FLY™ Bundle - Pentop Computer and Charger 8 - 14 Years by LeapFrog List Price: $178.95 $94.99 At Amazon on 7-28-2008.

Features An electronic pen with built-in computer and audio output designed for tweens Draw or write on special FLYpaper and the optical scanner reads and responds Use for scheduling, calculator, making and recording music, and games Additional cartridges for learning and fun are available, sold separately The FLY 1.0 Pentop Computer only works with FLY 1.0 software and accessories, and is not compatible with FLY Fusion products Editorial Reviews Pretty fly for an educational toy! The Fly Pentop Computer is the wave of the future--today. So…what is it? Its an electronic pen with a brain (a built-in computer processor) and a recorded voice. Tweens (the targeted market) use a fat pen with a tiny optical scanner near the point to draw words, pictures, or codes that the computer reads and responds to. So for example, one can draw a calculator and tap numbers to help figure out algebra homework or how many weeks worth of allowance will buy another cool FLYware cartridge. With the pen kids can also keep track of schedules (much like a PDA), learn geography, play games, translate languages, and actually lay down tracks on keyboards and drums! To hear a menu of options, draw an "M" with a circle around it on the special dot-matrix FLYpaper. Tap the drawing with the Fly pen, and wait for the computer to recite menu options, including scheduler, calculator, time, notepad, settings, and games. To select an option, print a check mark to the right of the "M." The computer announces your selection and options. The Fly Pentop Computer is an electronic pen with a brain (a built-in computer processor) and a recorded voice. We felt a bit like the first viewers of television must have felt the first time we drew eight squares and a few circles with the fairly regular looking pen and paper, then started tapping the shapes to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (hey, we were overwhelmed; it was all we could think of in the moment…), with various percussives backing up the melody. Imagine where this technology can go! For tweens today who have grown up with LeapFrog and other computer technology, getting the hang of the Fly shouldnt be too tough. Some will simply turn it on (after installing the one AAA battery required) and start messing around, figuring it out on the fly, as it were. Others wont mind wading through the kid-almost-friendly packet of manuals, stickers (tap on the goofy cartoon guy for a loud belch, the clock image for the correct time of day, the "Aaah!" for a scream worthy of Psycho), FLYpaper, and maps (the creator of Fly is a big believer in geography education). After an initially steep slope, the Flys learning curve levels out quickly. Its mostly the small details that might create snags: backing out of a program already started, figuring out where to write a check mark when youve already written half a dozen of them next to the circled letter, that kind of thing. Pretty easily resolvable issues. The fly parts: Fly takes standard computer methodology and turns it on its head: instead of a mouse and keypad being the input devices and the screen being the output, writing and paper are the input and the speaker is the output. This is more than just a switcheroo of components. The impact lies more in how kids using the Fly will learn. Reading words and numbers on a monitor is very different from putting pen to paper and hearing responses. Its somehow more interactive. Learning feels more flexible and forgiving. The wack parts: you have to hold the pen correctly (dont block the camera or hold the pen too horizontally), print neatly and appropriately (capital letters, no connected script), and press firmly enough. The pen itself is somewhat ungainly, as compared to a regular Bic, but hey, theres a whole computer in there, what do you expect? Also, the only paper Fly will respond to is the special dot-matrix "FLYpaper," so youll be locked into a purchasing cycle. The entire Fly introductory kit comes with FLY Pentop Computer, earbuds, carrying case, FLY Launch Pad Guide, charging dock, rechargeable battery, AC adapter, 17 games, 35 FLYpaper pages, 3 interactive FLY-FX cards, interactive map, 1 silver face plate, and 1 AAA Alkaline Battery. Additional paper, accessories, and interactive learning and game cartridges are sold separately. Winner of the Toy of the Year Award for 2005. --Emilie Coulter Product Description Cross your "t"s, dot your "i"s and then some. A whole LOTTA some. With a built-in processor, optical scanner, voice and its own language, the FLY pentop computer brings "penmanship" to a new level. Write an addition/subtraction problem on special dot-matrix FLY paper and the pen calculates it. Tell it about appointments and FLY reminds you. And check this out: draw drums and a keyboard on the special paper, and FLY actually records what you play. Includes FLY pen-top computer, charging dock, rechargeable battery, AC adapter, earbuds, carrying case, FLY launch pad guide, 17 games, 35 pages of FLY paper, 3 interactive FLY-FX cards, interactive map and one AAA battery. Other add-ons available: software cartridges, games, speakers and more (each sold separately). Note: multiplication/division capability available with the FLY Through Math cartridge (sold separately). The FLY 1.0 Pentop Computer only works with FLY 1.0 software and accessories, and is not compatible with FLY Fusion products. Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism You'll save some money if you go for the bundle/recharger pack for the Fly Pentop. It also comes with earphones, games and notebooks. The notebooks are needed to play--so it's great to have them all ready to go when you buy this. The coolest thing it does that I've seen (so far!) is translate english to spanish. Just write a few words, and it will translate for you. It's the wave of the future as far as taking notes and downloading them to save. My 13 year old Loves this!! Comment | Permalink | (Report this) FLY™ Bundle - Pentop Computer and Charger Available from Amazon Updated on 7-28-2008.

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