Comments on: Leapfrog unveils 'baby BlackBerry' for tots

Leapfrog's Text & Learn device, which looks like a slightly over-sized Blackberry, is geared toward preschoolers.

[mad1111]

Sick world??? this is a perfect tool for youngsters and parents...

My son (which is only 7months old) loves my blackberry curve and my wifes blackberry pearl...he gets pissed off when we put it away!

This is a great device that i know I'm gonna love...uh, i mean my son's gonna love!!!

Thanks LeapFrog...and Thanks Cnet for bringing this to my attention!!!

You already got one sold in the U.S.!!!

[pithenumber]

How do you not find this scary?

[coacllewis]

I totally agree
My daughter is 8 months old and goes nuts for my iPhone
its the lights etc etc

I teach High School and we are constantly told "reach the kids where they are" this is where we are now!

Where will we be in 15 years when these kids begin their high school careers

[angie_90045]

2 sold in the U.S.!!! This is perfect! My son who is now 4 years old loves my blackberry curve --since he was 2 1/2, he knows how to navigate this thing! I can't wait to get a hold of this new learning tool. Thanks LeapFrog!

[iff2mastamatt]

What happened to "getting some fresh air" or "play with your friends"? Children have better things to do that are much healthier than operating an electronic. Operating a phone isn't that difficult, so why introduce such a thing to a young age group when children have better things to do as fun?

[madcpa]

Dear iff2mastamatt, do you even have kids? Then you should know that as soon as they can control their hands they reach for buttons of any kind -- phones, remote controls, laptops, BlackBerries. What they really want to do is to be just like their parents. Of course, you can always try and explain to your kids that operating electronics is not the best way for them to have fun, but let's face it -- we're surrounded by electronics, and this toy is somewhat educational, so let's not knock it just because operating a phone is not that difficult for an adult.

[sweaty_taco]

So madcpa. you want your kids to have this, so they can learn to be like their parents and the millions of zombies walking around each day being disconnected from the world by having earphones on listening to music, while texting their friends/co-workers on their phones. How is this a good thing?

[joevai52]

sweaty_taco (nice name):

Young children really are highly interested in anything with buttons, especially if it has a screen, and if they see their parents using them, that makes those items even more enticing. And remember that not everyone who uses a Blackberry (or other device) walks around disconnected from the world. On the contrary, most of us are very connected. I use my device when I need to. It actually helps me stay more connected to the world.

[not2worried]

My 4 year old is scary good on my laptop....
This stuff almost comes natural to them...

And my 10 month old loves phones.. buttons!!
But my kids have a limited time playing with electronics, PC, Tv
Leapster...Then its activity time ( its -10 out so no fresh air )
There is a balance that should be met....

[U. Tripps]

Hmm. I wonder how a QWERTY keyboard fits in with learning one's ABC's in order.

[not2worried]

Might be a good thing....
then they learn the letters by site and not in a repetitive order...
But might throw off young learners...

[quilterjen]

As a teacher, I realize that it does not matter what order a child learns their alphabet. What DOES matter, is that they learn their letter recognition and sound identification. As a parent, my daughter could say all of her alphabet in whatever order she wants to and it doesn't matter if she knows what the letters are. Truth is, today's world is becoming more and more familiar with a keyboard at an earlier age. I'm ok with her learning it way before I did.

[Demolition]

The Text & Learn would probably be of use to many adults, too. Spelling, grammar, and comprehension have been going down the tubes for years, now. So, anything that can improve one's language skills is a big winner, in my opinion.

[pithenumber]

Wow.
We as adults have spell check and grammar check

this only teaches basic concepts, most adults, even the most stupid one will prolly know them

[joevai52]

Is spelling "probably" one of those basic concepts? Sorry, I couldn't resist. Seriously, though, while I do think that children should be encouraged to be physically active, this seems like a good device to get them started on basic spelling.

[teitei636]

SOLD HERE TOO!!!!

Love the idea and when you have a tech savvy, mouse using toddler since the age of 20 months, who has a gadget happy mom AND dad, what do you expect but a gadget happy 4 year old kid :o)

I will have 2 in my cart! Thanks Leapfrog!

[Nick.Kentros]

I agree that kids these days need to read more books and play less nintendo...but I'm a product of the SNES and the original internet so it's not like I don't do tech. I think it's a cute little thing for leapfrog to release, seems logical from their corporate standpoint, and I don't think it's wrong or anything for a child to have a play blackberry, I think that's fine and it will probably help kids learn the qwerty board younger, and that's a good skill to have in our tech-forward world

[LNA123]

ummm... i have a feeling tots might still reach for their parents' devices... the whole point is they want to play with something real, that doesn't look like a toy and thereby fully mimic their parents...

i wish leapfrog wouldn't have used such a kid-based color scheme. lol. sure it would be weird to see tots walk around with their own leapfrog chocolate blackberry... but that's the whole point and actually, i think the product would receive a lot more attention if its casing did look more real.

[CALSGR8]

Preschool kids are just learning the alphabet. So I'm not sure how wise it is to have a QWERTY keyboard. After they learn the alphabet its good to have them search for letters but little ones are just learning their ABCDE. Possibly the keyboard should be done in that way.

While I agree, its a good product to hand the kid when he/she wants to play with adult equipment; the little buttons for such uncoordinated fingers may also be questionable.

[IPais]

I agree. this is a great device. It should have more simple features, like taking pictures.Or even cartridge like game additions(or even SD card). The qwerty keyboard is great. Introduce them to the real world, This keyboard does not confuse the little ones, but prepares them to learn the keys on a keyboard. My little on learned the mouse and playing on a laptop/computer when she was almost 20 months.

