I’m thinking about getting the Leapfrog Fly Pentop Computer for my eleven-year-old nephew. Does anyone have any experience with it? Any opinions on it? Or any other suggestions for gifts for an eleven-year-old boy? We’ve gotten him a couple of things, but feel the need to get something else. He has a Sony Playstation2, and we’re getting him a videogame suggested by his father (my brother) so perhaps a PS2 accessory or game?
Sorry, no experience with the pentop.
Our 12 year old boy and his like-aged friends are gonzo over Full Metal Alchemist right now. The FMA t-shirt his friend got for his birthday in November has been much remarked upon, so he’s getting one of those and a FMA keychain along with some DVDs, comics and books.
I think the interface, while cute, really cut’s down on the usefulness of this device. All the output is via speech module, and all the input is via drawing on special paper.
As with any computer, the trick is to look at the software available, to make sure it meets your needs, before buying the computer itself. There just isn’t enough software available for the Fly to make it a lasting value.
With the couple hundred dollars you’d spend on this ‘computer’ plus a decent batch of accessories, you could get a Palm. Here’s a Palm that offers way more functionality, and a better interface.
Slate like it: review. Sounds like it’d be a cool gadget to play with (I’d like to experiment with one) and worth the money. I think a kid would probably enjoy the novelty of the pen a lot more than a Palm.
I am leery of anything that requires a constant supply of $12 paper.
If you look on Amazon and ignore the reviews from excited kids who haven’t actually got their present yet, the ratings aren’t all that high.
I’m kind of leery of the Fly Pentop Computer because of the cost of the paper and other accessories. So does anyone have any other suggestions for other stuff to get the eleven-year-old? I looked at the Full Metal Alchemist website recommended by WhyNot and can’t quite figure out what it is. Is this a TV show your kids are watching, or a video game or what?
It’s a TV show. Full Metal Alchemist.
Ah, sorry. Yes, TV show with all the attendant trading cards and other paraphanelia that goes with it. It seems to be the really hot thing right now at WhyKid’s school.
How much money has the Full Metal Alchemist obsession cost you? Those shows with the trading cards and things sound like they could get pricey.
Eh, we only indulge him a little bit. He gets his own cards, with his own money or giftcards - I think they’re $2-3 a pack, and he has maybe 5 or 6 packs. I think the T-shirt was $17.99 (men’s size, at a comic book store) and the keychain was $5.99.
He’s downloaded the wallpaper, a screensaver and such on his computer, which is all free. We DVR the shows for he and his friends to watch when they’re here. The key to getting the cool stuff is to get only the things which are really important for public image, like the shirt, and not let yourself get talked into buying 87 decks of cards! 