Leapster/LeapPad - what;s the difference?

[lulupop]

Can someone explain to me what these 2 products do? They are obviously different things but what does each one do, exactly? Is one better than the other? DS is going to be 3 and I was going to get him a LeapPad as he loves his books, but then I noticed this Leapster thingy, which has confused the issue. What is it?

We haven't actually got either but am tempted from time to toime. Think the Leapster is aimed at older kids because it is more of a handheld computer game. Leappad is a cross between an old fashioned book and read along story tape but a bit more interactive. You can get books aimed at older kids for it. There seems to now be a Leappad that has a writing element to it too - more expensive of course - so perhaps the original will be on offer.