200.00. The leapster max plus 6 games will run me 280.00 plus the case and recharger are more for the leapster. (Recharger 14.99 vs 34.99)(Case 14.99 vs 19.99) Kids get bored with these things and companies come out with new things too often to keep up with the most expensive stuff at all times.I hope this helps someone because your many reviews have really helped me. P.S.You can see the leapster max info and new game releases for leapster at [...].

This is a teriffic product. The characters are fantastic, the learning is real and graphics are terrific. I was actually blown away by the quality of the graphics.

At first I was concerned that this was a video game disguised as 'educational', however all the characters and scenes I have seen are 'gentle', the learning is real and because the smartrige selection is so wide, I can find games that are at an appropriate level of complexity for my nieces. Our's has gone through a lot of battering and dropped a few times and still works perfectly. The library of games is extensive, which is great because it allowed me to choose the right level and characters that appealed to my nieces - whereas if the library was smaller I probably would have had to have compromised on one or the other.

It is a huge plus that the cartriges are interchangeable with the vsmile (non pocket), and hats off to the company for not making us pay again for cartriges we bought for vsmile last year.

This (and the vsmile itself which I bought last year) are one of the best present investments I have made and I understand there is already a noticable difference in spelling and counting abilities. We cant keep the kids away!

Most edcuational products are bought for the parents, not for the kids. But this is one of those rare products that is genuinely bought for both.

I like how this is age appropriate for my 3 year old! And I LOVE how this uses the smartridges from the regular V Smile... This avoids having to buy new games just for this system, thus not having to spend more money. The screen is big unlike the gameboy or similar handhelds, and the buttons are great for little hands and fingers. The buttons are also in the same place as the regular V Smile controller, so it makes it easy for your little one that can't read yet know how to exit and get help. The smartridge that comes with it is a little more advanced for kids that are 3, but that isn't even worth taking a star off in the rating. I bought this for my son since it was released the same weekend we were taking a long, long drive to go on vacation, and it sure helped to keep him quiet in the car!!! This is a great toy, and worth every penny that I spent.

Okay after reading all the great reviews I went today and bought this for my 4 year old daughter. She absolutley loves it. There is only one set back I have these small rubber feet on the back to prevent from scratching have to be glued in better. They fell out and my daughter for some reason decided to stick it in her ear we spent the entire night in emergency. Otherwise greatest toy ever, she even played it while we were in the emergency room. Just wanted to give you a heads up if you have small children just remove them first. We already have the smartridges from the original.

My son is 4 1/2 and quite good at most video games. He plays his sister's Gamecube and Daddys PS2 with no problems. We bought him the regular V-smile for Christmas last year and he liked it pretty well, but not doing back flips for it. I was looking into a Leapster when I came across the V-smile Pocket. I figured since we already had the games I'd give it a try. Boy am I glad I did! My son LOVES this system! It goes with us everywhere in the car and he sits and plays it for hours! He is learning math and is remembering it! Several of my friends have sworn by Leapster, and cannot believe how sturdy the Pocket is considering it gets hauled all over the place. I know at least 3 moms that will be replacing their Leapsters with Pockets this fall! The price is right and the games are easy to play for little kids and challenging enough for my nine year old to sit down and play as well. FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY!

I got both V.SMILE POCKET and LEAPSTER for my 5 year old and 6 1/2 year old boys, last week. Here are my boys and my opinions.

Vtech V.smile Pocket has the potential to replace the position of Leapster. Here are the FIVE REASONS:

1. V.SMILE POCKET is with much higher resolutions (320 x 240) LCD screen than LEAPSTER.

2. V.SMILE POCKET now comprises a library of 26 titles of V.Smile Smartridges, all will be available in 2005.

3. V.SMILE Smartridges are with 20% lower pricing than LEAPSTER. (Leapster: 24.99; V.Smile: 19.99)

4. V.SMILE POCKET is portable learning system that goes anywhere or connects to TV directly.

5. V.SMILE POCKET features oversized adaptable buttons for right-and left-handed players alike, my 6 1/2 year old likes this function very much, because it is really difficult to find some electronic learning products specially designed for left-handed players.

Thanks Vtech, well done.

My daughter got the regular V-Smile for her 5th birthday last year. My daughter got V-Smile Pocket for her 6th birthday and she loves it. She takes it everywhere we go. This is a great educational product. My daughter thinks she is just playing games yet she is learning and having fun all at the same time. It plays the same games as the regular V Smile which is a total plus! The only game that I found didn't work was Care Bears. The carrying case Holds both the V-Smile Pocket and 4 Games. The rechargeable battery pack is great charges only in 2 hours. I highly recommend this item.

If your child loves the regular V Smile, they will love the Pocket. It is not as small as some regular video game players, but still does not take up much room and is educational. It plays the same games as the regular V Smile which is a total plus!

The Pocket can be a bit tempermental when trying to get the games out and my 5 year old must ask for help, as he is afraid he will break it when pulling to hard on the games. Batteries do not last long in this player so I highly recommend that you also purchase the Pocket Charger that comes with a battery pack of rechargeable batteries and the Charger.

The Car Adapater which will be out soon will also be helpful when using the Pocket in the car and on trips. The adapter for use on the TV is included and is nice when traveling to someones house and you do not want to lug the larger, regular V Smile with you.

Overall I highly recommend this item. It is a bit pricey but well worth it if you child already loves the regular V Smile.