V-smile or Leapster TV

I bought a VSmile 2 years ago and my son loved it... however, after a few months it started having problems. It would shut off in the middle of the game, or you couldn't get it to turn off without unplugging it, or if wouldn't turn on at all... I'm not sure if I just bought a defective one or it was a universal problem. I'm sure they are better now but as others have mentioned, my son got a little bored with it.

I do not like the V-Smile...don't waste your money. I haven't tried the Leapster, but perhaps it is better. You may want to find a machine that is hooked up and see what your kids think first. Have you thought about the Click Start from leap Frog? My friend just bought one for her daughter and it is VERY cool!

Please do not get a v-smile. This is our 3rd one and now it needs to go into the garbage. For some reason the power button doesn't always go on and who knows why. My son loves it and now i do not know what i will tell him when he comes home from school

We have both and my 4 year old really enjoys both. Sometimes it is a game to pick which one to play with. The leapster TV has a writing stick that he had problems with at the beginning and to some degree does today. The V-Smile seems easier to him, but we had it first, could just be familiarity.

Both have similar graphics...don't expect anything fancy for a newer TV. If he is playing a game on one, I couldn't tell you it was V smile vs Leapster. They are not as bad as someone indicated earlier, but they are not like high end computer graphics or a movie either.

We do not have the gameboy, nintendo DS, Xbox, etc... type games yet...much too young for those. Iwould think they all have significantly better graphics, sounds, etc.. But the Leapster is what $50 versus $300 for the latest Xbox? And the games are 10-20 if you get them on sale for the latest games versus $40-50. It is a completely different level and really helps them to learn to use the jumpng button, joystick, etc..

My 4 year old loves it and my 2 year old loves to watch. He plays often with his cousins who go up to 10 years old...and they seem to enjoy it when they are at the house.

I think both are a great start for the kids. You can't go wrong with either.

Stephanie,
I don't know about either of those, but a few years ago when the LeapFrog system came out we bought into them and they were a bust. First, the kids bored of them very quickly and we had to pay a monthly fee to use it.

In retrospect, I would keep the kids reading books as long as you can. Do puzzles, color, whatever. Before you know it, they'll be on the computer and you won't be able to get them off.

So save your money for their own personal computer (which you need to keep in the kitchen). You'll need a computer for you and one for the kids.... and as they get older it's easier to have one for each kid. I have 3 teens... and they are always on the computer for homework or fun. And they fight over it constantly.

My 3 girls, ages 4,6 & 8 all have the leapsters and we have a leapster TV. I prefer the handheld because it's portable and the Leapster L-Max you can hook up to the TV. The leapster TV is ok, my 4 year old is learning how to work it well now but I see her with her handheld more often. My kids have not been bored with them. My 8 yr old still plays with hers. I love the educational values of the leapster. Good Luck. Hope this helps.

My kids have the Leapster. They LOVE it and it's great because the games come in different age levels and it's learning. I think the V-smile is the same way but we bought it first and took it back a few days later because the controls didn't work good and the system kept shutting off and freezing up. My brother's kids have one and there's doesn't shut off or freeze up but the controls act like they have a short and don't always work. I haven't had any technical problems with the Leapster.

My boys aren't bored with it either...they are ages 3 & 5... and I wasn't aware of any monthly fee (we aren't paying one) like the first response says.