Can I have some help understanding what Vtech Innotab to get please?

[everydayaschoolday]

I know these were in much demand last year (from reading threads on MN), so I started searching early for Christmas this year. My dd1 has just turned 4, so thought this was the earliest right age.

My Q: Are there only 2 types: Innotab and Innotab 2?

I have seen such a massive variation in price across retailers for what I think is the original version, and I don't understand how the prices can vary so much.

I also wanted to check that an 'Innotab' and an 'Innotab Tablet' (as described by Argos) were the same.

I am thinking of getting the cheaper original for my 4yo - would anyone recommend the second variant instead (am I being cheap and short sighted?)

any advice appreciated. Thanks

[milk]

Any reason why you are not considering the LeapFrog LeapPad2?

[everydayaschoolday]

saw innotab on offer at £25 and trying to find out the catch!

[milk]

Where?!?

[thisisyesterday]

i was wondering the same thing

don't want the leappad as can't put our own stuff on it. with the innotab you can put your own video etc on it, which will be really useful.

i like the look of the leappad better, but think the innotab is the better product

[LilacOrchid]

We are buying an Innotab this Christmas and was hoping to get it in the next month so its bought and bugetted for. I was going to get the older version, I don't want to spend the extra for the newer version. The main difference seems to be the camera, wonder if it will make much difference to what games could be played?

Would love to know where you have seen it for £25 OP, can you share the bargain?!

[everydayaschoolday]

Sorry guys, it was the pink one at John Lewis and has just gone out of stock this afternoon - I saw the deal this morning. I didn't get it either, while waiting for replies here. never mind

[LilacOrchid]

Maybe we could do with an Innotab deals thread where we could post what deals we see on them? Loads of MNetters are going to be looking at them now that Christmas is getting nearer (though its still ages really).

[gregssausageroll]

Amazon and Argos currently have them for £45

[Cokeaholic]

Ds got an Innotab last year for christmas (he was 5 then) and it has been great, particularly since we got a memory card and downloaded lots of games from the vtech website. He plays games on it but they are mostly counting/letters etc and support his learning in reception class whilst letting him think he had his own "tablet" computer. The prices varied quite substantially last year depending on where it was available as it kept going out of stock.

He has recently been given an old laptop to play on however and the Innotab is now somewhat neglected in favour of online games/puzzles.

Was thinking of ebaying it together with all games and accessories so will watch this thread with interest for new prices to see where to pitch the start price.

[everydayaschoolday]

Hi Cokeaholic thanks for Innotab review - does sound promising. I like the idea of it having learning games for dd, who is just going into reception this year (she likes puzzles).

Lovely DH suggested his budget might stretch to Innotab 2 as he thinks camera function is worth it. So would also be grateful for Innotab 2 reviews and if the camera function is worth the higher price. Is the camera function the only difference, and do all Innotab software work with both Innotab and Innotab 2?

[lucysmam]

My dd1 got Innotab1 for Christmas last year (she was almost 5) & didn't really use it that much until recently tbh. I think she would have used it more if it had had the camera function on it as she's always got a camera stuck in our faces or phone camera.

Having said that, she has a fair few books on it that we've downloaded for her & some money/counting games that have helped her learn to read independently and to add up as well.

IIRC on the Innotab2 advert I saw, it says you can watch your fave tv programmes on it, although I may be mistaken

Good idea planning to get one soon, whichever you go for, we really struggled last year with finding one, I think it was the fortnight before Xmas before we found one at Toys R Us near us

[everydayaschoolday]

Thanks Lucysmam. Yes DH has been briefed suggested it comes out of Sep pay chit before we start playing the out-of-stock game!

My dd also plays with the camera function on my old mobile (flip-top from 10 years ago!) so we think the camera function will be a winner.

[lucysmam]

If she likes the camera on the phone, go for the Innotab 2, it's an old phone camera my dd plays around with.

We half suggested getting her an Innotab 2 this evening but were greeted with a very teary dd1 so am going to look at kids camera options instead for her and get the laptop re-conditioned when I save enough random quids (very random, am on 8!! so far) to buy an Ipad