[sweaty_taco]

Great...a device for youngsters to learn how to be disconnected. Maybe they can text their parents when they have poop in their diapers.

[fleurya]

this from a person who sits in front of a computer and reads/comments on blogs. It's funny how hypocrotical people are when it comes to kids. "They should get out more, watch less TV." It's not too late for adults to follow those suggestions.

[sweaty_taco]

how am i being hypocritical? my job is to be on the computer. yeah, let me go ask my boss if i can hop on my mtn bike and go for a 10 mile ride and be back in a couple hours. dumb@ss.

[fleurya]

Choosing to sit in front of a computer for 8+ hours a day for work is ok, but doing it for leisure is bad? Please explain? And get back to work!

[Notoapplefanbois]

@fleurya: it's bad to do it leisurely because you're not productive, whereas at work you're probably doing something productive for someone

[Wak_Em]

...when will there be an iPhone version from Leap Frog?

[Notoapplefanbois]

Next Tuesday...... and then the heartless apple will start suing as soon as they find out it has multitouch and is called the Pear 1phone

[madcpa]

If you define someone who needs a BlackBerry to make a living as a zomby, than perhaps it is you who is disconnected from this world. If a smartphone is used as a communication device, than it is being used to connect to the world. And how is blogging on this website using a computer is any different than sending an email using a smart phone? If you are annoyed with people who listen to music, you've got the wrong device -- BlackBerries don't come with headphones as a standard accessories. The people who fit in your definition of a zomby maybe just need a lesson in etiqeuette, but don't blame the device they're listening to on the absense of such.

[joevai52]

I think this looks like a potentially fun, learning gadget for toddlers. However, until toy makers start making them look more like the versions that the parents are using, young children will still want to get their hands on the "real" phones whenever they can.

[joevai52]

Sorry, that wasn't meant to be a reply. I hit the wrong link.

[DigitalAngelic]

@madcpa:

"BlackBerries don't come with headphones as a standard accessories."

Really? My Curve sure did. Earbuds with a nice little clip-on microphone.

I dunno, maybe it's just a Sprint thing.

[tiffnova]

Ive had a blackberry pearl, curve, and now a bold and all 3 devices came with headphones....

[tikoro]

I agree with the poor styling choice if getting them to keep their hands off their parents' devices is going to be a key selling point. As others have pointed out, it's the lights, sound, and shiny look of the real devices that attract children first.

The color scheme is Leapster's standard green/blue/white tones, rather than a metallic finish (or even gray or black).
There's a huge difference between a color LCD and a grayscale. Even putting an 8 color output would not raise the production cost on this unit and would make it seem a bit more realistic.

For all those concerned about the learning ABC's et al, The ABC song (i.e. learning them in that order) does nothing for someone, except maybe for DUI/DWI checkpoints. Learning letters has nothing to do with the order they come in, so QWERTY or ABC style learning is more a matter of preference, than the mine is better than yours mentality. However, in today's world where QWERTY still rules the text input world, I would have to opine that learning where the letters are on a standard 104-keyboard would be just an added benefit to learning their letters.

My son seems to agree. He has "My First Computer" from Leapster and picked up mouse movement and the letters on the keyboard in about 2 weeks after doing it, with no prior experience with a keyboard either. He's also learned his letter recognition from it. Think about the source. Leapster has yet to make a product that doesn't focus on children's education that I know of. Honestly, if their products sucked, they still wouldn't be in business. Face it, they work, and they work well, and don't take that long to assist with when needed for those busy parents that both hold one or more jobs to continue being able to provide a place to live for their children in today's times.

[kmouradian]

The biggest thing missing is the trackball. My 10 month old daughter is mesmerized by my Curve's trackball. Click click click click click click. A color screen would have been nice too but I'm sure that would drive up the price.

Regardless, I'll be getting one.

[tehrani625]

It would be funny to see what the kids who play with these and the real thing when they are 20 months old turn out to be when they are teens. I am thinking rebellion by watching TV when shows are scheduled to air or even to buy CD's. If they are really pissed they could go work out, get some physical activity.

[mclaughliniv]

I am a military wife and we have 4 kids.
I too think this is wonderful.
Not only is it a unique way to let the kids feel "like mommy and daddy" it is keeping their sticky fingers off our expensive electronics!!
It is educational (to a point), it of course doesn't take our parental responsibility away of making sure our children are well rounded but that goes with everything else. (ie computer and internet among others).
AND it travels well... being a military family we make many long trips, moves, vacations, etc.
My children all have leapsters or other educational games to take along in the car... the baby misses out b.c there isn't anything in his age range that looks, sounds, etc like the leapsters or our cell phones, and now there is!!
We will be getting one... and passing along the info to many others.

[uppercaseL]

I don't understand why some posters are so angry about this. As any parent of a toddler knows, exposure to as many experiences as possible is important, as long as it's in moderation.

Sure, letting your child play with electronic toys 24/7 without active play is bad. So is letting them read books all day. And so is sending them outside to play every day without any exposure to books, computers, and other indoor activities. You're not doing your child any favors if you can't find a balance between these things.

And any toy that makes learning the alphabet fun is a great addition to the mix.

[TechnologyNews]

it's really a good change

http://www.zahipedia.com/2009/02/09/baby-blackberry/

Any one tell me what is the prices

[88peak]

When I first saw this I thought it was awesome. I just looked at the pics on leapfrog.com and the unit is enormous. My kid isn't gonna think this is cool. He wants a little blackberry like mine, not some gigantic monstrosity that he can't hold in one hand. What were they thinking??? I have 2 suggestions: 1. this needs to be smaller 2. Change the color. White with green accents ain't gonna cut it. I could go Green with black accents.